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 $1,223 per month in Makati vs $770 in Ligao City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Makati vs $1,199 in Ligao City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,812 per month in Makati vs $1,627 in Ligao City, rent included.

Makati costs about 59% 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

$6.85 ₱412

$3.58 ₱216

91.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.09 ₱2,655

$17.94 ₱1,080

145.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₱300

$3.33 ₱201

49.25%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱178

$2.48 ₱149

19.35%

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

$1.15 ₱69.1

$0.78 ₱46.71

47.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.46

$0.39 ₱23.73

46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ₱140

$1.36 ₱82.1

70.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₱213

$2.07 ₱125

71.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₱130

$1.84 ₱111

17.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱89.9

$1.22 ₱73.8

22.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.1

$0.99 ₱59.5

7.07%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱134

$2.03 ₱122

9.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 ₱497

$8.15 ₱491

1.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱266

$4.17 ₱251

6.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱454

$7.63 ₱459

-1.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₱275

$2.99 ₱180

52.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.59 ₱95.5

19.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.60 ₱157

4.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.55 ₱93.5

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 ₱199

$2.21 ₱133

49.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱169

$2.52 ₱152

11.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$1.11 ₱66.7

-1.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.3

$0.71 ₱42.86

43.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱180

$2.88 ₱174

3.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.52 ₱513

$8.12 ₱489

4.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.2

$1.20 ₱72.3

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱138

$1.99 ₱120

15.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱32.85

$0.28 ₱17.02

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.57 ₱215

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱46.81

$0.84 ₱50.5

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.06

$0.24 ₱14.50

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₱209

$2.15 ₱130

61.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.5

$1.11 ₱66.7

3.60%

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$26.5K ₱1.6M

26.48%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.2M

4.90%

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

$169 ₱10.2K

$111 ₱6,678

52.38%

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

$26.89 ₱1,619

$33.02 ₱1,989

-18.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.15 ₱2,177

$27.68 ₱1,667

30.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,339

$34.56 ₱2,081

60.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱704

$4.55 ₱274

156.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 ₱477

$5.79 ₱349

36.96%

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

$324 ₱19.5K

$153 ₱9,213

111.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 ₱458.5K

$4,273 ₱257.3K

78.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₱3,565

$45.25 ₱2,725

30.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 ₱2,124

$26.21 ₱1,579

34.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 ₱5,188

$74.5 ₱4,490

15.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,375

$52.9 ₱3,188

131.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₱39.8K

$264 ₱15.9K

150.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱23.9K

$180 ₱10.8K

120.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ₱135.8K

$583 ₱35.1K

286.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 ₱61.6K

$397 ₱23.9K

157.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,076 ₱366.0K

$2,446 ₱147.3K

148.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,885 ₱234.0K

$998 ₱60.1K

289.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₱42.5K

$288 ₱17.3K

145.19%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Ligao City: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $661 in Makati versus $264 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 145% 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 $18.00 in Ligao City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 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 59%, 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 $1,834 per month in Makati and $1,154 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 $1,223 in Makati and $770 in Ligao City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $324 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 $770, than in Makati at $1,223. 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.