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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $749 in San Juan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,110 in San Juan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,472 in San Juan.

Living in Makati is roughly 64% more expensive than in San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, San Juan 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$4.00 ₱251

61.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$16.40 ₱1,029

145.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.74 ₱172

71.53%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.23 ₱140

18.83%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.63 ₱39.24

76.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.31 ₱19.13

45.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.06 ₱66.2

121.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.55 ₱97.3

106.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.60 ₱100

19.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.15 ₱72.1

11.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.89 ₱56.1

17.98%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.74 ₱109

42.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$4.96 ₱311

40.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$3.47 ₱217

39.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$7.14 ₱448

-5.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.30 ₱144

79.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.36 ₱85.4

47.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.35 ₱147

35.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.04 ₱65.2

119.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.74 ₱109

102.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.71 ₱107

109.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$0.66 ₱41.36

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.89 ₱56.1

28.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.83 ₱177

-9.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.53 ₱472

6.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.96 ₱59.9

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.78 ₱112

14.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.24 ₱14.94

308.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

$11.42 ₱716

404.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

$0.77 ₱48.23

-12.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.23 ₱14.45

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.96 ₱123

-4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.14 ₱71.3

8.77%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

1.10%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

3.99%

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

$152 ₱9,541

$140 ₱8,754

8.98%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$14.52 ₱911

11.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$24.57 ₱1,541

28.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$33.55 ₱2,104

62.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$5.02 ₱315

187.85%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.25 ₱329

32.38%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$72.4 ₱4,540

1009.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

$2,458 ₱154.2K

203.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

$28.28 ₱1,774

111.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$19.75 ₱1,238

89.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

$71.7 ₱4,500

14.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

$55.4 ₱3,475

88.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$268 ₱16.8K

180.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$169 ₱10.6K

154.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$504 ₱31.6K

352.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$300 ₱18.8K

251.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

$2,930 ₱183.8K

100.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

$1,061 ₱66.5K

253.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$242 ₱15.2K

152.46%

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 Juan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $268 in San Juan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 152% 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 $16.00 in San Juan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $171 per month, with San Juan 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 Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Juan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 152% 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 $268 in San Juan. 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 $749 in San Juan – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Juan runs roughly 404% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $749 in San Juan versus $1,226 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Juan but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes San Juan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San Juan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $749 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Juan hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and San Juan 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 Juan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.