Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Pagadian Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Pagadian

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,228 in Makati versus $730 in Pagadian.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Makati versus $1,099 in Pagadian.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,468 in Pagadian.

Living in Makati is roughly 68% more expensive than in Pagadian, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Pagadian 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₱411

$3.82 ₱239

71.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.99 ₱2,501

$17.08 ₱1,068

134.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₱287

$2.85 ₱178

61.05%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ₱173

$1.95 ₱122

41.54%

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

$1.07 ₱67.2

$0.82 ₱51.3

30.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.17

$0.23 ₱14.27

95.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱151

$1.46 ₱91.1

65.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.92 ₱120

69.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.71 ₱107

7.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱80.6

$1.21 ₱75.4

6.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$0.90 ₱56.0

14.44%

Eggs

$2.38 ₱149

$1.85 ₱116

28.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ₱457

$4.73 ₱296

54.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₱303

$4.16 ₱260

16.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱449

$6.85 ₱428

4.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱249

$2.49 ₱156

59.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.45 ₱90.8

40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱204

$2.42 ₱151

34.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$1.13 ₱70.4

104.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$2.28 ₱143

52.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$2.23 ₱140

55.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$0.80 ₱49.75

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$0.56 ₱34.76

98.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.94 ₱184

-8.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 ₱491

$7.96 ₱498

-1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱87.4

$0.96 ₱60.3

45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$2.01 ₱126

3.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₱56.1

$0.25 ₱15.56

260.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ₱3,582

$11.31 ₱707

406.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.10

$0.69 ₱42.95

-11.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.10

$0.23 ₱14.40

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱117

$1.93 ₱120

-2.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.3

$1.05 ₱65.4

19.05%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$24.6K ₱1.5M

-13.60%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-4.46%

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

$154 ₱9,612

$124 ₱7,751

24.02%

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

$15.78 ₱987

$16.40 ₱1,026

-3.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.11 ₱2,008

$26.48 ₱1,656

21.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 ₱3,413

$31.92 ₱1,996

70.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱901

$4.80 ₱300

200.21%

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 ₱462

$5.40 ₱338

36.85%

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

$790 ₱49.4K

$153 ₱9,562

416.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,405 ₱463.1K

$7,142 ₱446.7K

3.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₱3,742

$33.99 ₱2,126

76.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.65 ₱2,354

$21.15 ₱1,323

78.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,138

$67.9 ₱4,249

20.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₱6,469

$60.2 ₱3,762

71.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₱46.8K

$271 ₱16.9K

176.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.9K

$151 ₱9,456

184.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,276 ₱142.4K

$503 ₱31.5K

352.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 ₱67.5K

$350 ₱21.9K

208.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,003 ₱375.4K

$2,279 ₱142.5K

163.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,832 ₱239.6K

$1,165 ₱72.9K

228.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.1K

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 31, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $748 in Makati and $271 in Pagadian. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Pagadian for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $178 per month, with Pagadian 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 Pagadian: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pagadian wins on cost – living expenses run 68% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pagadian the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,842 in Makati and $1,095 in Pagadian to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $748 in Makati versus $271 in Pagadian. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,228 per month in Makati versus $730 in Pagadian – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pagadian runs roughly 406% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $730 in Pagadian versus $1,228 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pagadian but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Pagadian the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Pagadian delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $730 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pagadian hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Pagadian 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 Pagadian gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.