Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Lucena Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Lucena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Makati vs $487 in Lucena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,009 per month in Makati vs $848 in Lucena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,786 per month in Makati vs $1,208 in Lucena, rent included.

Makati costs about 153% more than Lucena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Lucena are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Lucena 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$1.65 ₱102

312.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,786

$9.04 ₱558

399.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$1.82 ₱112

170.88%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$1.06 ₱65.6

170.75%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.67 ₱41.16

77.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.79

$0.35 ₱21.34

60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.00 ₱61.6

144.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱226

$1.44 ₱89.1

154.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.68 ₱104

27.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.5

$1.26 ₱77.7

13.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.6

$0.94 ₱57.7

14.89%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.02 ₱125

15.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱504

$7.00 ₱432

16.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$1.46 ₱90.2

203.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$2.74 ₱169

178.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$0.87 ₱53.8

425.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.03 ₱63.6

86.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$0.91 ₱56.4

196.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$0.69 ₱42.85

226.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$1.04 ₱64.3

216.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$1.17 ₱72.1

144.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.9

$1.27 ₱78.4

-14.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.4

$0.70 ₱42.93

41.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱182

$3.15 ₱195

-6.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$7.42 ₱458

11.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.2

$1.63 ₱100

-26.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$0.93 ₱57.2

151.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.73

$0.29 ₱17.62

75.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.76 ₱47.09

6.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.45

$0.25 ₱15.28

-52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.09 ₱129

71.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.10 ₱67.7

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

31.16%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

3.74%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$62.4 ₱3,849

175.76%

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

$26.94 ₱1,663

$7.24 ₱447

272.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,251

$12.53 ₱773

191.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,455

$34.43 ₱2,124

62.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱488

$6.99 ₱431

13.02%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$81.3 ₱5,018

294.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱465.1K

$2,829 ₱174.6K

166.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,720

$32.39 ₱1,998

86.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,198

$29.34 ₱1,810

21.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,280

$53.7 ₱3,312

59.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,521

$92.8 ₱5,728

31.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$131 ₱8,089

407.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$79.3 ₱4,894

391.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$597 ₱36.8K

278.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.2K

$391 ₱24.2K

161.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.1K

$321 ₱19.8K

112.38%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lucena: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Makati versus $131 in Lucena. 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 112% 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 $9.00 in Lucena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $139 – making Lucena 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 Lucena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Makati, $487 in Lucena – roughly 153% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Makati and $731 in Lucena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lucena, 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 $9.00 in Lucena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 69% 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 Lucena, where all-in costs run around $487, than in Makati at $1,232. In Lucena 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 $487 in Lucena to $1,232 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 Lucena. 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.