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: $1,226 in Makati versus $822 in Panglao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,139 in Panglao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,456 in Panglao.

Living in Makati is roughly 49% more expensive than in Panglao, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Panglao 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$3.10 ₱194

108.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$23.19 ₱1,454

73.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$4.00 ₱251

17.50%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.16 ₱136

22.69%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.61 ₱38.14

81.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.48 ₱30.41

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.61 ₱101

45.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.92 ₱121

66.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.61 ₱101

18.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.10 ₱69.2

16.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.98 ₱61.5

7.14%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.76 ₱111

40.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$8.55 ₱536

-18.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.38 ₱275

10.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$7.66 ₱481

-11.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$1.89 ₱118

117.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.44 ₱90.1

38.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$1.86 ₱117

71.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.52 ₱95.4

50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.36 ₱148

49.15%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.88 ₱118

90.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.2

$1.18 ₱74.0

-6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.49 ₱30.85

132.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.80 ₱175

-8.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$5.75 ₱361

38.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.80 ₱50.1

65.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.63 ₱102

24.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.24 ₱15.04

308.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

$9.55 ₱599

503.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.13

$0.79 ₱49.30

-15.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.22 ₱13.80

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.94 ₱121

-3.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$0.90 ₱56.2

37.78%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-1.25%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

2.38%

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

$152 ₱9,539

$59.8 ₱3,749

154.47%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$6.83 ₱428

136.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,983

$24.22 ₱1,519

30.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,415

$21.00 ₱1,317

159.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$4.69 ₱294

208.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$3.88 ₱243

79.12%

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

$803 ₱50.3K

$130 ₱8,159

517.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.4K

$8,008 ₱502.1K

-6.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,754

$32.21 ₱2,020

85.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$19.23 ₱1,206

95.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,129

$68.6 ₱4,299

19.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,543

$56.3 ₱3,528

85.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$279 ₱17.5K

169.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$347 ₱21.8K

23.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$564 ₱35.4K

303.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$398 ₱25.0K

164.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.8K

$971 ₱60.9K

504.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

$844 ₱52.9K

343.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.2

4.17%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Panglao: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $279 in Panglao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $23.00 in Panglao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $182 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 49% 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 $1,840 in Makati and $1,232 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: $752 in Makati versus $279 in Panglao. 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 $822 in Panglao – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Panglao runs roughly 503% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $822 in Panglao versus $1,226 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 $822 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 49% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.