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: $1,204 in Makati versus $621 in Mambajao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $996 in Mambajao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,371 in Mambajao.

Living in Makati is roughly 94% more expensive than Mambajao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Mambajao 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$1.52 ₱93.9

340.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$26.72 ₱1,648

65.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$4.36 ₱269

11.93%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$3.16 ₱195

-7.28%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$1.39 ₱85.7

-14.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.77 ₱47.67

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.14 ₱70.3

112.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.64 ₱163

37.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.32 ₱81.6

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$0.98 ₱60.7

52.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$0.82 ₱50.7

30.49%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$1.35 ₱83.5

73.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$8.10 ₱500

1.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.25 ₱262

4.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$6.32 ₱390

21.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$2.95 ₱182

47.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.31 ₱80.7

52.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$2.73 ₱168

-5.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.63 ₱100

36.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.36 ₱145

46.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$2.63 ₱162

8.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.06 ₱65.4

7.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.72 ₱44.29

41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$2.92 ₱180

-2.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$4.13 ₱255

96.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.09 ₱67.2

14.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.29 ₱79.4

79.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.22 ₱13.57

145.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.82 ₱50.8

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.24 ₱14.81

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.15 ₱133

69.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.41 ₱87.0

-21.99%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

26.85%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.1K ₱1.2M

6.72%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$85.8 ₱5,294

98.80%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$32.42 ₱1,999

-16.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$22.22 ₱1,371

61.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$33.68 ₱2,077

65.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.32 ₱267

174.77%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$6.02 ₱371

36.05%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$152 ₱9,373

111.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,241 ₱261.6K

84.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$45.26 ₱2,792

29.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$27.00 ₱1,665

32.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$75.1 ₱4,635

11.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$53.8 ₱3,316

129.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$135 ₱8,320

394.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$84.7 ₱5,225

375.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$294 ₱18.1K

685.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$194 ₱12.0K

423.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,622 ₱161.7K

139.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$157 ₱9,656

354.97%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $135 in Mambajao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 355% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $27.00 in Mambajao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $179 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 94% 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.

Makati pays 355% more on average, 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: $667 in Makati versus $135 in Mambajao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Makati versus $621 in Mambajao – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $621 in Mambajao versus $1,204 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 $621 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 94% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.