Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Palawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Palawan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $801 in Palawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,231 in Palawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,661 in Palawan.

Living in Makati is roughly 53% more expensive than in Palawan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Palawan 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$3.52 ₱221

83.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,529

$19.32 ₱1,212

108.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$3.25 ₱204

44.62%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$0.78 ₱49.22

42.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.44

$0.39 ₱24.69

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.24 ₱78.0

89.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.16 ₱136

48.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.92 ₱121

-0.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.27 ₱79.6

0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.7

$1.03 ₱64.5

1.94%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$2.05 ₱129

20.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$7.85 ₱493

-11.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$4.28 ₱269

13.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$7.93 ₱497

-14.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$2.98 ₱187

38.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.55 ₱97.5

29.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.68 ₱168

19.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.62 ₱102

40.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.30 ₱144

53.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$2.60 ₱163

38.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$1.07 ₱67.1

2.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.71 ₱44.70

60.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.81 ₱176

-8.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$6.87 ₱431

16.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.8

$1.17 ₱73.2

12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.98 ₱124

2.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.28 ₱17.59

250.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,616

$11.56 ₱725

398.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.17

$0.79 ₱49.52

-15.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.16

$0.22 ₱13.79

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$2.08 ₱131

-10.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$1.09 ₱68.7

13.76%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

-19.11%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

-5.55%

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

$152 ₱9,548

$113 ₱7,082

34.83%

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

$16.13 ₱1,013

$32.31 ₱2,028

-50.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,985

$27.98 ₱1,756

13.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,418

$33.76 ₱2,119

61.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱907

$4.36 ₱273

231.42%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.80 ₱364

19.83%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$151 ₱9,492

430.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.9K

$4,399 ₱276.1K

69.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,758

$45.96 ₱2,885

30.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,354

$26.55 ₱1,666

41.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,134

$76.7 ₱4,816

6.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,549

$53.8 ₱3,377

93.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$265 ₱16.6K

183.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$173 ₱10.9K

147.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.0K

$584 ₱36.7K

290.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$393 ₱24.7K

167.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.1K

$2,364 ₱148.4K

148.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.1K

$1,003 ₱63.0K

273.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.67

12.44%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Palawan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $265 in Palawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $19.00 in Palawan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $204 per month, with Palawan 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 Palawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palawan wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Palawan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,840 in Makati and $1,202 in Palawan 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: $752 in Makati versus $265 in Palawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $801 in Palawan – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palawan runs roughly 398% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $801 in Palawan versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Palawan but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Palawan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Palawan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $801 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Palawan hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Palawan 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 Palawan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.