Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Las Pinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Las Pinas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Makati vs $831 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,009 per month in Makati vs $1,317 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,786 per month in Makati vs $1,804 in Las Pinas, rent included.

Makati costs about 48% more than Las Pinas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Las Pinas are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Las Pinas 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$4.77 ₱294

42.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$23.80 ₱1,467

89.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$3.14 ₱194

57.01%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.76 ₱170

3.99%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$1.01 ₱62.0

17.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.50 ₱31.01

12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.31 ₱80.6

86.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$2.62 ₱162

39.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.08 ₱128

2.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.25 ₱77.2

14.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$1.09 ₱66.9

-0.92%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.15 ₱133

8.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$6.88 ₱424

18.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$4.52 ₱279

-1.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$7.26 ₱447

5.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$3.36 ₱207

36.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.57 ₱97.0

22.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.90 ₱179

-6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.69 ₱104

33.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.70 ₱167

21.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$3.14 ₱194

-8.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$1.56 ₱96.2

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$1.04 ₱64.2

-4.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$3.46 ₱213

-15.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$9.48 ₱585

-12.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.45 ₱89.2

-17.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.01 ₱124

16.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.22 ₱13.50

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.77 ₱47.48

5.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.24 ₱14.80

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.07 ₱128

72.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.13 ₱69.4

-2.65%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$25.3K ₱1.6M

35.45%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

4.08%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$138 ₱8,494

24.87%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$24.62 ₱1,518

9.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$29.83 ₱1,839

22.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$52.9 ₱3,264

5.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$6.69 ₱412

18.09%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$104 ₱6,408

208.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$2,770 ₱170.8K

172.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$31.28 ₱1,929

92.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$29.83 ₱1,839

19.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$82.5 ₱5,087

3.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$47.41 ₱2,923

157.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$212 ₱13.1K

214.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$171 ₱10.5K

128.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$656 ₱40.4K

244.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$399 ₱24.6K

156.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$612 ₱37.7K

11.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

7.52

-11.30%

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Las Pinas: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Makati versus $212 in Las Pinas. 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 11% 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 $24.00 in Las Pinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $221 – making Las Pinas 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 Las Pinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Makati, $831 in Las Pinas – roughly 48% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Makati and $1,246 in Las Pinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Las Pinas, 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 $1,232 in Makati and $831 in Las Pinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $321 per month in Makati and $104 in Las Pinas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Pinas, where all-in costs run around $831, than in Makati at $1,232. In Las Pinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Makati has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $831 in Las Pinas to $1,232 in Makati. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Las Pinas. 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.