Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Island Garden City of Samal Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Island Garden City of Samal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,237 per month in Makati vs $736 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,035 per month in Makati vs $1,116 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,497 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Makati costs about 68% more than Island Garden City of Samal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Island Garden City of Samal are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Island Garden City of Samal 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱401

$1.22 ₱75.9

427.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,495

$17.03 ₱1,062

135.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱286

$3.91 ₱244

17.14%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱162

$2.15 ₱134

20.93%

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

$1.13 ₱70.2

$1.05 ₱65.5

7.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.94

$0.69 ₱43.08

-30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱150

$1.11 ₱69.3

117.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.89 ₱118

71.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$2.02 ₱126

-3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.14 ₱70.9

7.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$0.89 ₱55.4

20.22%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱154

$1.88 ₱117

31.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱454

$6.79 ₱424

7.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱302

$4.25 ₱265

14.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱431

$8.59 ₱535

-19.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱248

$2.65 ₱165

50.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.08 ₱67.7

85.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱201

$2.20 ₱137

46.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.21 ₱75.4

95.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱215

$2.11 ₱131

63.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱214

$3.53 ₱220

-3.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.2

$1.23 ₱76.8

-9.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.66 ₱41.09

75.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.42 ₱151

6.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱504

$7.85 ₱489

2.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.0

$1.26 ₱78.5

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$1.52 ₱94.8

34.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.25 ₱15.52

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,609

$11.11 ₱693

420.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.33

$0.81 ₱50.5

-24.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.25 ₱15.61

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱119

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱73.6

$1.15 ₱71.9

2.61%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

1.09%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$18.7K ₱1.2M

3.90%

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

$154 ₱9,630

$99.7 ₱6,220

54.83%

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

$16.28 ₱1,015

$18.97 ₱1,183

-14.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,953

$31.69 ₱1,976

-1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,365

$32.00 ₱1,995

68.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱892

$4.72 ₱294

203.18%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱443

$4.75 ₱296

49.47%

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

$783 ₱48.8K

$110 ₱6,837

614.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱459.8K

$7,651 ₱477.1K

-3.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,760

$31.80 ₱1,983

89.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,345

$19.32 ₱1,205

94.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,124

$70.8 ₱4,412

16.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,515

$61.0 ₱3,802

71.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.1K

$272 ₱16.9K

177.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.8K

$175 ₱10.9K

145.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱145.7K

$503 ₱31.4K

364.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱66.8K

$348 ₱21.7K

208.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱370.5K

$2,590 ₱161.5K

129.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱238.0K

$1,047 ₱65.3K

264.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱37.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

8.31

-9.75%

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

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Makati versus $272 in Island Garden City of Samal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati versus $17.00 in Island Garden City of Samal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $196 – making Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati costs about 68% more than Island Garden City of Samal, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,855 per month in Makati and $1,103 in Island Garden City of Samal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal, 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 $1,237 in Makati and $736 in Island Garden City of Samal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 421% less in Island Garden City of Samal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Island Garden City of Samal, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Makati at $1,237. In Island Garden City of Samal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Island Garden City of Samal costs $736 versus $1,237 in Makati. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Island Garden City of Samal. 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.