Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Legazpi Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Legazpi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $671 in Legazpi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Makati vs $1,011 in Legazpi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Makati vs $1,350 in Legazpi, rent included.

Makati costs about 83% more than Legazpi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Legazpi are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Legazpi 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$3.14 ₱197

106.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$16.99 ₱1,066

137.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.86 ₱179

64.34%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.04 ₱128

29.90%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.42 ₱26.20

164.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.33 ₱20.79

36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.05 ₱65.9

123.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.19 ₱137

46.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.54 ₱96.6

24.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.18 ₱73.8

8.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.83 ₱51.9

26.51%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.88 ₱118

31.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$5.36 ₱336

30.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.09 ₱256

18.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$6.97 ₱437

-2.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.31 ₱145

78.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.61 ₱101

24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.37 ₱149

34.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.17 ₱73.1

94.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.12 ₱133

66.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.99 ₱125

80.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$0.81 ₱51.0

35.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.53 ₱33.02

115.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.80 ₱176

-8.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.73 ₱485

3.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$1.05 ₱65.6

25.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.94 ₱121

4.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.22 ₱13.82

345.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

$10.66 ₱669

440.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

$0.83 ₱51.8

-19.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.25 ₱15.73

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.96 ₱123

-4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.06 ₱66.6

16.98%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-1.52%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$16.9K ₱1.1M

16.35%

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

$152 ₱9,541

$152 ₱9,531

0.11%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$15.02 ₱942

7.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$31.47 ₱1,974

0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$31.94 ₱2,003

70.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$5.40 ₱339

167.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.11 ₱320

36.01%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$134 ₱8,377

501.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

$7,638 ₱479.1K

-2.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

$31.93 ₱2,003

87.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$19.39 ₱1,216

93.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

$63.4 ₱3,974

29.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

$56.3 ₱3,528

85.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$143 ₱8,984

425.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$95.4 ₱5,983

349.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$343 ₱21.5K

564.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$200 ₱12.6K

425.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

$2,551 ₱160.0K

129.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

$1,067 ₱66.9K

251.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$268 ₱16.8K

127.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

10.12

-25.89%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Legazpi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Makati versus $143 in Legazpi. 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 127% 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 $40.00 in Makati versus $17.00 in Legazpi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $176 – making Legazpi 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 Legazpi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,226 in Makati, $671 in Legazpi – roughly 83% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,007 in Legazpi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Legazpi, 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 $671 in Legazpi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 440% less in Legazpi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Legazpi, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Makati at $1,226. In Legazpi 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 $671 in Legazpi to $1,226 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 Legazpi. 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.