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: $1,226 in Makati versus $758 in Malaybalay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,146 in Malaybalay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,535 in Malaybalay.

Living in Makati is roughly 62% more expensive than in Malaybalay, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Malaybalay 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱407

$4.71 ₱296

37.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,531

$16.73 ₱1,051

140.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$3.66 ₱230

28.42%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.26 ₱142

17.26%

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$0.50 ₱31.27

122.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.47

$0.30 ₱19.13

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.06 ₱66.4

121.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.84 ₱115

73.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.95 ₱123

-2.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$1.14 ₱71.5

12.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$0.87 ₱54.6

20.69%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$1.95 ₱123

27.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$6.50 ₱409

7.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$4.06 ₱255

19.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$8.62 ₱541

-21.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$2.58 ₱162

59.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.12 ₱70.5

78.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.31 ₱145

38.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.19 ₱74.6

91.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.05 ₱129

71.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$3.57 ₱224

0.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.4

$1.17 ₱73.6

-5.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.70 ₱44.08

62.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.52 ₱159

1.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$7.90 ₱497

1.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$1.24 ₱77.6

6.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.59 ₱99.8

27.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.23 ₱14.40

326.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,619

$10.87 ₱683

429.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.21

$0.81 ₱50.9

-17.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

$0.25 ₱15.75

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.95 ₱123

-4.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$1.18 ₱73.9

5.08%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.4M

-2.00%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.8K ₱1.2M

4.70%

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

$152 ₱9,557

$109 ₱6,818

40.16%

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

$16.13 ₱1,014

$19.31 ₱1,213

-16.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,987

$30.85 ₱1,938

2.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,422

$31.66 ₱1,989

72.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱908

$4.84 ₱304

198.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱437

$4.90 ₱308

41.84%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$106 ₱6,635

660.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱468.3K

$7,643 ₱480.2K

-2.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,761

$31.89 ₱2,003

87.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,356

$19.10 ₱1,200

96.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,139

$70.4 ₱4,421

16.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,555

$62.1 ₱3,901

68.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.3K

$260 ₱16.3K

189.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.0K

$169 ₱10.6K

153.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.2K

$495 ₱31.1K

360.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.2K

$297 ₱18.7K

254.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.5K

$2,556 ₱160.6K

129.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.3K

$1,043 ₱65.5K

259.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

8.31

-9.75%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $260 in Malaybalay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Malaybalay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 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 62% 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 $1,840 in Makati and $1,136 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: $752 in Makati versus $260 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $758 in Malaybalay – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Malaybalay runs roughly 430% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $758 in Malaybalay versus $1,226 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 $758 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 62% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.