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: $1,188 in Makati versus $688 in San Fernando, La Union.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,025 in San Fernando, La Union.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,363 in San Fernando, La Union.

Living in Makati is roughly 73% more expensive than in San Fernando, La Union, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, San Fernando, La Union 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱403

$3.64 ₱225

79.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,775

$17.85 ₱1,101

152.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$3.35 ₱206

42.99%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱182

$2.39 ₱147

23.43%

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

$1.20 ₱73.9

$0.78 ₱48.38

53.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.49

$0.39 ₱24.25

48.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.35 ₱83.6

73.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱220

$2.12 ₱131

67.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.96 ₱182

-27.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.3

$1.26 ₱77.7

13.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$0.95 ₱58.7

16.84%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.03 ₱125

14.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱493

$8.11 ₱500

-1.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$4.36 ₱269

3.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.51 ₱463

2.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.88 ₱178

57.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.51 ₱93.4

31.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.63 ₱162

3.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.53 ₱94.6

49.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.28 ₱140

51.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.61 ₱161

7.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.1

$1.11 ₱68.3

2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$0.71 ₱43.49

39.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$2.86 ₱176

4.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱494

$8.85 ₱546

-9.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.0

$1.15 ₱71.1

8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.97 ₱121

13.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.62

$0.28 ₱17.28

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.13

$0.78 ₱47.90

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.21

$0.22 ₱13.52

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.17 ₱134

58.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.1

$1.19 ₱73.6

-3.36%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

29.68%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

6.63%

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

$170 ₱10.5K

$115 ₱7,063

48.16%

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

$27.66 ₱1,706

$32.66 ₱2,014

-15.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,207

$26.98 ₱1,664

32.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,376

$13.15 ₱811

316.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱742

$4.52 ₱279

166.15%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱506

$6.11 ₱377

34.21%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$154 ₱9,467

111.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱473.6K

$5,905 ₱364.1K

30.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,634

$44.89 ₱2,769

31.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,213

$26.87 ₱1,657

33.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,183

$35.92 ₱2,215

133.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,622

$39.67 ₱2,447

211.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.5K

$132 ₱8,131

398.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$123 ₱7,615

216.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.2K

$252 ₱15.6K

800.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.2K

$216 ₱13.3K

366.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.8K

$2,200 ₱135.7K

173.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱230.2K

$946 ₱58.3K

294.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $132 in San Fernando, La Union. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $18.00 in San Fernando, La Union for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $217 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 73% 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 $1,783 in Makati and $1,032 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: $657 in Makati versus $132 in San Fernando, La Union. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% 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 $688 in San Fernando, La Union – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $688 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,188 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 $688 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 73% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.