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: $1,188 in Makati versus $664 in Marikina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,053 in Marikina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,441 in Marikina.

Living in Makati is roughly 79% more expensive than in Marikina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Marikina 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱403

$3.47 ₱214

88.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,775

$28.88 ₱1,781

55.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$3.54 ₱218

35.31%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱182

$2.68 ₱165

10.07%

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

$1.20 ₱73.9

$0.68 ₱42.17

76.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.49

$0.44 ₱26.99

31.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.08 ₱66.5

116.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱220

$2.72 ₱168

30.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.10 ₱130

1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$1.07 ₱65.9

3.74%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.27 ₱140

2.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱493

$8.10 ₱500

-1.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$4.56 ₱281

-0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.57 ₱467

1.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.71 ₱167

67.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.99 ₱123

-0.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.59 ₱160

5.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$2.19 ₱135

4.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$3.30 ₱203

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.94 ₱181

-4.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.1

$1.08 ₱66.8

5.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$0.73 ₱44.88

35.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$2.70 ₱166

10.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱494

$8.99 ₱554

-10.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.0

$1.19 ₱73.4

5.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.08 ₱128

7.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.62

$0.46 ₱28.11

10.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.13

$0.77 ₱47.39

-1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.21

$0.13 ₱7.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$3.60 ₱222

-4.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.1

$1.09 ₱67.2

5.50%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$33.6K ₱2.1M

1.32%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

26.41%

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

$170 ₱10.5K

$110 ₱6,811

53.62%

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

$27.66 ₱1,706

$13.50 ₱832

104.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,207

$26.08 ₱1,608

37.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,376

$41.72 ₱2,573

31.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱742

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱506

$6.35 ₱391

29.13%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$322 ₱19.9K

0.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱473.6K

$1,163 ₱71.7K

560.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,634

$46.46 ₱2,865

26.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,213

$25.76 ₱1,588

39.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,183

$58.7 ₱3,619

43.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,622

$27.03 ₱1,667

357.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.5K

$175 ₱10.8K

276.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$87.4 ₱5,392

346.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.2K

$290 ₱17.9K

684.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.2K

$170 ₱10.5K

493.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.8K

$1,150 ₱70.9K

422.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱230.2K

$485 ₱29.9K

670.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$395 ₱24.4K

53.17%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Marikina: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $175 in Marikina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 53% 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 $29.00 in Marikina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 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 79% 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.

Average pay runs 53% 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: $657 in Makati versus $175 in Marikina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $664 in Marikina – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $664 in Marikina versus $1,188 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 $664 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 79% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.