Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Olongapo Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Olongapo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Makati versus $698 in Olongapo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,040 in Olongapo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,381 in Olongapo.

Living in Makati is roughly 76% more expensive than Olongapo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Olongapo 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$3.49 ₱215

94.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$13.38 ₱825

237.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$2.61 ₱161

88.89%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.46 ₱151

16.67%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.69 ₱42.27

72.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.40 ₱24.77

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.44 ₱88.9

69.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$1.64 ₱101

123.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.91 ₱118

12.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$0.42 ₱26.07

240.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.85 ₱52.2

27.06%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.19 ₱135

6.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$9.15 ₱564

-10.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$2.77 ₱171

59.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$8.71 ₱537

-12.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$2.75 ₱170

66.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.03 ₱63.8

86.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.35 ₱145

14.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.20 ₱74.1

87.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$1.89 ₱116

74.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$2.19 ₱135

30.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$0.69 ₱42.36

56.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.42 ₱25.82

135.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$3.22 ₱199

-8.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$8.65 ₱534

-4.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.02 ₱63.1

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.33 ₱143

0.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.20 ₱12.31

155.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$17.94 ₱1,106

-80.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.86 ₱53.0

-5.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.22 ₱13.56

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.35 ₱145

52.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.11 ₱68.8

-0.90%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$31.5K ₱1.9M

8.76%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

4.24%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$146 ₱9,025

17.52%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$35.09 ₱2,164

-23.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$26.68 ₱1,645

36.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$15.26 ₱941

266.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$5.19 ₱320

127.17%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$4.36 ₱269

81.19%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$87.7 ₱5,409

265.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$4,814 ₱296.9K

56.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$49.21 ₱3,034

22.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$27.28 ₱1,682

30.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$76.6 ₱4,722

11.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$46.15 ₱2,846

164.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$124 ₱7,668

435.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$90.0 ₱5,547

333.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$261 ₱16.1K

767.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$181 ₱11.1K

466.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$320 ₱19.7K

1104.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$136 ₱8,363

402.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Olongapo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $124 in Olongapo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 403% 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 $13.00 in Olongapo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $183 per month, with Olongapo 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 Olongapo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Olongapo wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Olongapo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Makati pays 403% 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: $666 in Makati versus $124 in Olongapo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Makati versus $698 in Olongapo – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Olongapo runs roughly 401% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $698 in Olongapo versus $1,232 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Olongapo but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Olongapo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Olongapo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $698 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Olongapo hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Olongapo 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 Olongapo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.