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: $1,232 in Makati versus $861 in Dumaguete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,330 in Dumaguete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,800 in Dumaguete.

Living in Makati is roughly 43% more expensive than Dumaguete, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Dumaguete 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$3.21 ₱198

111.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$14.15 ₱873

219.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$4.39 ₱270

12.30%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.32 ₱143

23.71%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.77 ₱47.19

54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.36 ₱22.29

55.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.07 ₱66.1

128.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$2.14 ₱132

71.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.74 ₱107

22.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.44 ₱88.6

-0.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$1.03 ₱63.6

4.85%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.00 ₱124

17.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$9.46 ₱583

-13.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$5.11 ₱315

-13.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$7.99 ₱493

-4.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$1.76 ₱108

159.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.38 ₱85.4

39.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$4.05 ₱250

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.38 ₱85.4

63.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.40 ₱148

37.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$2.62 ₱162

9.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$0.86 ₱52.8

25.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.61 ₱37.54

62.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$2.59 ₱159

13.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$7.99 ₱493

3.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.22 ₱75.4

-1.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.96 ₱121

19.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.50 ₱30.84

2.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$8.90 ₱549

-59.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.78 ₱47.88

3.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.27 ₱16.83

-55.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$0.91 ₱56.1

293.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.15 ₱70.6

-4.35%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

51.15%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$38.5K ₱2.4M

-44.19%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$74.3 ₱4,580

131.58%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$44.54 ₱2,747

-39.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$29.05 ₱1,791

25.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$23.73 ₱1,463

135.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$3.50 ₱216

236.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$6.15 ₱379

28.46%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$70.7 ₱4,361

353.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$1,887 ₱116.4K

299.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$108 ₱6,646

-44.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$35.97 ₱2,218

-0.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$110 ₱6,799

-22.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$84.5 ₱5,209

44.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$242 ₱14.9K

175.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$213 ₱13.1K

83.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$439 ₱27.1K

414.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$417 ₱25.7K

145.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$3,117 ₱192.2K

92.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$689 ₱42.5K

458.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$283 ₱17.5K

140.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.5

2.62%

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $242 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 140% 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: $45.00 in Makati vs $14.00 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $211 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 43% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $861 including rent). Dumaguete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Makati pays 140% more on average, 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: $666 in Makati versus $242 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Makati versus $861 in Dumaguete – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 149% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $861 in Dumaguete versus $1,232 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 43% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.