Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Marawi Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Marawi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Makati versus $782 in Marawi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $1,212 in Marawi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,643 in Marawi.

Living in Makati is roughly 54% more expensive than Marawi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Marawi 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$3.58 ₱221

86.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$18.02 ₱1,112

145.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$3.27 ₱202

49.24%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$2.44 ₱151

20.08%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.81 ₱50.2

46.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.39 ₱24.13

43.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.35 ₱83.1

79.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.10 ₱129

72.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.92 ₱119

14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.22 ₱75.5

22.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$0.93 ₱57.6

15.05%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.06 ₱127

13.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$8.22 ₱507

-0.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.30 ₱265

2.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.79 ₱480

-1.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$2.89 ₱178

50.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.59 ₱98.0

25.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$2.58 ₱159

-0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.55 ₱95.5

43.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.25 ₱139

53.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$2.53 ₱156

13.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.11 ₱68.8

2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.76 ₱46.93

34.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$2.80 ₱172

1.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$7.28 ₱449

11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.19 ₱73.4

5.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.00 ₱123

16.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.28 ₱17.32

92.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.78 ₱48.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.24 ₱14.85

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.11 ₱130

72.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.10 ₱68.2

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

24.04%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

4.20%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$113 ₱6,948

51.50%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$32.89 ₱2,029

-18.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$27.09 ₱1,671

32.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$34.55 ₱2,131

60.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.46 ₱275

166.14%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$5.96 ₱368

37.42%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$154 ₱9,474

109.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,228 ₱260.8K

84.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$44.90 ₱2,769

30.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$26.81 ₱1,654

33.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$75.6 ₱4,665

10.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$53.0 ₱3,266

133.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$261 ₱16.1K

156.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$177 ₱10.9K

127.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$585 ₱36.1K

294.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$393 ₱24.3K

158.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,531 ₱156.1K

148.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

$246 ₱15.2K

1485.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$296 ₱18.3K

140.73%

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 Marawi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $261 in Marawi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 141% 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 $18.00 in Marawi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $205 per month, with Marawi 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 Marawi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marawi wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Marawi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Makati pays 141% 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 $261 in Marawi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% 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 $782 in Marawi – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $782 in Marawi versus $1,204 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marawi but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Marawi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Marawi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $782 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Marawi hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Marawi 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 Marawi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.