Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Panglao Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Panglao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $828 in Panglao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,237 in Panglao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,646 in Panglao.

Living in Makati is roughly 44% more expensive than in Panglao, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Panglao 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$4.32 ₱266

51.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$12.52 ₱771

259.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$4.30 ₱265

11.40%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.55 ₱157

15.69%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.79 ₱48.50

51.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.26 ₱15.94

123.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.49 ₱92.0

57.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.87 ₱115

90.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.68 ₱104

27.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.08 ₱66.5

32.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.04 ₱63.8

6.73%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.92 ₱118

21.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$9.18 ₱565

-12.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$5.09 ₱313

-11.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.80 ₱480

-1.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.16 ₱133

110.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.48 ₱91.1

33.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.09 ₱129

30.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.90 ₱117

20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.55 ₱157

35.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.44 ₱150

14.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.92 ₱56.8

23.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.47 ₱28.96

110.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.69 ₱166

11.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$6.02 ₱371

33.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$0.93 ₱57.6

34.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.76 ₱108

27.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.28 ₱17.37

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.88 ₱54.0

-13.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.23 ₱14.06

-43.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.61 ₱161

32.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.03 ₱63.2

11.65%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$30.4K ₱1.9M

12.23%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$27.4K ₱1.7M

-19.56%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$96.1 ₱5,915

76.61%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$8.94 ₱550

209.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$26.42 ₱1,627

35.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$14.74 ₱907

271.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.34 ₱267

177.19%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$4.32 ₱266

89.81%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$230 ₱14.2K

41.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$3,960 ₱243.8K

93.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$45.65 ₱2,811

29.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$23.41 ₱1,442

53.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,175

$76.6 ₱4,715

9.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$52.9 ₱3,256

133.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$321 ₱19.8K

104.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$279 ₱17.2K

39.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.0K

$699 ₱43.0K

225.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$500 ₱30.8K

101.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$991 ₱61.0K

506.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$854 ₱52.6K

337.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-16.63%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Panglao: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $321 in Panglao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $13.00 in Panglao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $195 per month, with Panglao 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 Panglao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panglao wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Panglao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,783 in Makati and $1,242 in Panglao 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: $657 in Makati versus $321 in Panglao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $828 in Panglao – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $828 in Panglao versus $1,188 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Panglao but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Panglao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Panglao delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $828 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Panglao hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Panglao 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 Panglao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.