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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,237 per month in Makati vs $636 in Lucena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,035 per month in Makati vs $1,023 in Lucena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,410 in Lucena, rent included.

Makati costs about 94% more than Lucena, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Lucena are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Lucena 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$1.52 ₱95.5

323.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$19.60 ₱1,229

104.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$1.70 ₱107

169.41%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$1.33 ₱83.2

95.49%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.34 ₱21.04

232.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.29 ₱18.24

65.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.35 ₱84.4

78.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.34 ₱84.3

142.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.73 ₱109

12.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.18 ₱74.1

4.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.86 ₱54.2

24.42%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.80 ₱113

37.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$6.86 ₱430

6.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.28 ₱268

13.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$6.93 ₱434

-0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$4.06 ₱254

-1.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.39 ₱87.3

43.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$3.50 ₱219

-8.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱149

$1.13 ₱71.1

109.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$2.36 ₱148

46.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$3.47 ₱217

-1.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$1.40 ₱87.7

-20.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.93 ₱58.1

24.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.73 ₱171

-5.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$7.43 ₱466

8.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$1.34 ₱83.7

0.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$1.77 ₱111

15.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.27 ₱17.06

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,629

$11.34 ₱711

410.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.54

$0.76 ₱47.84

-19.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$2.63 ₱165

-29.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.15 ₱71.9

2.61%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

1.68%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

2.30%

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

$154 ₱9,683

$47.96 ₱3,007

222.00%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$6.27 ₱393

159.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$11.40 ₱715

174.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,384

$32.64 ₱2,046

65.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

$4.76 ₱299

200.63%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$7.30 ₱458

-2.74%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$73.2 ₱4,587

970.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$2,486 ₱155.9K

196.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$35.67 ₱2,237

69.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$22.68 ₱1,422

65.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,152

$79.4 ₱4,978

3.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,551

$77.3 ₱4,847

35.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$270 ₱16.9K

180.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$169 ₱10.6K

153.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$491 ₱30.8K

376.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$353 ₱22.2K

203.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.5K

$2,551 ₱159.9K

132.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.3K

$1,045 ₱65.5K

265.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$316 ₱19.8K

92.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.14%

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

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Lucena: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Makati versus $270 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 92% 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 $20.00 in Lucena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $207 – 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: $1,237 in Makati, $636 in Lucena – roughly 94% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,855 per month in Makati and $954 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.

Kindergarten costs $783 per month in Makati and $73.2 in Lucena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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 $636, than in Makati at $1,237. 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 $636 in Lucena to $1,237 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.