Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dumaguete Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dumaguete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $806 in Dumaguete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,208 in Dumaguete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,611 in Dumaguete.

Living in Makati is roughly 52% more expensive than in Dumaguete, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Dumaguete 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱405

$3.73 ₱234

73.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,525

$15.69 ₱983

156.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$4.26 ₱267

10.33%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.32 ₱145

14.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.76 ₱47.92

46.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.40

$0.43 ₱27.04

4.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.38 ₱86.4

70.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱200

$1.89 ₱118

69.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.67 ₱105

14.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.32 ₱82.9

-3.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.93 ₱58.4

12.90%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.74 ₱109

42.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱437

$8.53 ₱534

-18.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.30 ₱270

12.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$7.22 ₱453

-6.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$1.61 ₱101

155.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.29 ₱81.0

55.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$3.55 ₱222

-10.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.30 ₱81.5

75.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.51 ₱157

40.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$2.32 ₱145

54.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.2

$0.77 ₱48.06

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.58 ₱36.49

96.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.40 ₱150

7.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$8.79 ₱551

-9.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$1.13 ₱71.1

16.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.30 ₱81.3

56.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.38 ₱23.96

157.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,610

$10.12 ₱634

469.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.10

$0.70 ₱43.59

-4.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.15 ₱9.32

40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$2.10 ₱132

-10.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.9

$0.98 ₱61.6

26.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

3.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$24.7K ₱1.5M

-20.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$152 ₱9,533

$67.5 ₱4,231

125.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.13 ₱1,011

$9.72 ₱609

65.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,982

$26.66 ₱1,671

18.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,413

$24.38 ₱1,528

123.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$4.07 ₱255

255.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$6.96 ₱436

-0.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$803 ₱50.3K

$59.2 ₱3,711

1255.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.1K

$1,674 ₱104.9K

345.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,752

$97.1 ₱6,084

-38.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,350

$32.32 ₱2,025

16.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,126

$99.4 ₱6,229

-17.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,538

$113 ₱7,099

-7.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.1K

$234 ₱14.7K

220.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$209 ₱13.1K

105.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.8K

$434 ₱27.2K

425.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.0K

$357 ₱22.4K

195.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.5K

$3,061 ₱191.8K

91.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.7K

$668 ₱41.9K

460.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

$279 ₱17.5K

118.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $234 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 119% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $16.00 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $194 per month, with Dumaguete cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Makati vs Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati and Dumaguete differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($1,226 vs $806 including rent). Dumaguete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 119% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $752 in Makati versus $234 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $806 in Dumaguete – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 469% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $806 in Dumaguete versus $1,226 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Dumaguete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Makati and Dumaguete are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.