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: $1,232 in Makati versus $908 in Muntinlupa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,443 in Muntinlupa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,978 in Muntinlupa.

Living in Makati is roughly 36% more expensive than Muntinlupa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Muntinlupa 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$4.86 ₱300

39.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$26.26 ₱1,619

71.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$3.10 ₱191

59.03%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.61 ₱161

9.96%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.93 ₱57.5

27.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.46 ₱28.06

21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.39 ₱85.7

75.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$2.60 ₱160

40.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.95 ₱120

9.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.30 ₱79.9

10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$1.04 ₱64.2

3.85%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$1.97 ₱121

18.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$6.94 ₱428

17.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$4.65 ₱287

-4.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$7.39 ₱456

3.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$3.88 ₱239

17.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.63 ₱100

17.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.90 ₱179

-6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.40 ₱148

-6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.79 ₱172

17.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$3.15 ₱194

-9.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$2.04 ₱126

-47.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$1.00 ₱61.7

-1.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$3.15 ₱194

-6.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$8.87 ₱547

-6.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.54 ₱95.1

-22.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.95 ₱120

20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.26 ₱15.88

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$14.26 ₱879

-74.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.81 ₱50.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.22 ₱13.56

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.15 ₱133

66.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.11 ₱68.6

-0.90%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$25.4K ₱1.6M

34.77%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

5.24%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$136 ₱8,365

26.79%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$21.84 ₱1,347

23.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$30.19 ₱1,861

20.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$49.51 ₱3,053

13.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$4.40 ₱271

167.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$6.68 ₱412

18.26%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$113 ₱6,996

182.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$4,642 ₱286.2K

62.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$45.94 ₱2,833

31.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$35.22 ₱2,172

1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$97.2 ₱5,996

-11.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$95.3 ₱5,878

27.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$402 ₱24.8K

65.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$207 ₱12.8K

88.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$1,162 ₱71.6K

94.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$437 ₱27.0K

134.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$2,468 ₱152.2K

143.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$975 ₱60.1K

295.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$630 ₱38.8K

8.19%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Muntinlupa: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $402 in Muntinlupa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 8% 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 $26.00 in Muntinlupa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $228 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 36% 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.

Makati pays 8% 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 $402 in Muntinlupa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Makati versus $908 in Muntinlupa – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Muntinlupa runs roughly 298% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $908 in Muntinlupa versus $1,232 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 $908 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 36% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.