Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Magallanes, Cavite Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Magallanes, Cavite

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $770 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,206 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,642 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

Makati costs about 59% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱406

$3.57 ₱219

85.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,746

$17.76 ₱1,091

151.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱293

$3.24 ₱199

47.22%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.34 ₱144

26.07%

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

$1.15 ₱70.9

$0.78 ₱47.94

47.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.10

$0.37 ₱22.59

40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.34 ₱82.4

76.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱222

$2.19 ₱134

64.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.85 ₱114

16.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$1.22 ₱74.7

18.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.0

$0.99 ₱60.6

7.07%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.00 ₱123

17.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱483

$8.04 ₱494

-2.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱275

$4.30 ₱264

4.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱479

$7.55 ₱463

3.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱272

$2.84 ₱174

55.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.60 ₱98.0

23.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.58 ₱158

0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.62 ₱99.7

33.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.19 ₱135

55.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.53 ₱156

11.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.7

$1.11 ₱68.4

-1.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.6

$0.73 ₱44.72

28.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱181

$2.88 ₱177

2.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱485

$8.78 ₱539

-10.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.6

$1.21 ₱74.1

1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$2.06 ₱126

9.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱34.08

$0.28 ₱17.26

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱223

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.56

$0.82 ₱50.3

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.84

$0.24 ₱14.78

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱222

$2.18 ₱134

66.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.5

$1.10 ₱67.6

4.55%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

24.25%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

5.86%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$110 ₱6,775

57.04%

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

$27.42 ₱1,683

$32.23 ₱1,979

-14.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,232

$26.95 ₱1,655

34.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,377

$34.59 ₱2,124

59.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱720

$4.40 ₱270

166.36%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱494

$5.83 ₱358

38.08%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$155 ₱9,493

109.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱474.0K

$4,272 ₱262.3K

80.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,664

$46.45 ₱2,852

28.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,210

$26.97 ₱1,656

33.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,251

$76.2 ₱4,678

12.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,497

$54.2 ₱3,330

125.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.5K

$261 ₱16.0K

152.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$178 ₱10.9K

118.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.7K

$585 ₱35.9K

286.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.4K

$401 ₱24.6K

157.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱372.0K

$2,440 ₱149.8K

148.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱235.5K

$1,013 ₱62.2K

278.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $261 in Magallanes, Cavite. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati versus $18.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $206 – making Magallanes, Cavite 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 Magallanes, Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati costs about 59% more than Magallanes, Cavite, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,155 in Magallanes, Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Magallanes, Cavite, 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 $18.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Makati at $1,226. In Magallanes, Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Magallanes, Cavite costs $770 versus $1,226 in Makati. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Magallanes, Cavite. 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.