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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,186 per month in Makati vs $765 in Legazpi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Makati vs $1,159 in Legazpi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Makati vs $1,552 in Legazpi, rent included.

Makati costs about 55% more than Legazpi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Legazpi are more affordable than the global median – Makati 12% lower, Legazpi 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$3.48 ₱211

96.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$24.29 ₱1,475

83.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.16 ₱192

54.43%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$2.17 ₱132

32.26%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.45 ₱27.50

157.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.33 ₱20.31

60.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$0.92 ₱56.2

165.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$3.53 ₱215

-1.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.72 ₱104

23.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.32 ₱80.3

14.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$1.00 ₱60.9

12.00%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$2.16 ₱131

4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$12.56 ₱763

-35.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$3.99 ₱242

10.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$7.12 ₱432

9.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$2.85 ₱173

58.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$2.10 ₱128

-9.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$3.53 ₱214

-22.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.72 ₱104

27.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.64 ₱160

23.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$1.81 ₱110

61.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.73 ₱105

-36.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.93 ₱56.7

6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$4.34 ₱263

-34.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$8.17 ₱496

1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$1.13 ₱68.5

4.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$3.60 ₱219

-35.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.22 ₱13.28

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.62 ₱37.52

24.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.27 ₱16.40

-51.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.71 ₱165

34.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.22 ₱74.1

-5.74%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

28.65%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

10.12%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$150 ₱9,080

12.58%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$23.58 ₱1,432

17.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$35.61 ₱2,162

2.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$33.72 ₱2,048

67.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$4.49 ₱273

160.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$5.41 ₱329

43.44%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$72.1 ₱4,375

343.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,378 ₱265.9K

75.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$45.40 ₱2,757

28.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$26.81 ₱1,628

33.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$70.6 ₱4,288

21.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$70.7 ₱4,293

77.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$157 ₱9,557

319.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$106 ₱6,435

271.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$379 ₱23.0K

496.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$223 ₱13.5K

352.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$2,540 ₱154.2K

141.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$1,055 ₱64.1K

254.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$273 ₱16.6K

154.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

10.12

-34.09%

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

Last update for Makati: June 8, 2026

Last update for Legazpi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $157 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 154% 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 Legazpi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $230 – 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: $1,186 in Makati, $765 in Legazpi – roughly 55% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,779 per month in Makati and $1,148 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 $1,186 in Makati and $765 in Legazpi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $320 per month in Makati and $72.1 in Legazpi. 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 Legazpi, where all-in costs run around $765, than in Makati at $1,186. 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 $765 in Legazpi to $1,186 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.