Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and El Nido Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and El Nido

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,198 per month in Makati vs $734 in El Nido, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,052 per month in Makati vs $1,159 in El Nido, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,907 per month in Makati vs $1,585 in El Nido, rent included.

Makati costs about 63% more than El Nido, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Makati and El Nido are more affordable than the global median – Makati 13% lower, El Nido 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.42 ₱396

$4.72 ₱291

36.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.95 ₱2,524

$30.85 ₱1,902

32.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 ₱286

$3.80 ₱234

21.84%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱163

$2.27 ₱140

16.74%

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

$1.09 ₱67.4

$1.24 ₱76.5

-12.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.31

$0.32 ₱19.92

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 ₱151

$1.05 ₱64.9

133.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₱196

$1.54 ₱94.8

106.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.85 ₱114

1.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₱81.0

$1.14 ₱70.4

14.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.6

$1.36 ₱83.8

-20.59%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱139

$1.91 ₱118

18.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₱457

$4.72 ₱291

57.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 ₱314

$3.90 ₱240

30.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 ₱442

$7.40 ₱456

-3.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 ₱253

$2.36 ₱145

74.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 ₱120

$1.54 ₱94.7

25.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.09 ₱129

14.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.19 ₱73.3

66.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.08 ₱128

43.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.48 ₱215

$1.95 ₱120

78.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱68.2

$0.74 ₱45.31

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱69.9

$0.56 ₱34.72

101.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.16 ₱195

-17.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 ₱488

$9.16 ₱564

-13.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 ₱83.8

$1.04 ₱64.3

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱124

$2.26 ₱139

-10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₱58.1

$0.25 ₱15.49

276.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.5 ₱3,605

$11.27 ₱695

418.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱41.17

$0.71 ₱43.69

-5.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.49

$0.27 ₱16.93

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 ₱118

$1.84 ₱114

3.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₱77.7

$1.34 ₱82.5

-5.97%

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

$22.1K ₱1.4M

$24.0K ₱1.5M

-8.07%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

-1.16%

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

$153 ₱9,453

$123 ₱7,578

24.75%

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

$16.87 ₱1,040

$14.36 ₱885

17.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.74 ₱1,895

$24.59 ₱1,516

25.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₱3,491

$35.03 ₱2,160

61.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱888

$4.88 ₱301

195.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 ₱452

$6.05 ₱373

21.32%

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

$822 ₱50.7K

$146 ₱9,018

461.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,484 ₱461.4K

$8,573 ₱528.5K

-12.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 ₱3,723

$33.75 ₱2,081

78.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.93 ₱2,338

$20.72 ₱1,278

83.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ₱5,209

$70.8 ₱4,367

19.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₱6,519

$54.5 ₱3,362

93.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ₱45.5K

$276 ₱17.0K

167.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.9K

$197 ₱12.1K

97.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 ₱143.2K

$495 ₱30.5K

369.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,081 ₱66.6K

$400 ₱24.7K

170.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,146 ₱378.9K

$2,382 ₱146.9K

157.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱230.4K

$1,017 ₱62.7K

267.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 ₱37.7K

$257 ₱15.8K

137.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Makati: August 17, 2026

Last update for El Nido: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Makati versus $276 in El Nido. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 138% higher in Makati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Makati versus $31.00 in El Nido. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $227 vs $182 – making El Nido the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 El Nido: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,198 in Makati, $734 in El Nido – roughly 63% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,797 per month in Makati and $1,101 in El Nido. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Nido, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 419% less in El Nido. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $822 per month in Makati and $146 in El Nido. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Nido, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Makati at $1,198. In El Nido it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Makati has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $734 in El Nido to $1,198 in Makati. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with El Nido. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.