Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Lipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Lipa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $598 in Lipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Makati vs $935 in Lipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Makati vs $1,273 in Lipa, rent included.

Makati costs about 105% more than Lipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Lipa are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Lipa 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$3.11 ₱195

108.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$16.07 ₱1,008

150.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.72 ₱171

72.79%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.78 ₱112

48.88%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.46 ₱28.57

141.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.33 ₱20.91

36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$0.95 ₱59.3

147.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.63 ₱103

96.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.47 ₱92.1

29.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.10 ₱69.2

16.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.85 ₱53.5

23.53%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.69 ₱106

46.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$5.14 ₱322

35.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$3.50 ₱219

38.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$7.70 ₱483

-12.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.27 ₱143

81.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.61 ₱101

24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.29 ₱144

39.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.07 ₱67.0

113.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.74 ₱109

102.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.79 ₱112

100.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$0.61 ₱38.34

80.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.49 ₱31.02

132.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.96 ₱185

-13.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$8.59 ₱539

-6.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.97 ₱60.7

36.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.98 ₱124

2.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.25 ₱15.64

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

$4.63 ₱290

1144.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

$0.70 ₱44.09

-4.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.23 ₱14.31

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.10 ₱69.1

12.73%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-0.63%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$15.7K ₱985.1K

25.20%

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

$152 ₱9,541

$139 ₱8,688

9.81%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$17.67 ₱1,108

-8.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$23.60 ₱1,480

34.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$32.31 ₱2,026

68.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$4.00 ₱251

261.25%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.11 ₱320

36.01%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$132 ₱8,297

506.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

$10.6K ₱662.9K

-29.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

$28.93 ₱1,815

106.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$19.58 ₱1,228

91.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

$72.4 ₱4,539

13.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

$55.7 ₱3,493

87.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$79.8 ₱5,005

842.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$61.2 ₱3,837

601.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$244 ₱15.3K

834.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$184 ₱11.5K

472.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$220 ₱13.8K

176.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

25.00%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lipa: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Makati versus $79.8 in Lipa. 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 177% 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 $16.00 in Lipa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $171 – making Lipa 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 Lipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,226 in Makati, $598 in Lipa – roughly 105% 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 $897 in Lipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lipa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 1144% less in Lipa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Makati and $132 in Lipa. 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 Lipa, where all-in costs run around $598, than in Makati at $1,226. In Lipa 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 $598 in Lipa 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 Lipa. 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.