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 $1,237 per month in Makati vs $730 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,035 per month in Makati vs $1,121 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,511 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

Makati costs about 69% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$3.71 ₱232

73.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$16.89 ₱1,059

136.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$2.78 ₱174

64.75%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.15 ₱135

20.93%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.59 ₱36.98

91.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.34 ₱21.42

41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.07 ₱67.2

125.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.85 ₱116

75.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.67 ₱105

16.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.16 ₱72.6

6.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.95 ₱59.9

12.63%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.89 ₱119

30.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.29 ₱331

37.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.16 ₱261

16.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$7.05 ₱442

-1.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$2.32 ₱145

71.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.59 ₱99.8

25.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.35 ₱147

37.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.19 ₱74.8

99.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$2.05 ₱129

68.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$1.97 ₱123

73.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$0.83 ₱51.9

33.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.56 ₱35.00

107.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.93 ₱184

-12.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$7.84 ₱491

3.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.94 ₱58.9

43.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$1.93 ₱121

6.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.25 ₱15.61

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

$11.32 ₱710

411.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.77 ₱48.12

-20.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱119

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.16 ₱72.9

1.72%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

2.06%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

0.27%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$123 ₱7,705

25.64%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$15.20 ₱953

7.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$24.77 ₱1,553

26.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$32.34 ₱2,027

66.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

$4.82 ₱302

196.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$5.13 ₱322

38.40%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$134 ₱8,428

482.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$7,966 ₱499.4K

-7.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$31.67 ₱1,985

90.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$19.75 ₱1,238

90.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$71.5 ₱4,482

14.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$56.1 ₱3,517

86.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$272 ₱17.1K

177.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$171 ₱10.7K

150.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$493 ₱30.9K

373.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$347 ₱21.7K

209.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

$2,591 ₱162.4K

129.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

$1,051 ₱65.9K

263.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Makati versus $272 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 $40.00 in Makati versus $17.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $178 – 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 69% more than Magallanes, Cavite, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,855 per month in Makati and $1,095 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,237 in Makati and $730 in Magallanes, Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 411% less in Magallanes, Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $730, than in Makati at $1,237. 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 $730 versus $1,237 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.