Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Polomolok Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Polomolok

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $667 in Polomolok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,034 in Polomolok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,401 in Polomolok.

Living in Makati is roughly 78% more expensive than in Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Polomolok 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$1.76 ₱108

271.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$13.27 ₱817

239.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$2.33 ₱144

105.58%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.15 ₱132

37.21%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.45 ₱27.79

166.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.52 ₱32.10

11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.18 ₱72.7

98.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.57 ₱96.6

126.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.68 ₱104

27.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$0.93 ₱57.3

53.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.73 ₱45.16

52.05%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.98 ₱122

17.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$6.13 ₱377

30.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.03 ₱187

49.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$6.26 ₱385

23.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.81 ₱173

61.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.60 ₱36.95

230.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.39 ₱147

13.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$0.88 ₱54.0

159.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.34 ₱82.7

157.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$3.11 ₱191

-9.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.92 ₱56.8

23.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.56 ₱34.32

76.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.58 ₱159

15.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$7.47 ₱460

7.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.10 ₱67.6

13.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.49 ₱91.6

50.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.28 ₱17.26

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

$13.98 ₱861

-74.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.93 ₱57.3

-18.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.23 ₱14.11

-43.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.15 ₱132

60.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$0.96 ₱59.2

19.79%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

91.10%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

14.47%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$58.6 ₱3,609

189.44%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$12.59 ₱775

119.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$28.91 ₱1,780

23.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$33.91 ₱2,087

61.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.45 ₱274

170.34%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$4.30 ₱265

90.70%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$118 ₱7,272

174.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$1,485 ₱91.4K

417.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$45.59 ₱2,807

29.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$26.46 ₱1,629

35.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$72.1 ₱4,437

16.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$68.2 ₱4,198

81.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$270 ₱16.6K

143.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$178 ₱11.0K

118.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$592 ₱36.4K

284.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$402 ₱24.7K

150.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,379 ₱146.5K

152.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$985 ₱60.7K

278.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$246 ₱15.2K

145.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

11.17%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $270 in Polomolok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 146% 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 $13.00 in Polomolok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $165 per month, with Polomolok 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 Polomolok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Polomolok wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Polomolok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 146% 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: $657 in Makati versus $270 in Polomolok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $667 in Polomolok – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Polomolok runs roughly 291% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $667 in Polomolok versus $1,188 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Polomolok but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Polomolok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Polomolok delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $667 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Polomolok hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Polomolok 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 Polomolok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.