Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Mambajao Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Mambajao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $509 in Mambajao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $817 in Mambajao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,126 in Mambajao.

Living in Makati is roughly 143% more expensive than in Mambajao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Mambajao 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$1.37 ₱85.9

369.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$16.09 ₱1,008

148.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$3.29 ₱206

39.21%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.27 ₱143

14.54%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.39 ₱24.29

189.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.29 ₱18.27

65.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$0.97 ₱60.9

148.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.13 ₱71.0

187.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$0.86 ₱53.9

125.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$0.62 ₱39.05

98.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.66 ₱41.32

62.12%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.28 ₱80.1

92.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.29 ₱332

37.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.17 ₱261

16.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$5.52 ₱346

25.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$2.35 ₱148

69.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.55 ₱97.1

29.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.33 ₱146

38.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.17 ₱73.5

102.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$1.31 ₱81.9

163.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$2.00 ₱125

71.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$0.83 ₱52.3

33.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.55 ₱34.50

110.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.91 ₱182

-11.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$8.12 ₱509

-0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.99 ₱61.8

36.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$1.14 ₱71.4

79.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.22 ₱13.51

345.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

$11.01 ₱690

425.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.82 ₱51.4

-25.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.40

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.89 ₱118

-1.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.23 ₱77.2

-4.07%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

0.73%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

1.22%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$64.5 ₱4,043

139.43%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$15.38 ₱964

5.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$20.10 ₱1,260

55.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$32.32 ₱2,026

66.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

$4.93 ₱309

190.26%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$5.07 ₱318

40.04%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$132 ₱8,244

495.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$8,019 ₱502.7K

-8.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$32.06 ₱2,010

88.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$19.31 ₱1,210

94.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$70.9 ₱4,444

15.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$55.8 ₱3,498

87.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$101 ₱6,332

647.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$55.6 ₱3,487

671.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$240 ₱15.0K

875.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$159 ₱9,997

572.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

$2,576 ₱161.5K

130.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

$1,034 ₱64.8K

269.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$149 ₱9,353

306.31%

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 Mambajao: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $101 in Mambajao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 306% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $16.00 in Mambajao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $153 per month, with Mambajao 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 Mambajao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mambajao wins on cost – living expenses run 143% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mambajao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 306% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $755 in Makati versus $101 in Mambajao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Makati versus $509 in Mambajao – a 143% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mambajao runs roughly 426% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $509 in Mambajao versus $1,237 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mambajao but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Mambajao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mambajao delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $509 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mambajao hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Mambajao 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 Mambajao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.