Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Maasin City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Maasin City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Makati versus $791 in Maasin City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,249 in Maasin City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,708 in Maasin City.

Living in Makati is roughly 56% more expensive than Maasin City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Maasin City 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$4.44 ₱274

53.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$24.06 ₱1,484

87.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$4.48 ₱276

10.04%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.53 ₱156

13.44%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.78 ₱48.06

52.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.45 ₱27.92

24.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.57 ₱96.7

55.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$2.14 ₱132

71.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.13 ₱132

0.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$0.91 ₱56.4

57.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.94 ₱57.9

14.89%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.07 ₱128

13.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$13.09 ₱807

-37.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$5.16 ₱318

-14.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$7.51 ₱463

1.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$1.79 ₱111

155.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$0.68 ₱41.67

182.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$1.74 ₱107

55.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.21 ₱136

1.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.64 ₱163

24.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$2.46 ₱152

16.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$0.97 ₱60.1

11.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.79 ₱48.53

25.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$3.23 ₱199

-8.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$6.49 ₱400

27.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.21 ₱74.3

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.31 ₱142

1.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.28 ₱17.32

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.81 ₱50.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.23 ₱14.17

-47.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.61 ₱161

37.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.09 ₱67.4

0.92%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$30.3K ₱1.9M

13.21%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$27.0K ₱1.7M

-20.36%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$97.3 ₱6,002

76.72%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$34.36 ₱2,119

-21.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$29.35 ₱1,810

24.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$34.45 ₱2,125

62.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$4.48 ₱276

163.17%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$5.96 ₱368

32.55%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$227 ₱14.0K

41.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$3,943 ₱243.1K

91.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$45.63 ₱2,814

32.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$23.46 ₱1,446

51.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$77.2 ₱4,759

10.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$56.3 ₱3,473

116.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$267 ₱16.5K

149.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$173 ₱10.7K

125.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$592 ₱36.5K

281.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$397 ₱24.5K

157.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$2,802 ₱172.8K

114.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$1,091 ₱67.3K

253.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$132 ₱8,129

416.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-16.63%

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Maasin City: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $267 in Maasin City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 417% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $24.00 in Maasin City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $211 per month, with Maasin City cheaper across the board.

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 Maasin City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maasin City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Makati pays 417% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $666 in Makati versus $267 in Maasin City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Makati versus $791 in Maasin City – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $791 in Maasin City versus $1,232 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maasin City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Maasin City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Maasin City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Makati, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Makati and Maasin City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Maasin City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.