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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,188 per month in Makati vs $488 in Lucena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Makati vs $859 in Lucena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,230 in Lucena, rent included.

Makati costs about 143% more than Lucena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Lucena are more affordable than the global median – Makati 11% lower, Lucena 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$1.65 ₱102

295.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$8.80 ₱542

411.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$1.89 ₱116

153.44%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.07 ₱65.8

175.70%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.67 ₱41.29

79.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.35 ₱21.39

65.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$0.93 ₱57.0

151.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.46 ₱90.0

143.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.67 ₱103

28.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.27 ₱78.0

12.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.88 ₱54.3

26.14%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.99 ₱123

17.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$7.06 ₱435

13.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$1.38 ₱85.2

227.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$2.61 ₱161

195.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$0.93 ₱57.3

388.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.07 ₱66.1

85.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$0.85 ₱52.5

220.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$0.73 ₱44.69

212.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.09 ₱67.0

216.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$1.12 ₱68.8

150.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.21 ₱74.7

-5.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.73 ₱45.02

35.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$3.09 ₱191

-3.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$7.73 ₱476

3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.53 ₱94.5

-18.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$0.87 ₱53.8

157.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.29 ₱17.82

75.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.78 ₱47.75

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.27 ₱16.75

-51.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.18 ₱134

58.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.15 ₱70.5

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$25.4K ₱1.6M

34.20%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

9.10%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$62.5 ₱3,848

171.43%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$7.25 ₱446

281.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$12.64 ₱778

183.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$33.56 ₱2,066

63.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.49 ₱277

167.93%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$7.04 ₱433

16.48%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$82.3 ₱5,068

293.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$2,736 ₱168.4K

180.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$31.71 ₱1,952

85.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$29.11 ₱1,792

23.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$53.5 ₱3,293

57.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$95.5 ₱5,881

29.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$131 ₱8,094

399.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$78.8 ₱4,849

395.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$591 ₱36.4K

284.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$399 ₱24.5K

152.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,119 ₱130.4K

183.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$1,072 ₱66.0K

248.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$323 ₱19.9K

87.25%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lucena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $657 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 87% 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: $235 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: $1,188 in Makati, $488 in Lucena – roughly 143% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,783 per month in Makati and $733 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 $488, than in Makati at $1,188. 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 $488 in Lucena to $1,188 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.