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 $793 in Paranaque City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,181 in Paranaque City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,568 in Paranaque City.

Living in Makati is roughly 55% more expensive than in Paranaque City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Paranaque City 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$4.47 ₱281

44.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$16.79 ₱1,053

139.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.72 ₱171

72.79%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.06 ₱129

28.64%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.74 ₱46.22

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.31 ₱19.42

45.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.10 ₱68.7

113.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.71 ₱170

18.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.67 ₱105

14.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.11 ₱69.6

15.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$1.01 ₱63.3

3.96%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$2.07 ₱130

19.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$5.02 ₱315

39.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.05 ₱254

19.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$7.84 ₱492

-13.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$3.81 ₱239

8.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.60 ₱101

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$3.47 ₱218

-8.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.18 ₱74.2

93.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.75 ₱110

101.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.90 ₱119

88.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$0.92 ₱58.0

19.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.50 ₱31.25

128.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.85 ₱179

-9.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.70 ₱483

3.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.91 ₱57.2

45.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.01 ₱126

1.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.17 ₱10.97

476.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

$11.30 ₱709

409.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

$0.76 ₱47.50

-11.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.23 ₱14.43

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.95 ₱122

-4.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.16 ₱73.0

6.90%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-2.45%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.7K ₱1.2M

5.25%

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

$152 ₱9,541

$141 ₱8,858

7.71%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$14.52 ₱911

11.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$25.03 ₱1,570

26.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$37.38 ₱2,344

45.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$5.49 ₱344

163.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$6.79 ₱426

2.36%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$72.6 ₱4,550

1006.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

$6,456 ₱404.9K

15.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

$35.95 ₱2,255

66.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$19.82 ₱1,243

89.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

$70.1 ₱4,396

16.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

$74.9 ₱4,698

39.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$220 ₱13.8K

242.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$187 ₱11.7K

129.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$560 ₱35.1K

307.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$355 ₱22.3K

197.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

$1,123 ₱70.5K

422.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

$412 ₱25.8K

809.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$499 ₱31.3K

22.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.14%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Paranaque City: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $220 in Paranaque City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 22% 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: $40.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Paranaque City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $190 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 55% 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 22% 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: $752 in Makati versus $220 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 $793 in Paranaque City – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Paranaque City runs roughly 410% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $793 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 $793 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 55% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.