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: $1,188 in Makati versus $771 in Maasin City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,252 in Maasin City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,732 in Maasin City.

Living in Makati is roughly 54% more expensive than in Maasin City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Maasin City 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$4.51 ₱277

44.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$23.62 ₱1,454

90.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$4.33 ₱266

10.62%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.57 ₱158

14.79%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.79 ₱48.70

51.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.46 ₱28.13

26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.54 ₱94.8

51.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$2.10 ₱129

69.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.17 ₱134

-1.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$0.92 ₱56.5

55.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.94 ₱57.9

18.09%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.14 ₱132

8.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$12.65 ₱779

-36.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$5.36 ₱330

-15.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.59 ₱467

1.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$1.82 ₱112

149.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.69 ₱42.39

186.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$1.79 ₱110

51.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$2.18 ₱134

4.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.58 ₱159

33.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.50 ₱154

12.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.95 ₱58.3

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.85 ₱52.2

16.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$3.10 ₱191

-3.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$6.49 ₱399

23.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.16 ₱71.4

7.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.34 ₱144

-4.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.28 ₱17.31

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.87 ₱53.7

-12.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.25 ₱15.42

-48.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.70 ₱166

27.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.09 ₱67.3

5.50%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$30.3K ₱1.9M

12.46%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$27.7K ₱1.7M

-20.38%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$98.3 ₱6,054

72.53%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$33.67 ₱2,073

-17.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$29.48 ₱1,815

21.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$34.56 ₱2,128

58.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.37 ₱269

175.29%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$6.03 ₱371

35.99%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$235 ₱14.4K

38.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$3,903 ₱240.3K

96.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$46.08 ₱2,837

27.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$22.63 ₱1,393

58.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$76.7 ₱4,722

9.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$54.6 ₱3,361

126.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$269 ₱16.5K

144.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$180 ₱11.1K

117.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$590 ₱36.3K

285.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$399 ₱24.5K

152.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,430 ₱149.6K

147.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$959 ₱59.0K

289.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$129 ₱7,964

367.78%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Maasin City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $269 in Maasin City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 368% 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 $235 vs $212 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 368% higher in Makati, 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: $657 in Makati versus $269 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 $1,188 per month in Makati versus $771 in Maasin City – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $771 in Maasin City versus $1,188 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 54% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.