Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Mandaluyong

For one person, living is cheaper in Mandaluyong: $1,066 a month against $1,230 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. The total is higher in Makati despite lower rent and utilities.

59

Cost of Living Index in Makati
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Makati Living Index
52

Cost of Living Index in Mandaluyong
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Mandaluyong Living Index

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Makati

🇵🇭 Philippines

$1,230

/mo nomad

Mandaluyong

🇵🇭 Philippines

$1,066

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Makati and in Mandaluyong

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Makati and in Mandaluyong actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,230 in Makati versus $1,066 in Mandaluyong.

Makati $1,230
Mandaluyong $1,066

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Makati versus $1,643 in Mandaluyong.

Makati $2,137
Mandaluyong $1,643

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,044 in Makati versus $2,221 in Mandaluyong.

Makati $3,044
Mandaluyong $2,221

Living in Makati is roughly 15% more expensive than in Mandaluyong, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Mandaluyong 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.40 ₱409

$4.81 ₱308

33.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.45 ₱2,457

$16.11 ₱1,029

138.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 ₱306

$3.48 ₱222

37.36%

Cappuccino

$2.59 ₱166

$2.20 ₱140

17.73%

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

$1.09 ₱69.9

$0.96 ₱61.3

13.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱31.39

$0.49 ₱31.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ₱153

$1.16 ₱74.0

106.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₱203

$2.33 ₱149

36.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 ₱115

$1.65 ₱105

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₱80.8

$1.31 ₱83.9

-3.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱65.9

$0.94 ₱60.2

9.57%

Eggs

$2.37 ₱151

$2.19 ₱140

8.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.91 ₱441

$5.07 ₱324

36.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱315

$4.78 ₱306

3.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.74 ₱431

$6.81 ₱435

-1.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱263

$3.30 ₱211

24.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱122

$1.89 ₱121

0.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱204

$3.00 ₱191

6.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱144

$1.80 ₱115

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₱227

$2.21 ₱141

60.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 ₱223

$2.56 ₱164

36.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱68.1

$0.62 ₱39.34

72.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱71.9

$0.48 ₱30.91

135.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₱166

$2.81 ₱179

-7.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 ₱502

$8.55 ₱546

-8.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₱82.6

$0.88 ₱56.0

46.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱124

$2.02 ₱129

-4.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ₱56.4

$0.32 ₱20.59

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.3 ₱3,595

$13.10 ₱837

329.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₱41.59

$0.76 ₱48.38

-14.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.38

$0.24 ₱15.38

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱122

$1.90 ₱121

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₱81.6

$1.20 ₱76.5

6.67%

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

-1.38%

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

$18.9K ₱1.2M

$18.8K ₱1.2M

0.59%

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

$151 ₱9,669

$138 ₱8,839

9.40%

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

$15.59 ₱996

$17.04 ₱1,089

-8.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.38 ₱2,005

$23.94 ₱1,530

31.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 ₱3,403

$31.69 ₱2,025

68.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.04 ₱897

Cinema Ticket

$7.22 ₱461

$6.03 ₱385

19.73%

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

$776 ₱49.6K

$132 ₱8,429

488.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,391 ₱472.2K

$8,937 ₱571.0K

-17.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,826

$27.86 ₱1,780

114.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.96 ₱2,361

$27.00 ₱1,725

36.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 ₱5,177

$70.5 ₱4,505

14.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₱6,446

$55.2 ₱3,529

82.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 ₱53.0K

$727 ₱46.4K

14.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.4K

$457 ₱29.2K

-6.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,151 ₱137.4K

$2,395 ₱153.0K

-10.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 ₱83.6K

$996 ₱63.6K

31.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,714 ₱365.1K

$4,203 ₱268.6K

35.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,568 ₱228.0K

$2,924 ₱186.8K

22.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$587 ₱37.5K

$537 ₱34.3K

9.24%

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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mandaluyong: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Makati

$429 34.8%

Mandaluyong

$457 42.9% 6.7% $29

Groceries & Markets

Makati

$227 18.5%

Mandaluyong

$196 18.4% 13.7% $31

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Makati

$198 16.1%

Mandaluyong

$179 16.8% 9.6% $19

Clothing & Footwear

Makati

$125 10.2%

Mandaluyong

$81 7.6% 35.2% $44

Eating Out

Makati

$121 9.9%

Mandaluyong

$92 8.6% 24.5% $30

Sport & Entertainment

Makati

$68 5.5%

Mandaluyong

$44 4.1% 35.4% $24

Getting Around

Makati

$61 5%

Mandaluyong

$16 1.5% 73.4% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $829 in Makati and $727 in Mandaluyong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 9% 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: $38 in Makati vs $16 in Mandaluyong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $196 per month, with Mandaluyong cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Makati

🇵🇭 Mandaluyong

🕒 Local time

05:35 5:35 AM

Same time as Makati

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

582,602

425,758

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Makati Mandaluyong 3 km

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 13% 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 9% 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: $829 in Makati versus $727 in Mandaluyong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $1,230 per month in Makati versus $1,066 in Mandaluyong – Mandaluyong is about 13% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

A monthly transit pass in Mandaluyong runs roughly 77% less than in Makati. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.

Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Mandaluyong gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Makati and Mandaluyong are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Expats usually find Mandaluyong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.