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: $1,226 in Makati versus $779 in Naga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $1,145 in Naga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,510 in Naga.

Living in Makati is roughly 57% more expensive than in Naga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Naga 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.45 ₱211

91.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$18.03 ₱1,104

148.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.29 ₱201

44.98%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.46 ₱151

19.92%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.83 ₱50.8

38.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.37 ₱22.36

40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.36 ₱83.3

74.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.17 ₱133

66.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.90 ₱116

13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.27 ₱77.6

13.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.86 ₱52.8

23.26%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.72 ₱105

36.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$8.23 ₱504

-4.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.20 ₱257

6.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.50 ₱459

4.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$2.90 ₱177

52.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.57 ₱96.3

25.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.70 ₱165

-4.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.55 ₱95.1

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.32 ₱142

46.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.54 ₱155

10.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.06 ₱64.9

2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.76 ₱46.72

23.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$2.60 ₱159

13.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$3.85 ₱236

105.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.21 ₱74.0

1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.97 ₱121

14.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.28 ₱17.33

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.81 ₱49.72

-4.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.22 ₱13.43

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.08 ₱128

74.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.11 ₱67.7

3.60%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$26.9K ₱1.6M

24.33%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

8.31%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$113 ₱6,916

53.38%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$32.32 ₱1,979

-15.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$26.39 ₱1,616

37.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$34.42 ₱2,107

59.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$5.76 ₱353

39.76%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$153 ₱9,389

110.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,369 ₱267.4K

76.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$45.11 ₱2,761

32.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$27.01 ₱1,654

33.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$75.4 ₱4,616

13.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$53.7 ₱3,289

127.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$267 ₱16.3K

147.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$173 ₱10.6K

124.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$323 ₱19.8K

598.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$266 ₱16.3K

287.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$147 ₱9,005

314.32%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Naga: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $267 in Naga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 314% 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 $232 vs $196 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 57% 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.

Average pay runs 314% 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: $660 in Makati versus $267 in Naga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $779 in Naga – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $779 in Naga versus $1,226 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 $779 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 57% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.