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: $1,204 in Makati versus $875 in Pasig.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $1,398 in Pasig.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,922 in Pasig.

Living in Makati is roughly 38% more expensive than Pasig, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Pasig 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$4.45 ₱275

50.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$26.14 ₱1,612

69.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$3.44 ₱212

41.86%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$2.62 ₱162

11.83%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.69 ₱42.43

72.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.40 ₱24.78

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.55 ₱95.3

56.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.67 ₱165

35.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.84 ₱113

19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.40 ₱86.4

6.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$1.08 ₱66.8

-0.93%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.29 ₱141

2.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$9.23 ₱569

-11.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.26 ₱263

3.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$8.76 ₱541

-11.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.43 ₱212

27.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.80 ₱111

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$3.56 ₱219

-27.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.72 ₱106

29.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.67 ₱165

29.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$3.15 ₱194

-9.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.95 ₱120

-41.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.78 ₱47.87

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$3.33 ₱206

-14.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$9.68 ₱597

-16.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.46 ₱90.0

-14.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.11 ₱130

9.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.26 ₱16.01

107.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

$6.12 ₱377

-40.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.90 ₱55.7

-13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.24 ₱14.81

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.09 ₱129

74.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.11 ₱68.6

-0.90%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.8K ₱1.6M

24.77%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

5.92%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$135 ₱8,354

26.01%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$34.75 ₱2,144

-22.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$27.37 ₱1,688

31.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$34.29 ₱2,115

62.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.49 ₱277

164.37%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$6.52 ₱402

25.61%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$153 ₱9,456

110.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,694 ₱289.5K

66.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$47.89 ₱2,954

22.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$34.94 ₱2,155

2.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$75.6 ₱4,661

10.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$46.02 ₱2,838

168.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$356 ₱22.0K

87.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$202 ₱12.4K

99.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$579 ₱35.7K

298.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$495 ₱30.5K

105.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$3,390 ₱209.1K

85.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

$2,617 ₱161.4K

49.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$465 ₱28.7K

53.16%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Pasig: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $356 in Pasig. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 53% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $26.00 in Pasig for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $234 per month, with Pasig 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 Pasig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pasig wins on cost – living expenses run 38% 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.

Makati pays 53% 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: $667 in Makati versus $356 in Pasig. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Makati versus $875 in Pasig – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pasig runs roughly 68% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $875 in Pasig versus $1,204 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 $875 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 38% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.