Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Pasig Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Pasig

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $860 in Pasig.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $1,403 in Pasig.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,947 in Pasig.

Living in Makati is roughly 43% more expensive than in Pasig, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Pasig 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱406

$4.52 ₱277

46.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,746

$26.63 ₱1,635

67.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱293

$3.30 ₱203

44.55%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.75 ₱169

7.27%

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

$1.15 ₱70.9

$0.69 ₱42.67

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.10

$0.38 ₱23.19

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.47 ₱90.1

61.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱222

$2.70 ₱166

33.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.91 ₱117

12.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$1.34 ₱82.3

7.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.0

$1.09 ₱67.0

-2.75%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.21 ₱136

6.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱483

$9.09 ₱558

-13.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱275

$4.37 ₱268

2.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱479

$8.62 ₱529

-9.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱272

$3.43 ₱211

29.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.83 ₱112

7.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$3.55 ₱218

-27.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.72 ₱106

26.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.76 ₱170

23.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$3.08 ₱189

-8.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.7

$2.06 ₱126

-47.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.6

$0.71 ₱43.58

32.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱181

$3.22 ₱197

-8.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱485

$9.52 ₱584

-17.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.6

$1.45 ₱89.1

-15.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$2.11 ₱130

6.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱34.08

$0.28 ₱17.37

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱223

$6.23 ₱383

-41.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.56

$0.90 ₱55.4

-14.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.84

$0.24 ₱14.74

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱222

$2.09 ₱128

73.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.5

$1.16 ₱71.0

-0.86%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

27.86%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

6.78%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$134 ₱8,225

29.37%

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

$27.42 ₱1,683

$34.45 ₱2,115

-20.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,232

$27.33 ₱1,678

32.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,377

$33.58 ₱2,062

63.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱720

$4.34 ₱266

170.05%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱494

$6.49 ₱398

24.04%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$151 ₱9,301

113.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱474.0K

$4,815 ₱295.6K

60.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,664

$48.78 ₱2,995

22.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,210

$35.44 ₱2,176

1.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,251

$75.4 ₱4,628

13.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,497

$47.09 ₱2,892

159.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.5K

$349 ₱21.4K

89.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$201 ₱12.3K

94.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.7K

$579 ₱35.5K

290.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.4K

$503 ₱30.9K

105.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱372.0K

$3,307 ₱203.1K

83.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱235.5K

$2,594 ₱159.3K

47.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.4K

$446 ₱27.4K

36.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for Pasig: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $349 in Pasig. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 37% 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 $27.00 in Pasig. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $233, with Makati cheaper for home cooking.

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 Pasig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pasig wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pasig the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 37% 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 $349 in Pasig. 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 $860 in Pasig – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pasig runs roughly 72% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $860 in Pasig versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pasig but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Pasig the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Pasig delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $860 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pasig hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Pasig 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 Pasig gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.