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 $1,186 per month in Makati vs $812 in El Nido, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Makati vs $1,306 in El Nido, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Makati vs $1,800 in El Nido, rent included.

Makati costs about 46% more than El Nido, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and El Nido are more affordable than the global median – Makati 12% lower, El Nido 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$5.35 ₱325

27.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$30.59 ₱1,857

45.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$4.30 ₱261

13.49%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$3.81 ₱232

-24.67%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$1.36 ₱82.8

-14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.36 ₱21.99

47.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.31 ₱79.4

86.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.10 ₱127

65.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.90 ₱115

11.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.27 ₱77.4

18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$1.75 ₱106

-36.00%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$2.51 ₱152

-10.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$7.80 ₱474

3.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$3.28 ₱199

34.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$8.18 ₱496

-4.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$2.96 ₱180

52.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$0.73 ₱44.05

161.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$2.62 ₱159

3.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$2.15 ₱131

1.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.32 ₱141

40.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$2.17 ₱132

35.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.08 ₱65.3

1.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.75 ₱45.64

32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.76 ₱167

3.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$6.99 ₱425

18.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$1.16 ₱70.7

1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$2.07 ₱126

12.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.36 ₱22.01

41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.76 ₱46.17

1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.22 ₱13.35

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.17 ₱132

67.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.03 ₱62.6

11.65%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

25.83%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

9.02%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$111 ₱6,746

51.55%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$33.00 ₱2,004

-16.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$31.50 ₱1,913

16.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$34.32 ₱2,084

64.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$4.39 ₱266

166.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$5.84 ₱354

32.88%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$153 ₱9,312

108.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,346 ₱263.9K

76.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$45.44 ₱2,759

28.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$26.24 ₱1,594

36.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$75.7 ₱4,594

13.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$52.3 ₱3,177

139.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$271 ₱16.5K

143.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$176 ₱10.7K

123.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$595 ₱36.1K

280.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$395 ₱24.0K

155.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$2,712 ₱164.7K

125.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$1,145 ₱69.5K

226.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$259 ₱15.7K

167.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Makati: June 8, 2026

Last update for El Nido: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $271 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 167% 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 $45.00 in Makati versus $31.00 in El Nido. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $202 – 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: $1,186 in Makati, $812 in El Nido – roughly 46% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,779 per month in Makati and $1,218 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,186 in Makati and $812 in El Nido. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $320 per month in Makati and $153 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 $812, than in Makati at $1,186. 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 $812 in El Nido to $1,186 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.