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: $1,237 in Makati versus $714 in Olongapo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,066 in Olongapo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,418 in Olongapo.

Living in Makati is roughly 73% more expensive than in Olongapo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Olongapo 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$4.10 ₱257

56.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$16.97 ₱1,064

135.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$2.88 ₱181

59.03%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$1.79 ₱112

45.25%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.61 ₱38.04

85.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.34 ₱21.61

41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.03 ₱64.3

133.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.45 ₱91.1

124.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.64 ₱103

18.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$0.38 ₱23.88

223.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.82 ₱51.2

30.49%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.94 ₱122

27.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.19 ₱325

40.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$2.63 ₱165

84.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$7.84 ₱492

-11.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$2.22 ₱139

79.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$0.99 ₱61.8

102.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.42 ₱152

33.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.03 ₱64.7

130.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$1.70 ₱106

102.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$1.80 ₱113

90.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$0.66 ₱41.23

68.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.39 ₱24.33

197.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.98 ₱187

-13.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$8.73 ₱547

-7.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.95 ₱59.9

42.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$2.00 ₱125

2.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.27 ₱17.03

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

$11.04 ₱692

424.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.79 ₱49.46

-22.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.34

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.96 ₱123

-5.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.13 ₱71.0

4.42%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

2.93%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

-0.53%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$130 ₱8,158

18.67%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$17.95 ₱1,125

-9.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$23.68 ₱1,485

32.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$31.71 ₱1,988

70.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

$4.92 ₱308

190.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$4.37 ₱274

62.47%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$80.3 ₱5,033

875.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$10.7K ₱668.4K

-30.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$28.68 ₱1,798

110.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$19.44 ₱1,219

93.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$71.9 ₱4,505

14.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$56.7 ₱3,555

84.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$264 ₱16.5K

186.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$169 ₱10.6K

153.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$261 ₱16.3K

796.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$350 ₱22.0K

205.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

$2,556 ₱160.2K

132.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

$1,054 ₱66.0K

262.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$138 ₱8,654

339.10%

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Olongapo: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $264 in Olongapo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 339% 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: $40.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Olongapo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $158 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 73% 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 339% 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: $755 in Makati versus $264 in Olongapo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Makati versus $714 in Olongapo – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Olongapo runs roughly 424% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $714 in Olongapo versus $1,237 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 $714 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 73% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.