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 $1,226 per month in Makati vs $766 in Ligao City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,195 in Ligao City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,624 in Ligao City, rent included.

Makati costs about 60% more than Ligao City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Ligao City are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Ligao City 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.51 ₱215

88.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$17.92 ₱1,097

149.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.36 ₱206

41.96%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.48 ₱152

18.95%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.82 ₱50.1

40.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.36 ₱22.13

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.35 ₱82.4

75.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.07 ₱127

74.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.83 ₱112

17.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.27 ₱78.0

13.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.96 ₱58.5

10.42%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.98 ₱121

18.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$8.10 ₱496

-2.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.20 ₱257

6.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.68 ₱470

1.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$2.85 ₱174

55.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.53 ₱93.9

28.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.67 ₱163

-3.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.62 ₱99.3

33.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.30 ₱141

48.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.59 ₱159

8.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.08 ₱65.9

0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.77 ₱47.42

22.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$2.77 ₱169

6.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$8.24 ₱504

-4.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.21 ₱73.9

1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$2.07 ₱127

8.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.26 ₱15.80

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.82 ₱50.2

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.24 ₱14.74

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.17 ₱133

66.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.15 ₱70.2

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$26.8K ₱1.6M

24.67%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

5.54%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$110 ₱6,762

56.88%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$32.62 ₱1,997

-15.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$27.03 ₱1,655

34.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$33.54 ₱2,053

63.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.35 ₱267

169.43%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$6.02 ₱368

33.72%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$149 ₱9,108

117.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,269 ₱261.3K

80.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$45.26 ₱2,771

31.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$26.69 ₱1,634

34.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$73.9 ₱4,521

15.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$54.0 ₱3,307

125.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$265 ₱16.2K

149.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$178 ₱10.9K

119.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$577 ₱35.3K

291.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$387 ₱23.7K

166.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,432 ₱148.9K

149.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$970 ₱59.4K

295.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$278 ₱17.0K

118.87%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Ligao City: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $265 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 119% 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 $18.00 in Ligao City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $206 – 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 60%, 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 $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,148 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 $1,226 in Makati and $766 in Ligao City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $323 per month in Makati and $149 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 $766, than in Makati at $1,226. 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.