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 $1,223 per month in Makati vs $798 in Laoag City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Makati vs $1,205 in Laoag City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,812 per month in Makati vs $1,612 in Laoag City, rent included.

Makati costs about 53% more than Laoag City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Laoag City are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Laoag City 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 ₱412

$3.57 ₱215

91.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.09 ₱2,655

$15.35 ₱925

187.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₱300

$3.23 ₱195

53.87%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱178

$2.35 ₱142

25.96%

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

$1.15 ₱69.1

$0.79 ₱47.51

45.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.46

$0.40 ₱23.96

42.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ₱140

$1.30 ₱78.2

78.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₱213

$2.17 ₱131

63.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₱130

$1.84 ₱111

17.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱89.9

$1.21 ₱72.9

23.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.1

$0.98 ₱59.3

8.16%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱134

$2.33 ₱140

-4.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 ₱497

$7.96 ₱479

3.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱266

$7.83 ₱471

-43.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱454

$7.93 ₱478

-4.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₱275

$2.84 ₱171

60.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.58 ₱95.2

20.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.59 ₱156

4.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.60 ₱96.4

35.62%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 ₱199

$2.21 ₱133

49.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱169

$2.55 ₱154

10.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$1.11 ₱66.8

-1.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.3

$0.73 ₱43.76

39.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱180

$3.13 ₱188

-4.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.52 ₱513

$8.27 ₱498

3.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.2

$0.96 ₱57.5

30.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱138

$1.96 ₱118

16.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱32.85

$0.26 ₱15.58

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.57 ₱215

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱46.81

$0.77 ₱46.13

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.06

$0.26 ₱15.72

-53.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₱209

$2.18 ₱131

59.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.5

$1.07 ₱64.7

7.48%

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$26.5K ₱1.6M

26.77%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

4.41%

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

$169 ₱10.2K

$113 ₱6,829

49.02%

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

$26.89 ₱1,619

$33.05 ₱1,990

-18.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.15 ₱2,177

$26.20 ₱1,578

37.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,339

$14.93 ₱899

271.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱704

$4.34 ₱261

169.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 ₱477

$5.77 ₱348

37.44%

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

$324 ₱19.5K

$154 ₱9,252

110.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 ₱458.5K

$4,369 ₱263.1K

74.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₱3,565

$45.16 ₱2,720

31.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 ₱2,124

$26.99 ₱1,626

30.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 ₱5,188

$76.6 ₱4,612

12.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,375

$52.4 ₱3,157

133.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₱39.8K

$270 ₱16.3K

144.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱23.9K

$207 ₱12.5K

91.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ₱135.8K

$431 ₱25.9K

423.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 ₱61.6K

$390 ₱23.5K

162.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,076 ₱366.0K

$2,423 ₱145.9K

150.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,885 ₱234.0K

$933 ₱56.2K

316.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₱42.5K

$168 ₱10.1K

321.26%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Laoag City: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $661 in Makati versus $270 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 321% 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 $44.00 in Makati versus $15.00 in Laoag City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 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 53% more than Laoag City, 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 $1,834 per month in Makati and $1,197 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 $1,223 in Makati and $798 in Laoag City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $324 per month in Makati and $154 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 $798, than in Makati at $1,223. 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 $798 versus $1,223 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.