Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Naga Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Naga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,186 in Makati versus $770 in Naga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,004 in Makati versus $1,117 in Naga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,463 in Naga.

Living in Makati is roughly 54% more expensive than Naga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 12% lower, Naga 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$3.65 ₱222

87.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$17.76 ₱1,078

150.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.40 ₱206

43.53%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$2.44 ₱148

17.62%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.77 ₱46.49

50.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.40 ₱24.15

32.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.37 ₱83.0

78.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.15 ₱131

61.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.90 ₱115

11.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.27 ₱76.9

18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.85 ₱51.4

31.76%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$1.70 ₱103

32.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$8.00 ₱486

0.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$4.19 ₱255

5.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$7.87 ₱478

-0.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$2.86 ₱174

57.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.54 ₱93.7

24.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$2.58 ₱157

5.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.55 ₱93.9

41.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.31 ₱140

41.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$2.50 ₱152

17.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.06 ₱64.3

3.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.73 ₱44.19

35.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.52 ₱153

13.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$3.80 ₱230

117.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$1.15 ₱69.8

2.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$2.04 ₱124

14.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.26 ₱15.58

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.84 ₱51.0

-8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.22 ₱13.27

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.07 ₱126

75.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.15 ₱69.9

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$27.0K ₱1.6M

24.54%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

9.29%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$110 ₱6,701

52.56%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$32.14 ₱1,951

-14.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$26.84 ₱1,630

36.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$33.57 ₱2,038

68.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$5.92 ₱359

31.08%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$152 ₱9,242

110.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,349 ₱264.1K

76.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$46.62 ₱2,831

25.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$26.17 ₱1,589

36.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$74.8 ₱4,544

15.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$53.3 ₱3,236

135.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$262 ₱15.9K

152.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$174 ₱10.6K

125.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$326 ₱19.8K

593.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$268 ₱16.3K

275.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$145 ₱8,823

377.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Makati: June 8, 2026

Last update for Naga: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $262 in Naga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 377% 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 $18.00 in Naga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $194 per month, with Naga 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 Naga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Naga wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Naga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Makati pays 377% 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: $660 in Makati versus $262 in Naga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,186 per month in Makati versus $770 in Naga – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $770 in Naga versus $1,186 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Naga but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Naga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Naga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $770 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Naga hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Naga 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 Naga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.