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: $1,232 in Makati versus $851 in Mandaluyong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,297 in Mandaluyong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,744 in Mandaluyong.

Living in Makati is roughly 45% more expensive than Mandaluyong, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Mandaluyong 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$5.25 ₱324

29.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$17.68 ₱1,090

155.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$3.29 ₱203

49.85%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.35 ₱145

22.13%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.92 ₱57.0

29.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.53 ₱32.92

5.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.55 ₱95.4

57.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$2.69 ₱166

36.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.83 ₱113

16.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.35 ₱83.0

5.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$1.10 ₱67.9

-1.82%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.17 ₱134

7.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$8.94 ₱551

-8.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$5.15 ₱317

-13.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$8.64 ₱533

-11.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$3.39 ₱209

34.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.85 ₱114

3.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$3.51 ₱216

-23.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.38 ₱147

-5.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.70 ₱166

21.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$3.10 ₱191

-7.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$0.67 ₱41.55

61.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.64 ₱39.55

54.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$3.32 ₱205

-11.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$8.75 ₱540

-5.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.44 ₱89.0

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.14 ₱132

9.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.34 ₱20.88

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.85 ₱52.6

-4.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.25 ₱15.35

-52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.11 ₱130

69.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.14 ₱70.4

-3.51%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

27.25%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

6.08%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$138 ₱8,497

24.83%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$34.72 ₱2,141

-22.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$26.60 ₱1,640

37.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$33.81 ₱2,085

65.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$4.52 ₱279

160.84%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$6.83 ₱421

15.67%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$150 ₱9,277

113.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$4,814 ₱296.9K

56.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$46.69 ₱2,879

29.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$35.59 ₱2,194

0.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$76.6 ₱4,724

11.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$47.18 ₱2,909

158.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$534 ₱32.9K

24.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$180 ₱11.1K

117.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$584 ₱36.0K

287.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$392 ₱24.1K

161.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$2,834 ₱174.7K

112.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$590 ₱36.4K

15.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mandaluyong: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $534 in Mandaluyong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 16% 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: $45.00 in Makati vs $18.00 in Mandaluyong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $231 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 45% 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.

Makati pays 16% 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: $666 in Makati versus $534 in Mandaluyong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Makati versus $851 in Mandaluyong – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $851 in Mandaluyong versus $1,232 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 $851 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 45% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.