Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Pampanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Pampanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $648 in Pampanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $1,107 in Pampanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,565 in Pampanga.

Living in Makati is roughly 89% more expensive than in Pampanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Pampanga 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.01 ₱184

119.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$17.48 ₱1,070

155.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.17 ₱194

50.47%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.72 ₱166

8.46%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.43 ₱26.05

167.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.35 ₱21.70

48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.15 ₱70.5

106.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.35 ₱144

53.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.43 ₱87.8

50.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.14 ₱69.5

26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.84 ₱51.5

26.19%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.44 ₱88.4

63.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$4.30 ₱263

83.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$2.98 ₱183

50.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.43 ₱455

4.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$2.10 ₱129

110.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.04 ₱63.6

89.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.23 ₱137

16.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.01 ₱61.6

114.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$1.64 ₱100

107.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$1.80 ₱110

56.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$0.91 ₱55.9

19.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.66 ₱40.63

42.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$2.08 ₱127

41.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$6.02 ₱369

31.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$0.74 ₱45.56

66.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.40 ₱85.5

60.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.27 ₱16.40

103.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

$11.60 ₱710

-68.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.83 ₱50.5

-7.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.27 ₱16.49

-59.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.15 ₱132

68.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.16 ₱71.0

-0.86%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

89.82%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

24.09%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$130 ₱7,962

33.23%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$27.07 ₱1,657

1.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$26.10 ₱1,597

39.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$51.0 ₱3,122

7.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.40 ₱269

166.36%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$4.49 ₱275

79.29%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$124 ₱7,581

161.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$1,749 ₱107.1K

341.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$28.98 ₱1,774

105.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$26.22 ₱1,605

37.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$59.9 ₱3,664

42.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$41.28 ₱2,527

195.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$149 ₱9,115

343.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$97.9 ₱5,992

298.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$592 ₱36.3K

281.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$427 ₱26.1K

141.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,444 ₱149.6K

147.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$964 ₱59.0K

297.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$298 ₱18.2K

104.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.17

8.10%

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

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for Pampanga: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $149 in Pampanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 105% 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 $17.00 in Pampanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $154 per month, with Pampanga 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 Pampanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pampanga wins on cost – living expenses run 89% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pampanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 105% 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: $660 in Makati versus $149 in Pampanga. 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 $648 in Pampanga – a 89% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pampanga runs roughly 220% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $648 in Pampanga versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pampanga but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Pampanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Pampanga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $648 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pampanga hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Pampanga 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 Pampanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.