Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Paranaque City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Paranaque City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $914 in Paranaque City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $1,416 in Paranaque City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,918 in Paranaque City.

Living in Makati is roughly 34% more expensive than in Paranaque City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Paranaque City 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$4.75 ₱291

39.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$21.65 ₱1,325

106.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$2.61 ₱160

82.76%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.98 ₱121

48.99%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.79 ₱48.19

45.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.34 ₱21.00

52.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.27 ₱77.5

86.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.62 ₱160

37.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.76 ₱107

22.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.24 ₱76.2

16.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$1.12 ₱68.5

-5.36%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.94 ₱119

21.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$5.20 ₱318

51.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.18 ₱256

7.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.23 ₱442

7.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$4.30 ₱263

3.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.52 ₱93.0

29.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.96 ₱181

-12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.68 ₱103

29.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$1.67 ₱102

104.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.04 ₱125

37.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.05 ₱64.1

3.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.45 ₱27.36

108.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$2.36 ₱144

25.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$7.76 ₱475

1.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.02 ₱62.3

20.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.95 ₱119

15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.20 ₱12.23

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

$10.79 ₱660

-66.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.81 ₱49.78

-4.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.24 ₱14.75

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.11 ₱129

71.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.14 ₱69.7

0.88%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$27.2K ₱1.7M

22.83%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

6.90%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$156 ₱9,543

11.15%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$14.32 ₱877

91.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$30.50 ₱1,867

19.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$33.81 ₱2,070

62.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$7.05 ₱432

66.24%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$6.95 ₱425

15.83%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$81.5 ₱4,987

296.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$2,737 ₱167.5K

182.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$32.17 ₱1,970

85.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$16.20 ₱992

122.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$67.5 ₱4,131

26.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$94.7 ₱5,795

28.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$342 ₱20.9K

92.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$288 ₱17.6K

35.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$858 ₱52.5K

163.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$586 ₱35.9K

76.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$1,142 ₱69.9K

430.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$419 ₱25.6K

816.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$508 ₱31.1K

20.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

7.25

-8.00%

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

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for Paranaque City: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $342 in Paranaque City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 20% 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 $22.00 in Paranaque City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $194 per month, with Paranaque City 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 Paranaque City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Paranaque City wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Paranaque City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 20% higher in Makati, 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 $342 in Paranaque City. 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 $914 in Paranaque City – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Paranaque City runs roughly 197% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $914 in Paranaque City versus $1,226 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Paranaque City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Paranaque City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Paranaque City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $914 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Paranaque City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Paranaque City 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 Paranaque City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.