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: $1,226 in Makati versus $717 in Marawi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,102 in Marawi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,487 in Marawi.

Living in Makati is roughly 71% more expensive than in Marawi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Marawi 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$3.61 ₱226

79.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$14.46 ₱907

178.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.77 ₱174

69.68%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.16 ₱136

22.69%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.58 ₱36.42

91.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.30 ₱19.08

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.26 ₱79.3

86.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.73 ₱109

84.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.69 ₱106

13.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.16 ₱72.6

10.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.95 ₱59.9

10.53%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.92 ₱121

29.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$5.30 ₱332

31.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.10 ₱257

18.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$6.99 ₱438

-3.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.27 ₱142

81.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.62 ₱101

23.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.39 ₱150

33.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.18 ₱73.8

93.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.02 ₱127

74.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.95 ₱122

84.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$0.77 ₱48.43

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.52 ₱32.70

119.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$3.21 ₱201

-19.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$6.80 ₱427

17.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.81 ₱50.6

62.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.88 ₱118

7.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.26 ₱16.28

276.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

$9.46 ₱593

508.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

$0.76 ₱47.88

-11.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.23 ₱14.48

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.75 ₱110

6.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.09 ₱68.1

13.76%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

3.73%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$22.1K ₱1.4M

-11.00%

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

$152 ₱9,541

$108 ₱6,761

41.13%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$12.81 ₱803

25.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$24.42 ₱1,531

29.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$36.16 ₱2,268

50.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$4.31 ₱270

235.27%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$4.88 ₱306

42.42%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$131 ₱8,237

511.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

$8,059 ₱505.4K

-7.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

$31.86 ₱1,998

87.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$19.13 ₱1,200

96.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

$70.3 ₱4,408

16.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

$55.0 ₱3,447

89.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$262 ₱16.4K

187.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$172 ₱10.8K

149.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$492 ₱30.8K

363.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$351 ₱22.0K

200.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

$2,956 ₱185.4K

98.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

$1,034 ₱64.9K

262.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$284 ₱17.8K

115.14%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Marawi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $262 in Marawi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 115% 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 $14.00 in Marawi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $174 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 71% 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.

Average pay runs 115% 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: $752 in Makati versus $262 in Marawi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $717 in Marawi – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Marawi runs roughly 509% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $717 in Marawi versus $1,226 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 $717 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 71% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.