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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Makati vs $628 in Lipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Makati vs $1,030 in Lipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,841 per month in Makati vs $1,432 in Lipa, rent included.

Makati costs about 92% more than Lipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Lipa are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Lipa 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$3.62 ₱223

84.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$17.64 ₱1,088

150.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$3.12 ₱192

56.41%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$2.35 ₱145

24.68%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.46 ₱28.18

158.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.33 ₱20.54

69.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$0.67 ₱41.63

261.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.73 ₱168

32.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.34 ₱83.0

64.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.12 ₱69.0

33.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$1.12 ₱69.1

-4.46%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$1.87 ₱115

25.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$7.08 ₱437

15.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.23 ₱261

4.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.14 ₱441

7.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$1.72 ₱106

153.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.58 ₱97.2

26.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$1.82 ₱112

41.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.21 ₱74.3

84.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$0.92 ₱57.0

275.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$1.04 ₱64.1

175.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.52 ₱31.95

119.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$1.01 ₱62.6

0.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$3.28 ₱202

-13.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$9.01 ₱556

-9.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$0.90 ₱55.8

38.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.05 ₱126

13.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.22 ₱13.53

145.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.77 ₱47.39

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.22 ₱13.50

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.11 ₱130

72.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.15 ₱70.7

-4.35%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$25.2K ₱1.6M

32.22%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

6.04%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$81.7 ₱5,040

108.85%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$33.09 ₱2,041

-18.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$29.99 ₱1,850

19.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$26.16 ₱1,614

112.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$5.83 ₱360

40.48%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$80.4 ₱4,959

300.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$2,744 ₱169.2K

184.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$31.82 ₱1,963

84.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$29.99 ₱1,850

19.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$98.8 ₱6,095

-15.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$95.1 ₱5,864

29.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$88.3 ₱5,449

655.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$66.2 ₱4,080

508.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$280 ₱17.3K

724.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$254 ₱15.7K

299.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$235 ₱14.5K

203.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

8.13

-17.96%

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for Lipa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $667 in Makati versus $88.3 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 204% 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 Lipa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $178 – 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: $1,204 in Makati, $628 in Lipa – roughly 92% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,807 per month in Makati and $941 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Makati and $18.00 in Lipa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lipa, where all-in costs run around $628, than in Makati at $1,204. 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 $628 in Lipa to $1,204 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.