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: $1,204 in Makati versus $788 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $1,177 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,566 in San Fernando.

Living in Makati is roughly 53% more expensive than San Fernando, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, San Fernando 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱409

$3.65 ₱223

83.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,706

$13.42 ₱821

229.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱299

$2.73 ₱167

78.75%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱179

$1.09 ₱66.6

168.81%

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

$1.19 ₱73.1

$0.45 ₱27.54

164.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.49

$0.37 ₱22.39

51.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱148

$1.35 ₱82.3

79.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱221

$1.39 ₱85.3

160.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱135

$1.82 ₱112

20.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱91.2

$1.23 ₱75.5

21.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.2

$0.97 ₱59.4

10.31%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱143

$2.26 ₱138

3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱501

$8.92 ₱546

-8.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱270

$3.86 ₱236

14.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱471

$7.70 ₱471

0.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱267

$2.62 ₱160

66.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱122

$1.82 ₱111

9.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱157

$2.30 ₱141

11.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱136

$1.21 ₱74.2

84.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱211

$1.84 ₱112

87.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱175

$2.15 ₱131

33.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱69.5

$0.67 ₱40.87

70.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.2

$0.61 ₱37.05

67.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱174

$3.31 ₱202

-14.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱497

$8.38 ₱513

-3.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.5

$1.08 ₱65.8

15.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱142

$1.50 ₱91.7

54.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.13

$0.26 ₱15.90

107.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱223

$20.91 ₱1,279

-82.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.96

$0.73 ₱44.84

6.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.44

$0.22 ₱13.45

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱223

$1.08 ₱66.3

237.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.4

$1.15 ₱70.4

-4.35%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$28.5K ₱1.7M

16.94%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$23.5K ₱1.4M

-8.60%

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

$171 ₱10.4K

$107 ₱6,550

59.40%

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

$26.96 ₱1,649

$17.45 ₱1,067

54.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,201

$26.29 ₱1,608

36.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,402

$30.92 ₱1,892

79.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱726

$4.35 ₱266

172.87%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱501

$4.41 ₱270

85.71%

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

$322 ₱19.7K

$60.9 ₱3,723

429.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱477.9K

$1,948 ₱119.2K

300.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,598

$34.49 ₱2,110

70.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,188

$15.97 ₱977

123.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,132

$52.3 ₱3,196

60.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,550

$47.28 ₱2,893

161.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱40.8K

$354 ₱21.6K

88.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.6K

$243 ₱14.8K

65.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱141.1K

$590 ₱36.1K

291.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.1K

$479 ₱29.3K

111.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱384.4K

$2,226 ₱136.2K

182.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱238.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.6K

$334 ₱20.4K

113.47%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $354 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 113% 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 in Makati vs $13 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $197 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 53% 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.

Makati pays 113% 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: $667 in Makati versus $354 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Makati versus $788 in San Fernando – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 474% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $788 in San Fernando versus $1,204 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 $788 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 53% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.