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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,186 per month in Makati vs $630 in Lipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Makati vs $1,034 in Lipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Makati vs $1,438 in Lipa, rent included.

Makati costs about 88% more than Lipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Lipa are more affordable than the global median – Makati 12% lower, Lipa 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$3.56 ₱216

91.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$17.88 ₱1,086

149.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.05 ₱185

60.00%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$2.31 ₱140

24.24%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.43 ₱26.01

169.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.31 ₱18.77

70.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$0.70 ₱42.46

248.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.72 ₱165

27.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.36 ₱82.4

55.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.17 ₱70.9

29.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$1.12 ₱68.0

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$1.94 ₱118

15.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$7.14 ₱433

12.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$4.30 ₱261

2.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$7.12 ₱433

9.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$1.74 ₱106

159.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.52 ₱92.4

25.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$1.72 ₱105

58.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.22 ₱74.2

79.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$0.92 ₱56.1

254.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$1.09 ₱66.3

168.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$0.55 ₱33.63

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$1.01 ₱61.5

-1.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$3.15 ₱191

-9.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$8.77 ₱533

-5.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$0.86 ₱52.4

37.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$2.01 ₱122

15.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.22 ₱13.35

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.82 ₱49.95

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.24 ₱14.62

-45.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.18 ₱133

66.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.10 ₱67.0

4.55%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$25.3K ₱1.5M

32.82%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$20.1K ₱1.2M

9.71%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$81.6 ₱4,955

106.31%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$32.42 ₱1,969

-14.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$29.71 ₱1,804

23.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$27.12 ₱1,647

108.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$5.81 ₱353

33.56%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$82.6 ₱5,017

287.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$2,786 ₱169.1K

175.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$31.75 ₱1,928

84.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$29.33 ₱1,781

21.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$96.5 ₱5,856

-10.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$92.9 ₱5,641

34.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$89.5 ₱5,435

637.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$67.7 ₱4,108

482.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$274 ₱16.6K

726.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$259 ₱15.7K

289.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$226 ₱13.7K

206.77%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Lipa: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $89.5 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 207% 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 Lipa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 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: $1,186 in Makati, $630 in Lipa – roughly 88% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,779 per month in Makati and $945 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 $45.00 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 32% 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 $630, than in Makati at $1,186. 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 $630 in Lipa to $1,186 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.