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 $1,186 per month in Makati vs $768 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Makati vs $1,193 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Makati vs $1,617 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

Makati costs about 54% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Makati 12% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$3.64 ₱221

87.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$18.06 ₱1,097

146.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.22 ₱195

51.55%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$2.48 ₱150

15.73%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.76 ₱46.38

52.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.37 ₱22.17

43.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.36 ₱82.4

79.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.15 ₱130

61.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.91 ₱116

10.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.28 ₱77.4

17.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.94 ₱56.8

19.15%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$2.10 ₱128

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$7.81 ₱474

2.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$4.33 ₱263

2.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$7.66 ₱465

1.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$2.84 ₱173

58.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.59 ₱96.7

20.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$2.71 ₱164

0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.61 ₱98.0

36.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.22 ₱135

46.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$2.62 ₱159

11.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.10 ₱66.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.72 ₱43.63

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.79 ₱170

2.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$9.21 ₱559

-10.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$1.15 ₱69.9

2.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$2.06 ₱125

13.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.28 ₱17.12

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.77 ₱46.60

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.22 ₱13.28

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.10 ₱127

73.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.13 ₱68.8

1.77%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

26.38%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

5.98%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$115 ₱6,962

46.84%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$32.75 ₱1,988

-15.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$27.42 ₱1,665

33.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$33.78 ₱2,051

67.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$4.48 ₱272

160.94%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$5.84 ₱354

32.88%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$150 ₱9,111

113.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,283 ₱260.1K

78.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$45.80 ₱2,781

27.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$26.49 ₱1,609

34.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$74.1 ₱4,498

16.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$52.5 ₱3,187

138.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$263 ₱16.0K

151.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$177 ₱10.8K

122.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$583 ₱35.4K

287.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$395 ₱24.0K

155.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$2,414 ₱146.6K

153.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$987 ₱59.9K

278.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $263 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: $234 vs $208 – 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 54% more than Magallanes, Cavite, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,779 per month in Makati and $1,152 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 $768, than in Makati at $1,186. 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 $768 versus $1,186 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.