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 $808 in Laoag City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,233 in Laoag City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,658 in Laoag City, rent included.

Makati costs about 52% more than Laoag City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Laoag City are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Laoag City 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.65 ₱223

81.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$14.92 ₱913

199.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.37 ₱207

41.54%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.38 ₱146

23.95%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.82 ₱50.1

40.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.36 ₱22.12

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.29 ₱79.1

83.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.18 ₱133

65.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.83 ₱112

17.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.25 ₱76.6

15.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.95 ₱57.9

11.58%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.32 ₱142

1.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$7.86 ₱481

0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$7.83 ₱479

-42.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.93 ₱485

-1.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$2.94 ₱180

50.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.60 ₱97.7

23.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.58 ₱158

0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.62 ₱99.2

33.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.19 ₱134

55.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.64 ₱161

6.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.06 ₱64.8

2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.71 ₱43.44

32.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$3.01 ₱184

-1.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$8.32 ₱509

-5.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$0.97 ₱59.1

26.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.96 ₱120

14.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.26 ₱15.91

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.82 ₱50.3

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.26 ₱15.98

-57.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.14 ₱131

69.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.11 ₱68.0

3.60%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

25.68%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

5.37%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$111 ₱6,790

56.23%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$32.65 ₱1,999

-16.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$26.91 ₱1,647

35.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$14.87 ₱910

269.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.44 ₱272

163.96%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$5.78 ₱354

39.27%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$155 ₱9,468

108.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,263 ₱260.9K

81.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$45.67 ₱2,796

30.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$26.95 ₱1,650

33.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$76.5 ₱4,680

11.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$53.7 ₱3,286

127.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$266 ₱16.3K

147.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$202 ₱12.3K

93.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$427 ₱26.1K

429.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$393 ₱24.0K

162.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,401 ₱147.0K

152.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$1,062 ₱65.0K

261.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$162 ₱9,915

276.28%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Laoag City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $266 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 276% 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 $15.00 in Laoag City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $223 – 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 52% more than Laoag City, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,212 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 $808 in Laoag City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $323 per month in Makati and $155 in Laoag City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Laoag City, where all-in costs run around $808, 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 $808 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.