Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Iligan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Iligan City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $735 in Iligan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Makati vs $1,111 in Iligan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Makati vs $1,487 in Iligan City, rent included.

Makati costs about 67% more than Iligan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Iligan City are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Iligan City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱405

$3.62 ₱227

78.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,525

$17.64 ₱1,106

128.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.73 ₱171

72.16%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.48 ₱155

6.85%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.62 ₱39.12

79.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.40

$0.30 ₱19.05

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.12 ₱70.0

109.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱200

$1.83 ₱115

74.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.97 ₱123

-3.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.12 ₱70.1

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.91 ₱56.9

15.38%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.95 ₱122

27.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱437

$5.37 ₱336

29.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.28 ₱268

13.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$7.02 ₱440

-3.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.27 ₱142

81.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.53 ₱96.1

30.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.41 ₱151

32.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.17 ₱73.5

94.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.03 ₱127

73.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.99 ₱125

80.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.2

$0.75 ₱47.23

46.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.52 ₱32.80

119.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.53 ₱159

1.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.82 ₱490

2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.92 ₱57.8

43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.87 ₱117

8.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.27 ₱17.09

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,610

$11.93 ₱747

382.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.10

$0.87 ₱54.4

-22.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.21 ₱13.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.9

$1.08 ₱67.7

14.81%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$23.8K ₱1.5M

-11.26%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-7.09%

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

$152 ₱9,533

$108 ₱6,781

40.59%

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

$16.13 ₱1,011

$15.08 ₱945

6.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,982

$24.61 ₱1,543

28.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,413

$31.38 ₱1,967

73.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$5.28 ₱331

173.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.03 ₱315

38.17%

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

$803 ₱50.3K

$115 ₱7,207

598.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.1K

$7,666 ₱480.4K

-2.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,752

$31.95 ₱2,002

87.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,350

$21.20 ₱1,328

76.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,126

$72.7 ₱4,555

12.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,538

$49.30 ₱3,090

111.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.1K

$111 ₱6,961

577.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$172 ₱10.8K

149.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.8K

$504 ₱31.6K

351.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.0K

$352 ₱22.1K

199.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.5K

$2,248 ₱140.8K

160.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.7K

$945 ₱59.2K

296.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

$199 ₱12.5K

205.87%

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Iligan City: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Makati versus $111 in Iligan City. 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 206% 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 $40.00 in Makati versus $18.00 in Iligan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $180 – making Iligan City 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 Iligan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,226 in Makati, $735 in Iligan City – roughly 67% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,103 in Iligan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 383% less in Iligan City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Makati and $115 in Iligan City. 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 Iligan City, where all-in costs run around $735, than in Makati at $1,226. In Iligan City 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 $735 in Iligan City to $1,226 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 Iligan City. 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.