Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Lapu-Lapu Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Lapu-Lapu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $842 in Lapu-Lapu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,328 in Lapu-Lapu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,813 in Lapu-Lapu.

Living in Makati is roughly 41% more expensive than in Lapu-Lapu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Lapu-Lapu 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$4.53 ₱279

44.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$17.50 ₱1,077

157.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$4.45 ₱274

7.64%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.57 ₱158

14.79%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.79 ₱48.73

51.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.45 ₱27.73

28.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.53 ₱94.4

52.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$2.16 ₱133

64.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.64 ₱101

30.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.38 ₱84.8

3.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.03 ₱63.5

7.77%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.33 ₱143

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$12.13 ₱747

-34.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$5.32 ₱328

-15.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.81 ₱481

-1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$3.24 ₱199

40.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.38 ₱84.8

43.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.47 ₱152

10.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$2.19 ₱135

4.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.30 ₱142

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$1.83 ₱112

53.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.94 ₱57.7

21.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.84 ₱51.6

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$1.79 ₱110

67.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$3.43 ₱211

133.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.08 ₱66.4

15.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.27 ₱140

-1.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.28 ₱17.41

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.86 ₱53.2

-11.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.23 ₱14.04

-43.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.65 ₱163

30.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.11 ₱68.2

3.60%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$24.9K ₱1.5M

36.58%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-32.32%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$95.8 ₱5,899

77.07%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$26.78 ₱1,649

3.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$30.20 ₱1,859

18.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$45.06 ₱2,774

21.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$1.79 ₱110

572.07%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$6.04 ₱372

35.76%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$124 ₱7,629

161.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$1,779 ₱109.5K

331.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$47.16 ₱2,903

24.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$22.64 ₱1,394

58.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$75.4 ₱4,639

11.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$55.8 ₱3,436

121.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$335 ₱20.6K

96.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$239 ₱14.7K

63.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$825 ₱50.8K

175.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$508 ₱31.3K

98.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$235 ₱14.5K

157.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-16.63%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lapu-Lapu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $335 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 157% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Lapu-Lapu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $216 per month, with Lapu-Lapu cheaper across the board.

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 Lapu-Lapu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati and Lapu-Lapu differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,188 vs $842 including rent). Lapu-Lapu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 157% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Makati versus $335 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $324 in Makati versus $124 in Lapu-Lapu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lapu-Lapu – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $45.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $842 in Lapu-Lapu versus $1,188 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lapu-Lapu but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Lapu-Lapu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Makati and Lapu-Lapu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lapu-Lapu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.