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: $1,186 in Makati versus $657 in Nueva Ecija.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,004 in Makati versus $1,061 in Nueva Ecija.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,465 in Nueva Ecija.

Living in Makati is roughly 80% more expensive than Nueva Ecija, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 12% lower, Nueva Ecija 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$4.46 ₱271

53.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$35.59 ₱2,161

25.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.26 ₱198

49.69%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$1.35 ₱82.0

112.59%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.76 ₱46.43

52.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.36 ₱21.96

47.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$0.91 ₱55.5

168.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.24 ₱136

55.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$2.97 ₱180

-28.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.00 ₱60.8

51.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$1.00 ₱60.6

12.00%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$1.70 ₱103

32.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$8.19 ₱498

-1.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$3.82 ₱232

15.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$6.33 ₱384

23.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$4.06 ₱247

11.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$0.83 ₱50.6

130.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$1.87 ₱113

45.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.84 ₱112

19.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$1.74 ₱105

87.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$2.19 ₱133

33.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$2.29 ₱139

-51.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.47 ₱28.58

110.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.46 ₱150

15.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$4.40 ₱267

87.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$1.40 ₱85.0

-15.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$2.46 ₱149

-5.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.30 ₱18.02

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

$6.24 ₱379

-44.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.79 ₱47.77

-2.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.22 ₱13.28

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$1.18 ₱71.8

208.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$0.96 ₱58.3

19.79%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$18.1K ₱1.1M

86.06%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$23.1K ₱1.4M

-4.34%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$87.5 ₱5,313

92.42%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$32.89 ₱1,997

-16.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$20.22 ₱1,228

81.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$34.01 ₱2,065

66.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$4.40 ₱267

165.68%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$5.10 ₱310

52.16%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$153 ₱9,318

108.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,263 ₱258.8K

79.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$45.69 ₱2,774

28.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$34.10 ₱2,070

4.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$69.4 ₱4,214

24.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$114 ₱6,899

10.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$131 ₱7,927

405.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$75.9 ₱4,606

419.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$191 ₱11.6K

1082.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$140 ₱8,507

619.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$2,471 ₱150.0K

147.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$1,011 ₱61.4K

269.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$196 ₱11.9K

252.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.17

8.10%

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

Last update for Makati: June 8, 2026

Last update for Nueva Ecija: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $131 in Nueva Ecija. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 253% 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 $36.00 in Nueva Ecija for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $200 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 80% 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.

Makati pays 253% 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: $660 in Makati versus $131 in Nueva Ecija. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,186 per month in Makati versus $657 in Nueva Ecija – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 79% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $657 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,186 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 $657 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 80% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.