Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Roxas Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Roxas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Makati versus $621 in Roxas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $977 in Roxas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,333 in Roxas.

Living in Makati is roughly 94% more expensive than Roxas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Roxas 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$2.73 ₱169

145.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$20.98 ₱1,294

110.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$3.51 ₱216

39.03%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$1.96 ₱121

49.49%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.57 ₱35.23

108.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.17 ₱10.65

229.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$0.94 ₱58.2

157.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$1.81 ₱112

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.18 ₱72.8

86.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.11 ₱68.2

34.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$0.85 ₱52.5

25.88%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.27 ₱140

3.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$6.00 ₱370

36.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$1.94 ₱120

127.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$6.87 ₱423

12.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$1.30 ₱80.3

235.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.18 ₱73.0

69.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$1.45 ₱89.4

77.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.17 ₱72.0

90.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$1.05 ₱64.7

228.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$0.81 ₱50.1

253.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.11 ₱68.5

2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.42 ₱25.94

142.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$2.96 ₱182

-4.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$8.31 ₱512

-2.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.25 ₱77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.39 ₱85.9

66.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.26 ₱16.00

107.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.68 ₱41.91

14.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.24 ₱14.82

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.65 ₱163

37.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.09 ₱67.1

0.92%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$24.3K ₱1.5M

37.42%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

10.41%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$66.6 ₱4,108

156.27%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$8.97 ₱553

200.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$28.72 ₱1,772

25.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$33.41 ₱2,061

66.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.30 ₱265

176.05%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$5.20 ₱321

57.50%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$35.53 ₱2,191

806.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,274 ₱263.6K

82.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$45.05 ₱2,779

30.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$23.27 ₱1,435

53.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$62.0 ₱3,826

35.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$26.78 ₱1,652

360.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$360 ₱22.2K

85.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$175 ₱10.8K

129.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$583 ₱36.0K

295.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$397 ₱24.5K

155.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,089 ₱128.9K

200.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$598 ₱36.9K

19.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-16.63%

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for Roxas: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $360 in Roxas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 19% 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 $21.00 in Roxas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $149 per month, with Roxas 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 Roxas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Roxas wins on cost – living expenses run 94% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Roxas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Makati pays 19% 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 $360 in Roxas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Makati versus $621 in Roxas – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $621 in Roxas versus $1,204 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Roxas but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Roxas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Roxas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $621 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Roxas hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Roxas 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 Roxas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.