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: $1,186 in Makati versus $650 in Pampanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,004 in Makati versus $1,091 in Pampanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,532 in Pampanga.

Living in Makati is roughly 83% more expensive than Pampanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 12% lower, Pampanga 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$3.11 ₱189

119.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$17.86 ₱1,085

149.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.12 ₱190

56.41%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$2.71 ₱165

5.90%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.39 ₱23.93

197.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.35 ₱21.36

51.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.19 ₱72.1

105.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.36 ₱143

47.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.46 ₱88.6

45.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.13 ₱68.6

33.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.86 ₱52.2

30.23%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$1.46 ₱88.7

54.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$4.54 ₱276

77.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$2.95 ₱179

49.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$7.21 ₱438

8.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$2.17 ₱132

107.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.09 ₱66.2

75.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$2.25 ₱136

20.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.01 ₱61.1

116.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$1.64 ₱99.6

98.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$1.73 ₱105

69.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$0.90 ₱54.6

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.62 ₱37.36

59.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.08 ₱126

37.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$6.02 ₱365

37.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$0.77 ₱47.04

53.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$1.38 ₱83.8

68.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.27 ₱16.25

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

$11.62 ₱705

-69.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.76 ₱46.29

1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.29 ₱17.71

-55.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.18 ₱133

66.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.14 ₱69.4

0.88%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

91.32%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

27.01%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$128 ₱7,789

31.25%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$27.01 ₱1,640

2.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$26.97 ₱1,638

35.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$52.3 ₱3,177

7.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$4.53 ₱275

158.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$4.48 ₱272

73.21%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$125 ₱7,599

155.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$1,755 ₱106.6K

336.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$28.73 ₱1,745

103.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$26.88 ₱1,632

32.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$60.3 ₱3,661

42.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$41.76 ₱2,535

200.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$152 ₱9,246

333.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$99.4 ₱6,034

296.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$586 ₱35.6K

286.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$427 ₱25.9K

136.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$2,483 ₱150.8K

146.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$995 ₱60.4K

275.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$299 ₱18.1K

132.15%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Pampanga: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $152 in Pampanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 132% 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 $18.00 in Pampanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $155 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 83% 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 132% 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: $660 in Makati versus $152 in Pampanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,186 per month in Makati versus $650 in Pampanga – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pampanga runs roughly 233% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $650 in Pampanga versus $1,186 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 $650 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 83% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.