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 $700 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,045 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,391 in San Fernando.

Living in Makati is roughly 75% more expensive than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, San Fernando 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱407

$3.88 ₱244

66.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,531

$16.54 ₱1,039

143.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.88 ₱181

63.19%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.85 ₱116

43.24%

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$0.39 ₱24.32

184.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.47

$0.31 ₱19.29

45.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.02 ₱64.3

130.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.30 ₱82.0

146.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.66 ₱104

15.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$1.16 ₱73.0

10.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$0.91 ₱56.9

15.38%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$1.98 ₱125

25.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$5.22 ₱328

33.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$3.45 ₱217

40.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$7.78 ₱489

-12.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$2.29 ₱144

79.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.29 ₱81.3

55.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.34 ₱147

36.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.07 ₱67.4

113.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.68 ₱106

109.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.60 ₱101

124.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.4

$0.67 ₱41.88

64.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.53 ₱33.30

115.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.88 ₱181

-10.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$8.82 ₱554

-9.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$0.90 ₱56.4

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.29 ₱81.3

57.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.27 ₱16.68

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,619

$11.28 ₱709

410.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.21

$0.66 ₱41.65

1.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

$0.23 ₱14.41

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$0.94 ₱58.9

98.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$0.98 ₱61.8

26.53%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

0.36%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

2.13%

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

$152 ₱9,557

$143 ₱8,972

6.53%

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

$16.13 ₱1,014

$17.75 ₱1,115

-9.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,987

$23.63 ₱1,485

33.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,422

$31.58 ₱1,984

72.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱908

$4.85 ₱305

197.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱437

$4.91 ₱308

41.55%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$78.2 ₱4,910

927.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱468.3K

$1,130 ₱71.0K

559.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,761

$19.26 ₱1,210

210.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,356

$15.83 ₱994

136.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,139

$31.40 ₱1,973

160.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,555

$47.12 ₱2,960

121.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.3K

$264 ₱16.6K

185.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.0K

$172 ₱10.8K

149.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.2K

$495 ₱31.1K

360.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.2K

$353 ₱22.2K

198.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.5K

$2,815 ₱176.8K

108.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.3K

$1,052 ₱66.1K

256.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$334 ₱21.0K

82.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

25.00%

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: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $264 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 83% 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 $17.00 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $172 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 75% 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 83% 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: $752 in Makati versus $264 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 $700 in San Fernando – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 411% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $700 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 $700 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 75% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.