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: $1,226 in Makati versus $724 in Muntinlupa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,148 in Muntinlupa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,572 in Muntinlupa.

Living in Makati is roughly 70% more expensive than in Muntinlupa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Muntinlupa 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$3.90 ₱244

65.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$27.24 ₱1,709

47.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.82 ₱177

66.67%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.32 ₱146

14.22%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.94 ₱59.1

18.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.47 ₱29.58

-4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.20 ₱75.4

95.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.81 ₱113

76.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.71 ₱107

11.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.16 ₱73.0

10.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$1.00 ₱62.9

5.00%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$2.01 ₱126

23.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$4.94 ₱310

41.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$3.77 ₱237

28.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$6.88 ₱431

-1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.33 ₱146

76.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.54 ₱96.5

29.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.45 ₱154

30.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.30 ₱81.8

75.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.72 ₱108

104.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.93 ₱121

86.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$0.78 ₱48.76

41.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.54 ₱34.13

111.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.93 ₱183

-12.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$8.60 ₱539

-7.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$1.26 ₱79.1

4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.00 ₱126

1.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.27 ₱16.68

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

$11.43 ₱717

404.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

$0.81 ₱50.9

-17.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.23 ₱14.44

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.95 ₱122

-4.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.19 ₱74.7

4.20%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-0.67%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.0K ₱1.2M

3.77%

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

$152 ₱9,541

$125 ₱7,814

22.10%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$15.07 ₱945

7.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$23.99 ₱1,505

31.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$32.15 ₱2,017

69.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$4.54 ₱285

218.28%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.21 ₱327

33.40%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$134 ₱8,381

500.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

$8,842 ₱554.6K

-15.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

$32.10 ₱2,014

86.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$19.74 ₱1,238

89.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

$77.7 ₱4,871

5.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

$57.6 ₱3,612

81.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$240 ₱15.1K

212.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$169 ₱10.6K

153.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$491 ₱30.8K

364.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$401 ₱25.1K

162.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

$2,576 ₱161.6K

127.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

$1,049 ₱65.8K

257.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$617 ₱38.7K

-1.21%

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 Muntinlupa: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $240 in Muntinlupa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muntinlupa pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $27.00 in Muntinlupa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $178 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 70% 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 1% 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: $752 in Makati versus $240 in Muntinlupa. 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 $724 in Muntinlupa – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Muntinlupa runs roughly 404% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $724 in Muntinlupa versus $1,226 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 $724 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 70% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.