Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Muntinlupa Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Muntinlupa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $907 in Muntinlupa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,445 in Muntinlupa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,982 in Muntinlupa.

Living in Makati is roughly 31% more expensive than in Muntinlupa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Muntinlupa 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱403

$4.86 ₱300

34.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,775

$27.00 ₱1,665

66.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$3.10 ₱191

54.52%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱182

$2.71 ₱167

8.86%

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

$1.20 ₱73.9

$0.93 ₱57.6

29.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.49

$0.46 ₱28.15

26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.45 ₱89.7

61.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱220

$2.68 ₱165

32.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.97 ₱121

8.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.3

$1.24 ₱76.3

15.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$1.04 ₱64.3

6.73%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.02 ₱124

15.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱493

$6.92 ₱427

15.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$4.77 ₱294

-5.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.66 ₱472

0.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱280

$4.04 ₱249

12.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.59 ₱97.8

24.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.96 ₱182

-8.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$2.42 ₱149

-5.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.67 ₱165

29.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$3.02 ₱186

-7.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.1

$1.97 ₱121

-42.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$1.00 ₱61.8

-1.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$3.13 ₱193

-4.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱494

$8.71 ₱537

-8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.0

$1.55 ₱95.4

-19.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.98 ₱122

13.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.62

$0.28 ₱17.35

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$13.98 ₱862

-74.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.13

$0.81 ₱50.0

-6.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.21

$0.24 ₱14.81

-45.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.12 ₱131

62.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.1

$1.10 ₱68.1

4.55%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

30.64%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

6.32%

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

$170 ₱10.5K

$139 ₱8,559

22.26%

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

$27.66 ₱1,706

$21.53 ₱1,328

28.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,207

$30.18 ₱1,861

18.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,376

$49.03 ₱3,024

11.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱742

$4.49 ₱277

167.93%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱506

$6.59 ₱406

24.43%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$115 ₱7,068

182.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱473.6K

$4,636 ₱285.9K

65.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,634

$46.47 ₱2,866

26.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,213

$34.50 ₱2,127

4.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,183

$98.6 ₱6,080

-14.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,622

$95.1 ₱5,863

30.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.5K

$399 ₱24.6K

64.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$210 ₱13.0K

85.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.2K

$1,160 ₱71.5K

95.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.2K

$438 ₱27.0K

130.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.8K

$2,398 ₱147.9K

150.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱230.2K

$966 ₱59.6K

286.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$624 ₱38.5K

-2.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

7.52

-11.30%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Muntinlupa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $399 in Muntinlupa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muntinlupa pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $27.00 in Muntinlupa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $229 per month, with Muntinlupa 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 Muntinlupa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muntinlupa wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Muntinlupa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Muntinlupa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Makati versus $399 in Muntinlupa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $907 in Muntinlupa – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Muntinlupa runs roughly 291% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $907 in Muntinlupa versus $1,188 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Muntinlupa but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Muntinlupa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Muntinlupa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $907 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Muntinlupa hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Muntinlupa 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 Muntinlupa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.