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: $1,186 in Makati versus $918 in Paranaque City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,004 in Makati versus $1,401 in Paranaque City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,884 in Paranaque City.

Living in Makati is roughly 29% more expensive than Paranaque City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 12% lower, Paranaque City 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$4.91 ₱298

39.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$21.37 ₱1,297

108.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$2.62 ₱159

86.26%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$1.90 ₱115

51.05%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.80 ₱48.54

45.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.37 ₱22.74

43.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.22 ₱74.2

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.73 ₱166

27.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.76 ₱107

20.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.20 ₱73.1

25.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$1.11 ₱67.2

0.90%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$1.95 ₱118

15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$5.42 ₱329

48.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$4.24 ₱257

4.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$7.16 ₱435

9.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$4.31 ₱262

4.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.57 ₱95.4

21.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$3.01 ₱183

-9.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.65 ₱100

32.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$1.72 ₱105

89.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$2.08 ₱127

40.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.05 ₱63.5

4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.48 ₱29.12

106.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.43 ₱148

17.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$7.37 ₱448

12.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$0.95 ₱57.6

24.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$2.06 ₱125

13.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.22 ₱13.38

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

$10.68 ₱649

-67.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.77 ₱47.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.22 ₱13.32

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.19 ₱133

66.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.09 ₱66.3

5.50%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$27.2K ₱1.7M

23.47%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

7.39%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$155 ₱9,419

8.53%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$14.32 ₱870

92.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$30.29 ₱1,839

20.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$33.41 ₱2,029

68.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$7.14 ₱433

63.73%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$7.26 ₱441

6.89%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$80.1 ₱4,861

299.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$2,822 ₱171.4K

171.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$31.89 ₱1,937

83.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$16.10 ₱978

121.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$66.6 ₱4,042

29.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$95.0 ₱5,768

31.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$336 ₱20.4K

96.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$292 ₱17.8K

34.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$837 ₱50.8K

170.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$581 ₱35.3K

73.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$1,132 ₱68.7K

440.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$416 ₱25.2K

798.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$503 ₱30.6K

37.70%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Paranaque City: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $336 in Paranaque City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 38% 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 $21.00 in Paranaque City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $195 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 29% 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.

Makati pays 38% 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 $336 in Paranaque City. 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 $918 in Paranaque City – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Paranaque City runs roughly 206% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $918 in Paranaque City versus $1,186 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 $918 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 29% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.