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: $1,232 in Makati versus $821 in Panglao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,231 in Panglao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,641 in Panglao.

Living in Makati is roughly 50% more expensive than Panglao, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Panglao 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$4.49 ₱277

51.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$12.16 ₱750

271.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$4.32 ₱266

14.12%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.59 ₱160

10.81%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.83 ₱51.1

43.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.28 ₱17.39

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.47 ₱90.7

65.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$1.86 ₱115

96.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.75 ₱108

22.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.09 ₱67.3

31.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$1.09 ₱67.3

-0.92%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.01 ₱124

16.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$9.48 ₱585

-13.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$5.35 ₱330

-17.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$7.68 ₱473

-0.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$2.08 ₱128

119.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.51 ₱92.9

27.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.07 ₱128

30.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.89 ₱117

19.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.67 ₱165

23.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$2.57 ₱158

11.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$1.00 ₱61.8

8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.47 ₱29.01

110.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$2.59 ₱160

13.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$5.34 ₱329

55.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$0.88 ₱54.4

36.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.73 ₱106

35.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.26 ₱15.99

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.89 ₱54.7

-8.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.23 ₱14.16

-47.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.60 ₱161

37.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.08 ₱66.4

1.85%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$29.9K ₱1.8M

14.80%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$27.0K ₱1.7M

-20.49%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$98.5 ₱6,073

74.66%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$8.94 ₱552

201.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$27.02 ₱1,666

35.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$14.78 ₱912

278.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$4.31 ₱266

173.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$4.49 ₱277

75.95%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$230 ₱14.2K

39.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$3,876 ₱239.0K

94.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$46.05 ₱2,840

30.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$22.63 ₱1,395

57.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$75.6 ₱4,663

13.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$54.0 ₱3,327

125.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$327 ₱20.1K

103.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$280 ₱17.3K

39.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$704 ₱43.4K

220.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$500 ₱30.8K

104.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$960 ₱59.2K

525.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$873 ₱53.8K

341.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$131 ₱8,088

419.62%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Panglao: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $327 in Panglao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 420% 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 $12.00 in Panglao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $198 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 50% 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.

Makati pays 420% 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: $666 in Makati versus $327 in Panglao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Makati versus $821 in Panglao – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $821 in Panglao versus $1,232 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 $821 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 50% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.