Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Quezon City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Quezon City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $896 in Quezon City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,374 in Quezon City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,851 in Quezon City.

Living in Makati is roughly 33% more expensive than in Quezon City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Quezon City 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$4.84 ₱298

34.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$21.35 ₱1,315

110.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$3.19 ₱196

50.16%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.86 ₱176

3.15%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.95 ₱58.3

26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.35 ₱21.37

65.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.27 ₱78.1

84.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$2.58 ₱159

37.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.17 ₱133

-1.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.22 ₱75.0

17.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.07 ₱65.7

3.74%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.99 ₱123

17.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$7.14 ₱439

11.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$4.13 ₱254

9.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.00 ₱431

10.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$4.42 ₱272

2.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.59 ₱97.7

24.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.96 ₱182

-8.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.63 ₱100

39.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.77 ₱171

24.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$4.20 ₱259

-33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.59 ₱97.8

-28.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$1.05 ₱64.7

-5.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$3.20 ₱197

-6.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$7.80 ₱480

2.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.54 ₱94.9

-18.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.99 ₱122

12.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.46 ₱28.31

10.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.76 ₱47.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.25 ₱15.35

-48.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.09 ₱129

65.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.14 ₱69.9

0.88%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$25.2K ₱1.6M

35.14%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

6.44%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$167 ₱10.3K

1.71%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$33.45 ₱2,059

-17.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$29.64 ₱1,825

20.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$24.65 ₱1,518

122.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$6.14 ₱378

95.93%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$7.00 ₱431

17.14%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$82.6 ₱5,088

292.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$2,782 ₱171.3K

176.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$31.68 ₱1,950

85.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$29.16 ₱1,795

23.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$99.2 ₱6,104

-15.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$93.9 ₱5,780

31.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$271 ₱16.7K

141.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$197 ₱12.1K

98.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$716 ₱44.1K

217.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$421 ₱25.9K

139.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,356 ₱145.0K

155.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$1,447 ₱89.1K

157.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$447 ₱27.5K

35.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

8.13

-17.96%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Quezon City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $271 in Quezon City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 35% 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 $21.00 in Quezon City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $224 per month, with Quezon 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 Quezon City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quezon City wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Quezon City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 35% 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 $271 in Quezon City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $896 in Quezon City – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $896 in Quezon City versus $1,188 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Quezon City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Quezon City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Quezon City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $896 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Quezon City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Quezon 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 Quezon City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.