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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $744 in Laoag City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Makati vs $1,103 in Laoag City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Makati vs $1,463 in Laoag City, rent included.

Makati costs about 65% more than Laoag City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱405

$3.71 ₱233

74.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,525

$13.59 ₱851

196.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.87 ₱180

63.76%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.30 ₱144

15.22%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.59 ₱36.78

88.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.40

$0.31 ₱19.36

45.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.13 ₱70.9

107.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱200

$1.83 ₱115

74.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.59 ₱99.8

20.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.11 ₱69.6

15.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.98 ₱61.3

7.14%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$2.09 ₱131

18.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱437

$6.03 ₱378

15.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$6.95 ₱436

-30.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$6.88 ₱431

-1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.27 ₱142

81.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.63 ₱102

22.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.41 ₱151

32.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.12 ₱70.0

103.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.01 ₱126

75.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.87 ₱117

91.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.2

$0.82 ₱51.2

34.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.51 ₱32.24

123.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.78 ₱174

-7.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.92 ₱496

0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.92 ₱57.7

43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.93 ₱121

5.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.25 ₱15.74

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,610

$10.40 ₱652

453.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.10

$0.82 ₱51.5

-18.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.22 ₱13.70

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.88 ₱118

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.9

$0.96 ₱60.2

29.17%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-1.66%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

0.55%

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

$152 ₱9,533

$124 ₱7,749

23.02%

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

$16.13 ₱1,011

$15.64 ₱980

3.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,982

$24.22 ₱1,518

30.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,413

$13.61 ₱853

300.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$4.23 ₱265

241.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.10 ₱319

36.27%

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

$803 ₱50.3K

$134 ₱8,400

498.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.1K

$8,856 ₱555.0K

-15.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,752

$32.02 ₱2,006

86.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,350

$19.82 ₱1,242

89.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,126

$72.4 ₱4,534

13.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,538

$56.6 ₱3,547

84.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.1K

$263 ₱16.5K

185.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$182 ₱11.4K

135.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.8K

$375 ₱23.5K

507.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.0K

$352 ₱22.1K

199.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.5K

$2,614 ₱163.8K

124.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.7K

$898 ₱56.3K

317.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

$158 ₱9,925

285.12%

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 Laoag City: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Makati versus $263 in Laoag 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 285% 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 $14.00 in Laoag City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $193 – making Laoag 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 Laoag City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati costs about 65% more than Laoag City, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,116 in Laoag City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Laoag City, 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 $1,226 in Makati and $744 in Laoag City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 454% less in Laoag City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Laoag City, where all-in costs run around $744, than in Makati at $1,226. In Laoag City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Laoag City costs $744 versus $1,226 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 Laoag 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.