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: $1,199 in Makati versus $803 in Negros.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,015 in Makati versus $1,227 in Negros.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,831 in Makati versus $1,650 in Negros.

Living in Makati is roughly 49% more expensive than Negros, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Negros 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.46 ₱389

$3.62 ₱218

78.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.79 ₱2,636

$13.03 ₱784

236.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.02 ₱302

$3.05 ₱183

64.59%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ₱179

$1.57 ₱94.7

89.81%

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

$1.16 ₱69.9

$0.30 ₱18.30

286.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱33.98

$0.46 ₱27.62

21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 ₱148

$1.30 ₱78.3

89.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ₱207

$2.09 ₱126

65.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₱134

$2.25 ₱136

-1.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱90.8

$1.57 ₱94.4

-3.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.0

$1.15 ₱69.4

-7.83%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱134

$2.29 ₱138

-2.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 ₱481

$12.68 ₱763

-36.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 ₱273

$5.30 ₱319

-14.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ₱466

$7.51 ₱452

3.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 ₱270

$3.46 ₱208

29.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱114

$1.53 ₱92.2

24.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ₱157

$3.33 ₱201

-21.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱131

$2.25 ₱136

-3.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 ₱203

$2.57 ₱155

31.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱172

$2.49 ₱150

14.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱65.1

$1.00 ₱60.5

8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱56.9

$0.77 ₱46.44

22.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 ₱173

$3.15 ₱190

-8.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 ₱492

$6.46 ₱389

26.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.1

$1.15 ₱69.1

8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱141

$2.35 ₱141

-0.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.00

$0.28 ₱17.04

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱216

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱49.51

$0.83 ₱50.1

-1.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.23 ₱13.83

-52.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₱217

$2.70 ₱162

33.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱66.6

$1.14 ₱68.7

-2.63%

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

$33.3K ₱2.0M

$30.2K ₱1.8M

10.23%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

-19.83%

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

$167 ₱10.1K

$96.1 ₱5,780

74.14%

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

$27.19 ₱1,636

$34.90 ₱2,100

-22.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.64 ₱2,145

$30.18 ₱1,816

18.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 ₱3,327

$34.15 ₱2,055

61.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.94 ₱718

$4.42 ₱266

170.14%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱467

$6.12 ₱368

26.80%

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

$317 ₱19.1K

$233 ₱14.0K

36.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,749 ₱466.3K

$3,942 ₱237.3K

96.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 ₱3,618

$45.68 ₱2,749

31.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.79 ₱2,094

$23.47 ₱1,412

48.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ₱5,100

$76.2 ₱4,587

11.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,438

$55.3 ₱3,330

123.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₱40.2K

$269 ₱16.2K

148.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.3K

$177 ₱10.7K

127.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,323 ₱139.8K

$582 ₱35.1K

298.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 ₱61.3K

$392 ₱23.6K

159.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,311 ₱379.8K

$2,228 ₱134.1K

183.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,938 ₱237.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$698 ₱42.0K

$245 ₱14.8K

184.71%

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: April 19, 2026

Last update for Negros: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $668 in Makati and $269 in Negros. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 185% 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: $44 in Makati vs $13 in Negros. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $240, 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 49% 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.

Makati pays 185% 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: $668 in Makati versus $269 in Negros. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Makati pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,199 per month in Makati versus $803 in Negros – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $803 in Negros versus $1,199 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 $803 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 49% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.