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: $1,257 in Makati versus $376 in Roxas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,052 in Makati versus $611 in Roxas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,847 in Makati versus $847 in Roxas.

Living in Makati is roughly 235% more expensive than in Roxas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 6% lower, Roxas 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 ₱411

$2.76 ₱173

137.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.13 ₱2,517

$19.33 ₱1,212

107.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 ₱298

$2.42 ₱152

96.28%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.88 ₱118

40.96%

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

$1.08 ₱67.6

$0.45 ₱28.40

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.47

$0.17 ₱10.36

194.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱153

$1.05 ₱65.9

132.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 ₱195

$1.75 ₱110

77.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.69 ₱106

8.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 ₱77.7

$0.89 ₱56.1

39.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.5

$0.84 ₱52.8

20.24%

Eggs

$2.37 ₱148

$1.94 ₱121

22.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 ₱461

$5.81 ₱364

26.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.91 ₱308

$3.96 ₱248

23.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$6.35 ₱398

7.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 ₱257

$1.62 ₱102

152.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$0.95 ₱59.5

110.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 ₱205

$1.31 ₱82.1

149.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 ₱144

$0.82 ₱51.5

179.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$0.93 ₱58.5

286.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$0.93 ₱58.6

270.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱67.0

$1.47 ₱91.9

-27.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.77 ₱47.99

44.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 ₱167

$2.21 ₱139

20.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱502

$6.22 ₱390

28.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.5

$1.11 ₱69.3

21.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱124

$1.25 ₱78.5

58.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 ₱61.9

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.4 ₱3,599

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 ₱41.39

$0.78 ₱49.08

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.46

$0.33 ₱20.93

-30.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$2.33 ₱146

-19.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₱79.0

$1.01 ₱63.3

24.75%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-0.03%

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

$19.8K ₱1.2M

$19.0K ₱1.2M

4.15%

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

$155 ₱9,726

$62.5 ₱3,918

148.23%

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

$15.90 ₱997

$7.90 ₱496

101.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.67 ₱2,049

$21.35 ₱1,339

53.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,473

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.51 ₱910

Cinema Ticket

$6.98 ₱438

$4.69 ₱294

48.83%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$32.11 ₱2,014

2337.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,340 ₱460.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 ₱3,738

$23.66 ₱1,484

151.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.48 ₱2,351

$17.88 ₱1,121

109.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱5,171

$56.4 ₱3,539

46.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ₱6,383

$24.27 ₱1,522

319.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$828 ₱51.9K

$315 ₱19.7K

163.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 ₱26.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,318 ₱145.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 ₱66.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,082 ₱381.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,765 ₱236.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ₱38.6K

$564 ₱35.4K

9.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.33

2.32%

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

Last update for Makati: October 6, 2026

Last update for Roxas: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $828 in Makati and $315 in Roxas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 9% 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 $19.00 in Roxas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $156 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 235% 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.

Average pay runs 9% 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: $828 in Makati versus $315 in Roxas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,257 per month in Makati versus $376 in Roxas – a 235% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $376 in Roxas versus $1,257 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 $376 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 235% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.