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: $1,223 in Makati versus $642 in Mambajao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,017 in Makati versus $1,014 in Mambajao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,812 in Makati versus $1,387 in Mambajao.

Living in Makati is roughly 90% more expensive than in Mambajao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Mambajao 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 ₱414

$1.47 ₱88.7

365.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.09 ₱2,669

$26.37 ₱1,597

67.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₱301

$4.52 ₱274

9.96%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱179

$3.22 ₱195

-8.07%

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

$1.15 ₱69.5

$1.36 ₱82.1

-15.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.64

$0.80 ₱48.43

-28.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ₱141

$1.10 ₱66.6

110.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₱214

$2.70 ₱163

31.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.28 ₱77.3

69.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱90.3

$0.97 ₱58.9

53.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.5

$0.88 ₱53.0

20.45%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱135

$1.40 ₱84.5

58.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 ₱500

$8.01 ₱485

3.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱267

$4.10 ₱248

7.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱457

$6.62 ₱401

13.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₱276

$2.84 ₱172

60.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.29 ₱78.4

47.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱164

$2.72 ₱165

-0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.56 ₱94.2

39.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 ₱200

$2.36 ₱143

40.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱170

$2.54 ₱154

10.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱65.8

$1.07 ₱65.1

1.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.6

$0.72 ₱43.53

41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱181

$2.92 ₱177

2.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.52 ₱516

$8.02 ₱486

6.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.6

$1.07 ₱64.8

16.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱139

$1.29 ₱78.3

77.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.02

$0.20 ₱12.11

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.57 ₱216

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.06

$0.77 ₱46.58

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.10

$0.22 ₱13.29

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₱210

$2.10 ₱127

65.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.8

$1.37 ₱82.7

-16.06%

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

27.75%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.2M

5.50%

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

$169 ₱10.2K

$83.9 ₱5,077

101.48%

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

$26.89 ₱1,628

$32.56 ₱1,971

-17.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.15 ₱2,189

$21.77 ₱1,318

66.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,356

$33.46 ₱2,026

65.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱707

$4.51 ₱273

159.20%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 ₱480

$5.78 ₱350

37.20%

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

$324 ₱19.6K

$153 ₱9,243

112.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 ₱460.9K

$4,289 ₱259.7K

77.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₱3,584

$45.75 ₱2,770

29.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 ₱2,135

$26.29 ₱1,592

34.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 ₱5,215

$75.1 ₱4,545

14.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,414

$53.1 ₱3,215

130.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₱40.0K

$132 ₱8,016

399.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.0K

$85.8 ₱5,196

362.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ₱136.5K

$290 ₱17.5K

678.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 ₱61.9K

$194 ₱11.8K

426.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,076 ₱367.9K

$2,252 ₱136.4K

169.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,885 ₱235.2K

$871 ₱52.8K

345.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₱42.7K

$158 ₱9,549

347.44%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Makati and $132 in Mambajao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 347% 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 $26.00 in Mambajao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $186 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 90% 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 347% 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: $661 in Makati versus $132 in Mambajao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% 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 $642 in Mambajao – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $642 in Mambajao versus $1,223 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 $642 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 90% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.