Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Imus Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Imus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,228 per month in Makati vs $667 in Imus, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Makati vs $980 in Imus, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Makati vs $1,293 in Imus, rent included.

Makati costs about 84% more than Imus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Imus are more affordable than the global median – Makati 11% lower, Imus 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₱411

$3.92 ₱245

67.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.99 ₱2,504

$16.69 ₱1,045

139.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₱288

$2.79 ₱174

64.52%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ₱173

$1.94 ₱121

42.27%

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

$1.07 ₱67.3

$0.60 ₱37.70

78.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.20

$0.32 ₱20.01

40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱151

$0.98 ₱61.1

146.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.72 ₱107

88.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.62 ₱101

12.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱80.7

$1.15 ₱72.1

12.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.4

$1.02 ₱64.1

0.98%

Eggs

$2.38 ₱149

$2.01 ₱126

18.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ₱457

$5.08 ₱318

43.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₱303

$3.39 ₱212

42.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱450

$7.97 ₱499

-9.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱249

$2.23 ₱139

78.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.56 ₱97.5

30.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱204

$2.35 ₱147

38.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$1.79 ₱112

29.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.69 ₱106

105.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.80 ₱112

92.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱70.1

$0.62 ₱38.91

80.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$0.53 ₱33.44

109.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱169

$3.16 ₱198

-14.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 ₱492

$8.91 ₱558

-11.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱87.5

$1.09 ₱68.4

28.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$2.07 ₱130

0.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₱56.2

$0.27 ₱16.75

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ₱3,585

$10.65 ₱667

437.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.13

$0.81 ₱51.0

-24.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.11

$0.21 ₱13.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.89 ₱118

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.3

$1.16 ₱72.7

7.76%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-2.67%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

2.09%

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

$154 ₱9,622

$123 ₱7,691

25.11%

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

$15.78 ₱988

$15.08 ₱944

4.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.11 ₱2,010

$23.43 ₱1,467

37.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 ₱3,417

$27.93 ₱1,749

95.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱902

$4.12 ₱258

249.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 ₱463

$5.20 ₱325

42.12%

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

$790 ₱49.4K

$133 ₱8,344

492.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,405 ₱463.5K

$9,099 ₱569.6K

-18.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₱3,745

$29.17 ₱1,826

105.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.65 ₱2,357

$19.35 ₱1,211

94.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,143

$72.6 ₱4,542

13.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₱6,475

$56.0 ₱3,506

84.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₱46.8K

$121 ₱7,586

517.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.9K

$101 ₱6,298

327.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,276 ₱142.5K

$201 ₱12.6K

1034.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 ₱67.6K

$171 ₱10.7K

532.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,003 ₱375.8K

$2,782 ₱174.1K

115.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,832 ₱239.8K

$956 ₱59.8K

300.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

$173 ₱10.8K

252.56%

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 31, 2026

Last update for Imus: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $748 in Makati versus $121 in Imus. 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 253% 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 $17.00 in Imus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $180 – making Imus 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 Imus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,228 in Makati, $667 in Imus – roughly 84% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,842 per month in Makati and $1,001 in Imus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 29% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati and $17.00 in Imus. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Imus, where all-in costs run around $667, than in Makati at $1,228. In Imus 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 $667 in Imus to $1,228 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 Imus. 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.