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: $1,223 in Makati versus $613 in Roxas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,017 in Makati versus $976 in Roxas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,812 in Makati versus $1,339 in Roxas.

Living in Makati is roughly 99% more expensive than Roxas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Roxas 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 ₱412

$2.59 ₱156

164.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.09 ₱2,655

$21.09 ₱1,270

109.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₱300

$3.48 ₱209

42.82%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱178

$1.97 ₱119

50.25%

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

$1.15 ₱69.1

$0.58 ₱34.72

98.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.46

$0.22 ₱13.05

159.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ₱140

$0.99 ₱59.4

134.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₱213

$1.73 ₱104

104.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₱130

$1.18 ₱71.0

83.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱89.9

$1.10 ₱66.4

35.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.1

$0.82 ₱49.12

29.27%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱134

$2.20 ₱132

0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 ₱497

$5.83 ₱351

41.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱266

$1.96 ₱118

125.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱454

$6.87 ₱414

9.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₱275

$1.32 ₱79.2

245.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.12 ₱67.5

69.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱163

$1.46 ₱87.8

85.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.18 ₱71.3

83.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 ₱199

$1.01 ₱61.0

227.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱169

$0.84 ₱50.3

234.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$1.12 ₱67.3

-2.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.3

$0.42 ₱25.39

142.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱180

$2.94 ₱177

1.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.52 ₱513

$5.71 ₱344

49.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.2

$1.26 ₱75.6

-0.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱138

$1.40 ₱84.5

63.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱32.85

$0.26 ₱15.54

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.57 ₱215

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱46.81

$0.72 ₱43.41

8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.06

$0.24 ₱14.49

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₱209

$2.73 ₱164

27.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.5

$1.15 ₱69.0

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$24.1K ₱1.5M

39.14%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

10.80%

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

$169 ₱10.2K

$65.5 ₱3,947

157.84%

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

$26.89 ₱1,619

$8.74 ₱526

207.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.15 ₱2,177

$27.80 ₱1,674

30.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,339

$33.32 ₱2,007

66.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱704

$4.39 ₱265

166.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 ₱477

$5.46 ₱329

45.24%

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

$324 ₱19.5K

$35.41 ₱2,133

814.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 ₱458.5K

$4,324 ₱260.4K

76.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₱3,565

$45.86 ₱2,762

29.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 ₱2,124

$23.17 ₱1,395

52.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 ₱5,188

$63.2 ₱3,807

36.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,375

$26.92 ₱1,622

354.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₱39.8K

$350 ₱21.1K

89.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱23.9K

$180 ₱10.8K

120.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ₱135.8K

$588 ₱35.4K

283.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 ₱61.6K

$401 ₱24.1K

155.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,076 ₱366.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,885 ₱234.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₱42.5K

$603 ₱36.3K

17.10%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Roxas: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Makati and $350 in Roxas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 17% 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 $235 vs $143 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 99% 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 17% 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: $661 in Makati versus $350 in Roxas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,223 per month in Makati versus $613 in Roxas – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $613 in Roxas versus $1,223 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 $613 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 99% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.