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: $1,188 in Makati versus $682 in Olongapo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,032 in Olongapo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,382 in Olongapo.

Living in Makati is roughly 74% more expensive than in Olongapo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Olongapo 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱403

$3.65 ₱225

78.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,775

$13.32 ₱821

237.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$2.60 ₱161

84.23%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱182

$2.42 ₱149

21.90%

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

$1.20 ₱73.9

$0.64 ₱39.73

87.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.49

$0.41 ₱25.24

41.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.40 ₱86.4

67.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱220

$1.56 ₱96.2

128.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.91 ₱118

12.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.3

$0.46 ₱28.42

210.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$0.87 ₱53.9

27.59%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.15 ₱133

8.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱493

$9.13 ₱563

-12.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$2.88 ₱178

56.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$8.47 ₱522

-8.97%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.72 ₱168

66.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.03 ₱63.7

92.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.31 ₱142

17.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.21 ₱74.4

88.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.83 ₱113

88.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.28 ₱141

22.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.1

$0.67 ₱41.45

70.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$0.46 ₱28.45

115.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$3.19 ₱196

-6.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱494

$9.13 ₱563

-12.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.0

$1.02 ₱62.9

22.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.28 ₱141

-1.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.62

$0.22 ₱13.58

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$17.89 ₱1,103

-79.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.13

$0.86 ₱53.2

-11.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.21

$0.24 ₱14.83

-45.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.36 ₱145

46.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.1

$1.15 ₱70.7

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$32.0K ₱2.0M

6.28%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

7.91%

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

$170 ₱10.5K

$144 ₱8,894

17.65%

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

$27.66 ₱1,706

$34.47 ₱2,126

-19.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,207

$25.75 ₱1,588

38.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,376

$15.19 ₱937

260.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱742

$4.41 ₱272

172.79%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱506

$4.45 ₱274

84.27%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$87.9 ₱5,420

268.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱473.6K

$4,709 ₱290.4K

63.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,634

$47.78 ₱2,947

23.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,213

$27.72 ₱1,710

29.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,183

$76.8 ₱4,736

9.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,622

$46.94 ₱2,895

163.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.5K

$126 ₱7,777

420.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$88.4 ₱5,452

341.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.2K

$263 ₱16.2K

763.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.2K

$175 ₱10.8K

475.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.8K

$2,266 ₱139.7K

165.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱230.2K

$970 ₱59.8K

284.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$136 ₱8,406

343.97%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Olongapo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $126 in Olongapo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 344% 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 $235 vs $184 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 74% 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.

Average pay runs 344% 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: $657 in Makati versus $126 in Olongapo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $682 in Olongapo – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Olongapo runs roughly 400% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $682 in Olongapo versus $1,188 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 $682 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 74% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.