Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and San Fernando, La Union Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and San Fernando, La Union

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $726 in San Fernando, La Union.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,095 in San Fernando, La Union.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,464 in San Fernando, La Union.

Living in Makati is roughly 69% more expensive than in San Fernando, La Union, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, San Fernando, La Union 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱407

$3.76 ₱236

72.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,531

$14.97 ₱941

169.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$3.09 ₱194

52.10%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.50 ₱157

6.00%

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$0.55 ₱34.56

101.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.47

$0.30 ₱18.83

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.03 ₱64.9

128.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.77 ₱111

80.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.67 ₱105

14.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$1.29 ₱81.2

-0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$0.95 ₱60.0

10.53%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$2.15 ₱135

15.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$5.47 ₱343

27.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$4.69 ₱294

3.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$7.02 ₱441

-3.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$2.64 ₱166

56.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.49 ₱93.3

34.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.45 ₱154

30.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.26 ₱79.0

80.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.04 ₱128

72.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$2.23 ₱140

60.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.4

$0.89 ₱56.1

23.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.52 ₱32.74

119.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.44 ₱154

5.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$7.31 ₱459

9.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$0.82 ₱51.3

60.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.14 ₱134

-5.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.27 ₱16.83

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,619

$10.01 ₱629

475.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.21

$0.68 ₱42.56

-1.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

$0.24 ₱14.77

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$2.16 ₱136

-13.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$1.01 ₱63.3

22.77%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.3M

4.65%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

1.57%

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

$152 ₱9,557

$138 ₱8,647

10.52%

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

$16.13 ₱1,014

$13.86 ₱871

16.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,987

$22.57 ₱1,418

40.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,422

$31.83 ₱2,000

71.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱908

$5.34 ₱335

170.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱437

$4.57 ₱287

52.08%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$129 ₱8,087

523.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱468.3K

$8,412 ₱528.5K

-11.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,761

$30.11 ₱1,892

98.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,356

$20.03 ₱1,258

87.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,139

$71.8 ₱4,510

13.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,555

$56.4 ₱3,541

85.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.3K

$267 ₱16.7K

182.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.0K

$172 ₱10.8K

149.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.2K

$488 ₱30.7K

366.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.2K

$350 ₱22.0K

201.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.5K

$2,732 ₱171.6K

114.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.3K

$1,146 ₱72.0K

226.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $267 in San Fernando, La Union. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $15.00 in San Fernando, La Union for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $185 per month, with San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Fernando, La Union wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Fernando, La Union the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,840 in Makati and $1,089 in San Fernando, La Union to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $752 in Makati versus $267 in San Fernando, La Union. 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 $726 in San Fernando, La Union – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando, La Union runs roughly 476% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $726 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Fernando, La Union but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes San Fernando, La Union the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San Fernando, La Union delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $726 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Fernando, La Union hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.