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: $1,204 in Makati versus $663 in Pampanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $1,114 in Pampanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,566 in Pampanga.

Living in Makati is roughly 82% more expensive than Pampanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Pampanga 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱409

$3.15 ₱193

112.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,706

$17.78 ₱1,088

148.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱299

$3.14 ₱192

55.41%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱179

$2.71 ₱166

8.12%

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

$1.19 ₱73.1

$0.43 ₱26.09

176.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.49

$0.38 ₱23.44

47.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱148

$1.19 ₱73.0

103.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.34 ₱143

54.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱135

$1.44 ₱88.2

52.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱91.2

$1.14 ₱69.6

30.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.2

$0.85 ₱51.9

25.88%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱143

$1.45 ₱88.7

61.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱501

$4.34 ₱266

88.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱270

$2.94 ₱180

50.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱471

$7.10 ₱434

8.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱267

$2.16 ₱132

101.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱122

$1.09 ₱66.6

83.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱157

$2.31 ₱142

11.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱136

$0.92 ₱56.5

142.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱211

$1.69 ₱104

104.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱175

$1.79 ₱109

59.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱69.5

$0.96 ₱58.7

18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.2

$0.61 ₱37.25

67.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱174

$2.18 ₱134

30.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱497

$6.24 ₱382

30.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.5

$0.78 ₱48.00

60.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱142

$1.39 ₱85.3

66.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.13

$0.29 ₱17.78

86.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱223

$11.52 ₱705

-68.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.96

$0.77 ₱46.81

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.44

$0.29 ₱17.86

-62.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱223

$2.07 ₱127

76.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.4

$1.16 ₱70.9

-5.17%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

88.03%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$17.9K ₱1.1M

20.17%

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

$171 ₱10.4K

$129 ₱7,916

31.90%

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

$26.96 ₱1,649

$26.24 ₱1,605

2.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,201

$26.33 ₱1,611

36.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,402

$50.6 ₱3,095

9.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱726

$4.36 ₱267

172.25%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱501

$4.34 ₱266

88.71%

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

$322 ₱19.7K

$126 ₱7,737

154.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱477.9K

$1,792 ₱109.6K

335.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,598

$29.11 ₱1,781

102.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,188

$26.13 ₱1,599

36.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,132

$60.4 ₱3,695

38.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,550

$42.61 ₱2,607

189.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱40.8K

$153 ₱9,331

337.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.6K

$95.8 ₱5,862

320.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱141.1K

$595 ₱36.4K

287.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.1K

$414 ₱25.3K

145.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱384.4K

$2,387 ₱146.0K

163.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱238.8K

$1,321 ₱80.8K

195.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.6K

$299 ₱18.3K

137.87%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Pampanga: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $153 in Pampanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 138% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $18.00 in Pampanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 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 82% 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.

Makati pays 138% more on average, 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: $667 in Makati versus $153 in Pampanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Makati versus $663 in Pampanga – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pampanga runs roughly 216% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $663 in Pampanga versus $1,204 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 $663 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 82% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.