Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Puerto Princesa Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Puerto Princesa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $688 in Puerto Princesa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,032 in Puerto Princesa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,376 in Puerto Princesa.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Puerto Princesa 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱405

$4.31 ₱270

50.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,525

$16.98 ₱1,064

137.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$4.41 ₱277

6.58%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.32 ₱146

14.22%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.90 ₱56.2

23.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.40

$0.49 ₱30.72

-8.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.21 ₱75.9

94.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.35 ₱147

36.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.66 ₱104

15.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$0.94 ₱58.9

36.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.76 ₱47.89

38.16%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.73 ₱108

43.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱437

$5.26 ₱330

32.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$5.51 ₱345

-11.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$6.83 ₱428

-0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.25 ₱141

83.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$0.89 ₱56.0

124.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.09 ₱131

52.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.17 ₱73.4

94.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.54 ₱96.4

128.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.38 ₱86.6

160.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.2

$0.80 ₱50.0

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.68 ₱42.48

67.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.89 ₱181

-11.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.26 ₱455

10.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$1.00 ₱62.7

32.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.30 ₱81.2

56.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.25 ₱15.54

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,610

$10.30 ₱645

459.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.10

$0.78 ₱48.95

-14.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.22 ₱13.72

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.92 ₱120

-2.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.9

$1.05 ₱65.8

18.10%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$17.2K ₱1.1M

22.63%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

2.90%

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

$152 ₱9,533

$61.2 ₱3,837

148.44%

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

$16.13 ₱1,011

$10.89 ₱682

48.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,982

$24.36 ₱1,526

29.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,413

$31.20 ₱1,955

74.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$4.43 ₱278

226.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.21 ₱327

33.40%

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

$803 ₱50.3K

$135 ₱8,455

495.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.1K

$8,668 ₱543.2K

-14.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,752

$31.74 ₱1,989

88.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,350

$19.57 ₱1,227

91.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,126

$72.4 ₱4,534

13.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,538

$54.8 ₱3,431

90.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.1K

$281 ₱17.6K

167.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$203 ₱12.7K

111.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.8K

$507 ₱31.8K

349.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.0K

$313 ₱19.6K

237.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.5K

$2,541 ₱159.2K

130.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.7K

$1,043 ₱65.4K

259.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

$226 ₱14.2K

169.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

8.12

-7.64%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $281 in Puerto Princesa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 170% 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 Puerto Princesa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $171 per month, with Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 170% 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 $281 in Puerto Princesa. 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 $688 in Puerto Princesa – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Puerto Princesa runs roughly 459% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $688 in Puerto Princesa versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puerto Princesa but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Princesa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Puerto Princesa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $688 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Puerto Princesa hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa 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.