Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Negros Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Negros

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $788 in Negros.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $1,231 in Negros.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,674 in Negros.

Living in Makati is roughly 56% more expensive than in Negros, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.54 ₱217

86.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$13.56 ₱830

229.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.05 ₱187

56.39%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.56 ₱95.6

89.10%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.33 ₱20.43

248.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.43 ₱26.16

20.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.36 ₱83.1

74.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.18 ₱134

65.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.20 ₱135

-2.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.57 ₱96.1

-8.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$1.11 ₱68.0

-4.50%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.34 ₱143

0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$13.07 ₱800

-39.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$5.39 ₱330

-16.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.49 ₱458

4.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$3.49 ₱214

26.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.50 ₱91.8

31.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$3.33 ₱204

-22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$2.27 ₱139

-4.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.58 ₱158

32.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.53 ₱155

11.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$0.93 ₱56.7

17.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.79 ₱48.48

18.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$3.24 ₱198

-8.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$6.43 ₱394

22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.16 ₱71.3

6.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$2.34 ₱143

-3.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.26 ₱15.73

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.86 ₱52.7

-10.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.25 ₱15.42

-56.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.60 ₱159

39.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.13 ₱69.4

1.77%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$30.7K ₱1.9M

8.75%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$27.5K ₱1.7M

-20.60%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$98.3 ₱6,018

76.27%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$33.77 ₱2,067

-18.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$29.29 ₱1,793

24.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$34.11 ₱2,088

61.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.36 ₱267

168.81%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$5.88 ₱360

36.90%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$235 ₱14.4K

37.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$3,884 ₱237.8K

98.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$46.07 ₱2,820

29.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$23.31 ₱1,427

54.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$75.1 ₱4,596

13.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$56.4 ₱3,453

116.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$265 ₱16.2K

148.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$176 ₱10.8K

121.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$587 ₱35.9K

285.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$397 ₱24.3K

160.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,112 ₱129.3K

186.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$921 ₱56.4K

316.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$240 ₱14.7K

154.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-4.71%

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

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for Negros: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $265 in Negros. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 154% 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 $14.00 in Negros. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $241, with Makati cheaper for home cooking.

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 Negros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Negros wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Negros the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 154% 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 $265 in Negros. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Makati pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $788 in Negros – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $788 in Negros versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Negros but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Negros the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Negros delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $788 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Negros hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Negros 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 Negros gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.