Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Mandaluyong Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Mandaluyong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $840 in Mandaluyong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,407 in Mandaluyong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,973 in Mandaluyong.

Living in Makati is roughly 47% more expensive than in Mandaluyong, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Mandaluyong 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$4.81 ₱301

33.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$17.07 ₱1,070

134.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$3.64 ₱228

25.82%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.17 ₱136

19.82%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$1.02 ₱63.8

10.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.53 ₱32.92

-9.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.19 ₱74.8

102.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$2.64 ₱165

23.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.64 ₱103

18.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.35 ₱84.6

-8.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.98 ₱61.2

9.18%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$2.26 ₱142

9.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.09 ₱319

43.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$7.04 ₱441

-1.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$3.36 ₱211

18.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.89 ₱118

5.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$3.05 ₱191

5.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.85 ₱116

28.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$2.24 ₱140

54.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$2.63 ₱165

30.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$0.62 ₱39.03

79.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.52 ₱32.78

123.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.96 ₱186

-13.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$8.51 ₱534

-5.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.92 ₱57.9

46.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$2.06 ₱129

-0.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.37 ₱23.28

164.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.77 ₱48.07

-20.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.25 ₱15.75

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.87 ₱117

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.14 ₱71.6

3.51%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

0.66%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

-0.07%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$142 ₱8,886

8.95%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$17.85 ₱1,119

-8.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$23.76 ₱1,489

31.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$31.47 ₱1,973

71.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$6.11 ₱383

16.20%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$134 ₱8,424

482.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$9,110 ₱571.1K

-19.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$28.41 ₱1,781

112.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$28.01 ₱1,756

34.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$70.6 ₱4,424

16.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$56.8 ₱3,563

83.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$614 ₱38.5K

22.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$238 ₱14.9K

80.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$1,220 ₱76.5K

91.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$711 ₱44.6K

50.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

$2,800 ₱175.5K

112.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$548 ₱34.3K

10.70%

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 Mandaluyong: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $614 in Mandaluyong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 11% 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 $17.00 in Mandaluyong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $199 per month, with Mandaluyong 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 Mandaluyong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mandaluyong wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mandaluyong the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 11% 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 $614 in Mandaluyong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Makati versus $840 in Mandaluyong – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $840 in Mandaluyong versus $1,237 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mandaluyong but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Mandaluyong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mandaluyong delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $840 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mandaluyong hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Mandaluyong 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 Mandaluyong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.