Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Nueva Ecija Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Nueva Ecija

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,198 in Makati versus $543 in Nueva Ecija.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,052 in Makati versus $958 in Nueva Ecija.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,907 in Makati versus $1,374 in Nueva Ecija.

Living in Makati is roughly 120% more expensive than in Nueva Ecija, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 13% lower, Nueva Ecija 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.42 ₱396

$4.10 ₱253

56.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.95 ₱2,524

$17.24 ₱1,063

137.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 ₱286

$2.88 ₱177

60.76%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱163

$1.48 ₱91.2

79.05%

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

$1.09 ₱67.4

$0.58 ₱35.52

87.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.31

$0.35 ₱21.34

48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 ₱151

$1.02 ₱63.1

140.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₱196

$1.65 ₱102

92.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.64 ₱101

14.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₱81.0

$0.90 ₱55.2

45.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.6

$0.95 ₱58.8

13.68%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱139

$1.63 ₱101

38.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₱457

$5.32 ₱328

39.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 ₱314

$3.45 ₱213

47.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 ₱442

$5.70 ₱351

25.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 ₱253

$2.24 ₱138

83.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 ₱120

$0.76 ₱46.62

155.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$1.78 ₱110

34.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.05 ₱64.6

88.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ₱184

$1.76 ₱108

69.89%

Onion (1kg)

$3.48 ₱215

$1.83 ₱113

90.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱68.2

$0.67 ₱41.16

65.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱69.9

$0.43 ₱26.72

162.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₱160

$2.31 ₱143

12.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 ₱488

$4.41 ₱272

79.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 ₱83.8

$0.94 ₱58.0

44.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱124

$2.12 ₱131

-4.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₱58.1

$0.27 ₱16.52

248.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.5 ₱3,605

$5.54 ₱342

955.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱41.17

$0.76 ₱46.68

-11.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.49

$0.14 ₱8.70

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 ₱118

$1.08 ₱66.6

76.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₱77.7

$0.87 ₱53.8

44.83%

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

$22.1K ₱1.4M

$16.3K ₱1.0M

35.09%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

0.74%

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

$153 ₱9,453

$79.9 ₱4,927

91.84%

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

$16.87 ₱1,040

$17.73 ₱1,093

-4.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.74 ₱1,895

$18.72 ₱1,154

64.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₱3,491

$36.83 ₱2,271

53.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱888

$4.21 ₱260

242.28%

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 ₱452

$4.42 ₱272

66.06%

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

$822 ₱50.7K

$137 ₱8,470

498.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,484 ₱461.4K

$10.6K ₱651.3K

-29.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 ₱3,723

$29.45 ₱1,815

105.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.93 ₱2,338

$20.21 ₱1,246

87.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ₱5,209

$69.2 ₱4,264

22.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₱6,519

$57.4 ₱3,535

84.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ₱45.5K

$119 ₱7,348

519.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.9K

$69.6 ₱4,288

458.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 ₱143.2K

$177 ₱10.9K

1214.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,081 ₱66.6K

$351 ₱21.6K

207.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,146 ₱378.9K

$2,408 ₱148.5K

155.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱230.4K

$1,075 ₱66.3K

247.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 ₱37.7K

$196 ₱12.1K

211.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Makati: August 17, 2026

Last update for Nueva Ecija: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Makati and $119 in Nueva Ecija. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 212% 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: $41.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Nueva Ecija for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $149 per month, with Nueva Ecija 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 Nueva Ecija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nueva Ecija wins on cost – living expenses run 120% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nueva Ecija the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 212% 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: $738 in Makati versus $119 in Nueva Ecija. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,198 per month in Makati versus $543 in Nueva Ecija – a 120% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 956% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $543 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,198 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nueva Ecija but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Nueva Ecija the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Nueva Ecija delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $543 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nueva Ecija hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Nueva Ecija 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 Nueva Ecija gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.