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 $747 in Negros.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,136 in Negros.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,524 in Negros.

Living in Makati is roughly 64% more expensive than in Negros, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Negros 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱407

$3.07 ₱193

110.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,531

$12.00 ₱754

235.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.85 ₱179

64.91%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.47 ₱92.4

80.27%

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$0.63 ₱39.40

76.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.47

$0.41 ₱26.07

9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.20 ₱75.7

95.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.95 ₱122

64.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.90 ₱119

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$1.11 ₱69.7

15.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$0.97 ₱61.1

8.25%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$2.03 ₱128

22.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$10.23 ₱643

-31.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$4.39 ₱276

10.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$7.60 ₱477

-10.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$3.49 ₱219

18.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.44 ₱90.5

38.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.38 ₱149

34.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.54 ₱96.5

48.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.37 ₱149

48.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.87 ₱118

91.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.4

$1.20 ₱75.1

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.68 ₱42.80

67.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.92 ₱183

-11.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$6.35 ₱399

25.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$1.22 ₱76.9

8.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.65 ₱104

23.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.22 ₱14.13

345.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,619

$10.14 ₱637

468.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.21

$0.72 ₱45.40

-6.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

$0.20 ₱12.54

5.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.87 ₱117

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$1.32 ₱82.7

-6.06%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.4M

-1.86%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

0.77%

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

$152 ₱9,557

$123 ₱7,696

24.18%

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

$16.13 ₱1,014

$14.81 ₱931

8.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,987

$27.47 ₱1,726

15.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,422

$30.31 ₱1,904

79.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱908

$4.75 ₱299

204.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱437

$5.53 ₱347

25.68%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$135 ₱8,483

494.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱468.3K

$7,906 ₱496.7K

-5.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,761

$32.18 ₱2,021

86.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,356

$19.16 ₱1,204

95.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,139

$76.2 ₱4,786

7.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,555

$56.5 ₱3,546

84.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.3K

$273 ₱17.2K

175.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.0K

$164 ₱10.3K

161.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.2K

$497 ₱31.2K

358.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.2K

$347 ₱21.8K

203.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.5K

$2,545 ₱159.9K

130.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.3K

$882 ₱55.4K

324.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$236 ₱14.8K

158.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.14%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Negros: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $273 in Negros. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 158% 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: $40.00 in Makati vs $12.00 in Negros for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $207 per month, with Negros 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 Negros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Negros wins on cost – living expenses run 64% 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 158% 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: $752 in Makati versus $273 in Negros. 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 $747 in Negros – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Negros runs roughly 468% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $747 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 $747 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 64% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.