Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Malaybalay Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Malaybalay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Makati versus $779 in Malaybalay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,017 in Makati versus $1,216 in Malaybalay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,812 in Makati versus $1,652 in Malaybalay.

Living in Makati is roughly 57% more expensive than Malaybalay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Malaybalay 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 ₱412

$4.41 ₱266

55.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.09 ₱2,655

$15.97 ₱962

176.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₱300

$3.91 ₱236

27.11%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱178

$2.14 ₱129

38.32%

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

$1.15 ₱69.1

$0.54 ₱32.53

112.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.46

$0.36 ₱21.89

58.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ₱140

$1.04 ₱62.6

123.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₱213

$1.79 ₱108

97.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₱130

$1.76 ₱106

23.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱89.9

$1.21 ₱72.6

23.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.1

$0.97 ₱58.6

9.28%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱134

$2.08 ₱125

6.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 ₱497

$5.85 ₱352

41.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱266

$4.39 ₱264

0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱454

$7.49 ₱451

0.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₱275

$2.85 ₱172

60.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.18 ₱71.1

61.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.32 ₱140

16.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.35 ₱81.5

60.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 ₱199

$2.28 ₱137

45.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱169

$3.31 ₱199

-15.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$1.33 ₱80.1

-18.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.3

$0.60 ₱36.27

70.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱180

$2.70 ₱163

10.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.52 ₱513

$8.33 ₱502

2.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.2

$1.35 ₱81.6

-7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱138

$1.49 ₱89.9

53.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱32.85

$0.28 ₱16.97

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.57 ₱215

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱46.81

$0.92 ₱55.4

-15.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.06

$0.23 ₱13.84

-47.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₱209

$2.09 ₱126

66.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.5

$1.10 ₱66.4

4.55%

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$22.2K ₱1.3M

50.80%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

4.24%

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

$169 ₱10.2K

$103 ₱6,213

63.77%

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

$26.89 ₱1,619

$34.08 ₱2,053

-21.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.15 ₱2,177

$36.23 ₱2,182

-0.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,339

$33.66 ₱2,027

64.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱704

$4.47 ₱269

161.52%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 ₱477

$4.31 ₱260

83.99%

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

$324 ₱19.5K

$118 ₱7,082

175.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 ₱458.5K

$4,250 ₱255.9K

79.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₱3,565

$46.41 ₱2,795

27.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 ₱2,124

$29.86 ₱1,798

18.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 ₱5,188

$77.5 ₱4,668

11.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,375

$68.1 ₱4,099

79.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₱39.8K

$263 ₱15.8K

151.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱23.9K

$177 ₱10.7K

123.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ₱135.8K

$590 ₱35.5K

282.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 ₱61.6K

$397 ₱23.9K

157.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,076 ₱366.0K

$2,251 ₱135.6K

169.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,885 ₱234.0K

$882 ₱53.1K

340.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₱42.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

9.56

-30.23%

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

Last update for Makati: June 14, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Makati and $263 in Malaybalay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Makati vs $16.00 in Malaybalay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $194 per month, with Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malaybalay wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Malaybalay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,834 in Makati and $1,168 in Malaybalay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $661 in Makati versus $263 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,223 per month in Makati versus $779 in Malaybalay – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $779 in Malaybalay versus $1,223 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Malaybalay but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Malaybalay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Malaybalay delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $779 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Malaybalay hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.