Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and San Fernando Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and San Fernando

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $777 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $1,188 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,600 in San Fernando.

Living in Makati is roughly 58% more expensive than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, San Fernando 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.49 ₱214

89.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$13.46 ₱824

232.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$2.72 ₱166

75.37%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.05 ₱64.3

180.95%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.42 ₱25.89

173.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.36 ₱22.12

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.31 ₱80.3

80.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$1.45 ₱88.7

148.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.90 ₱116

13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.20 ₱73.6

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.90 ₱55.1

17.78%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.28 ₱140

3.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$9.11 ₱558

-13.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$3.87 ₱237

15.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.98 ₱489

-2.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$2.76 ₱169

60.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.78 ₱109

10.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.35 ₱144

10.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.16 ₱70.8

87.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$1.90 ₱116

79.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.09 ₱128

34.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$0.67 ₱41.28

62.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.64 ₱39.30

46.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$3.30 ₱202

-10.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$8.76 ₱537

-9.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.08 ₱66.0

13.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.50 ₱91.8

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.26 ₱15.91

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

$21.66 ₱1,326

-83.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.72 ₱44.22

6.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.22 ₱13.41

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$1.04 ₱63.6

248.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.16 ₱71.0

-0.86%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$28.0K ₱1.7M

19.41%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$23.6K ₱1.4M

-7.35%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$106 ₱6,478

63.74%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$17.60 ₱1,077

55.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$26.09 ₱1,597

39.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$30.71 ₱1,880

79.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.49 ₱275

161.02%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$4.52 ₱277

78.10%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$61.2 ₱3,748

427.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$1,951 ₱119.4K

295.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$34.76 ₱2,128

71.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$16.18 ₱991

122.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$53.5 ₱3,274

59.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$46.40 ₱2,840

163.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$357 ₱21.9K

84.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$243 ₱14.9K

60.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$596 ₱36.5K

279.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$478 ₱29.3K

115.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,206 ₱135.0K

174.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$1,047 ₱64.1K

266.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$345 ₱21.1K

76.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

5.5

21.27%

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

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $357 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 77% 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: $45.00 in Makati vs $13.00 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $200 per month, with San Fernando 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Fernando wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Fernando the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 77% 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: $660 in Makati versus $357 in San Fernando. 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 $777 in San Fernando – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 497% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $777 in San Fernando versus $1,226 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Fernando but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes San Fernando the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San Fernando delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $777 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Fernando hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and San Fernando 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 gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.