Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Ligao City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Ligao City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Makati vs $772 in Ligao City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Makati vs $1,197 in Ligao City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,841 per month in Makati vs $1,622 in Ligao City, rent included.

Makati costs about 56% more than Ligao City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Ligao City are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Ligao City 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$3.65 ₱225

83.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$17.44 ₱1,075

153.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$3.39 ₱209

43.95%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$2.48 ₱153

18.15%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.83 ₱51.2

43.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.39 ₱24.24

43.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.35 ₱83.3

79.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.16 ₱133

67.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.82 ₱113

20.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.23 ₱75.6

21.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$0.94 ₱57.7

13.83%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.09 ₱129

11.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$8.09 ₱499

1.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.15 ₱256

6.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.55 ₱466

2.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$2.94 ₱181

48.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.59 ₱97.9

25.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$2.72 ₱168

-5.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.56 ₱96.1

42.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.24 ₱138

54.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$2.55 ₱157

12.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.11 ₱68.8

2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.76 ₱47.13

34.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$2.81 ₱173

1.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$8.05 ₱497

0.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.15 ₱71.1

8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.97 ₱122

17.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.28 ₱17.42

92.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.82 ₱50.6

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.22 ₱13.49

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.15 ₱133

69.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.11 ₱68.4

-0.90%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.8K ₱1.7M

24.44%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

3.54%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$112 ₱6,914

52.23%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$32.68 ₱2,016

-17.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$26.96 ₱1,663

33.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$33.45 ₱2,063

66.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.46 ₱275

166.14%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$5.83 ₱360

40.48%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$153 ₱9,422

110.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,357 ₱268.7K

79.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$45.15 ₱2,785

30.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$26.57 ₱1,639

34.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$74.1 ₱4,573

13.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$54.0 ₱3,328

128.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$270 ₱16.6K

147.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$179 ₱11.0K

125.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$591 ₱36.5K

290.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$399 ₱24.6K

154.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,374 ₱146.4K

164.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

$333 ₱20.5K

1072.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$287 ₱17.7K

147.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for Ligao City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $667 in Makati versus $270 in Ligao City. 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 148% 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 $44.00 in Makati versus $17.00 in Ligao City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $204 – making Ligao City 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 Ligao City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,807 per month in Makati and $1,158 in Ligao City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ligao City, 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 $1,204 in Makati and $772 in Ligao City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Makati and $153 in Ligao City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ligao City, where all-in costs run around $772, than in Makati at $1,204. In Ligao City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ligao City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ligao City. 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.