Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Marikina Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Marikina

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Makati versus $684 in Marikina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,072 in Marikina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,459 in Marikina.

Living in Makati is roughly 80% more expensive than Marikina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Marikina 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$3.47 ₱214

95.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,786

$28.45 ₱1,755

58.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$3.46 ₱214

42.49%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.69 ₱166

6.69%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.72 ₱44.53

65.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.79

$0.40 ₱24.95

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.08 ₱66.9

125.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.63 ₱162

39.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.05 ₱127

4.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.5

$1.45 ₱89.8

-1.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.6

$1.10 ₱68.1

-1.82%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.26 ₱139

3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱504

$7.94 ₱490

2.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$4.61 ₱284

-3.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$7.93 ₱489

-3.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$2.72 ₱168

68.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.92 ₱119

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.71 ₱167

-0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.16 ₱133

4.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$3.32 ₱205

-0.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$2.91 ₱179

-1.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.9

$1.14 ₱70.1

-5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.4

$0.69 ₱42.60

43.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱182

$2.85 ₱176

3.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$8.76 ₱541

-5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.2

$1.24 ₱76.7

-3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.08 ₱128

12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.73

$0.46 ₱28.48

10.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.76 ₱47.19

6.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.45

$0.12 ₱7.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.61 ₱223

-0.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.10 ₱68.0

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$34.0K ₱2.1M

0.69%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

23.38%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$110 ₱6,770

56.78%

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

$26.94 ₱1,663

$13.62 ₱840

97.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,251

$26.05 ₱1,607

40.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,455

$41.93 ₱2,587

33.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱488

$6.38 ₱394

23.82%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

-0.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱465.1K

$1,131 ₱69.8K

566.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,720

$46.42 ₱2,864

29.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,198

$26.04 ₱1,607

36.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,280

$56.5 ₱3,485

51.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,521

$26.95 ₱1,663

352.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$178 ₱11.0K

274.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$88.2 ₱5,439

342.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$297 ₱18.3K

660.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.2K

$168 ₱10.4K

509.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.8K

$1,140 ₱70.3K

427.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.7K

$478 ₱29.5K

706.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.1K

$398 ₱24.5K

71.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.25

6.72%

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Marikina: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $178 in Marikina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 71% 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 $28.00 in Marikina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $222 per month, with Marikina 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 Marikina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marikina wins on cost – living expenses run 80% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Marikina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Makati pays 71% 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 $178 in Marikina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% 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 $684 in Marikina – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $684 in Marikina versus $1,232 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marikina but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Marikina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Marikina delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $684 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Marikina hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Marikina 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 Marikina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.