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 $1,228 per month in Makati vs $727 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Makati vs $1,126 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Makati vs $1,524 in Las Pinas, rent included.

Makati costs about 69% more than Las Pinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Las Pinas are more affordable than the global median – Makati 11% lower, Las Pinas 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₱411

$4.09 ₱255

60.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.99 ₱2,501

$24.33 ₱1,522

64.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₱287

$2.87 ₱179

59.93%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ₱173

$1.78 ₱111

55.06%

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

$1.07 ₱67.2

$1.09 ₱68.4

-1.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.17

$0.43 ₱26.94

4.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱151

$1.18 ₱73.9

105.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$2.44 ₱152

33.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.69 ₱106

8.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱80.6

$1.17 ₱73.2

10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$0.98 ₱61.2

5.10%

Eggs

$2.38 ₱149

$2.09 ₱131

13.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ₱457

$5.24 ₱328

39.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₱303

$3.50 ₱219

38.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱449

$7.12 ₱445

0.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱249

$2.29 ₱143

73.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.55 ₱96.8

30.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱204

$2.40 ₱150

35.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$1.04 ₱65.0

122.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.69 ₱106

105.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.80 ₱112

92.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$0.63 ₱39.31

77.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$0.49 ₱30.37

126.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.91 ₱182

-7.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 ₱491

$9.44 ₱590

-16.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱87.4

$0.96 ₱59.9

45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$2.07 ₱129

0.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₱56.1

$0.22 ₱13.76

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ₱3,582

$11.70 ₱731

389.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.10

$0.78 ₱48.81

-21.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.10

$0.23 ₱14.41

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱117

$1.89 ₱118

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.3

$1.15 ₱71.6

8.70%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-2.42%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

1.78%

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

$154 ₱9,612

$122 ₱7,626

26.04%

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

$15.78 ₱987

$15.03 ₱940

4.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.11 ₱2,008

$24.22 ₱1,515

32.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 ₱3,413

$32.36 ₱2,024

68.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱901

$4.38 ₱274

229.00%

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 ₱462

$5.27 ₱330

40.23%

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

$790 ₱49.4K

$134 ₱8,351

491.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,405 ₱463.1K

$8,923 ₱558.0K

-17.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₱3,742

$31.71 ₱1,983

88.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.65 ₱2,354

$19.49 ₱1,219

93.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,138

$71.9 ₱4,497

14.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₱6,469

$56.6 ₱3,541

82.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₱46.8K

$249 ₱15.6K

200.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.9K

$160 ₱9,980

169.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,276 ₱142.4K

$508 ₱31.8K

347.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 ₱67.5K

$334 ₱20.9K

223.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,003 ₱375.4K

$2,233 ₱139.7K

168.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,832 ₱239.6K

$1,059 ₱66.2K

261.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.1K

$619 ₱38.7K

-1.44%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Las Pinas: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $748 in Makati versus $249 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 1% higher in Las Pinas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati versus $24.00 in Las Pinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $176 – 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: $1,228 in Makati, $727 in Las Pinas – roughly 69% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,842 per month in Makati and $1,090 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati and $24.00 in Las Pinas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,228 in Makati and $727 in Las Pinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Pinas, where all-in costs run around $727, than in Makati at $1,228. 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 $727 in Las Pinas to $1,228 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.