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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $822 in San Pablo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,237 in San Pablo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,651 in San Pablo.

Living in Makati is roughly 45% more expensive than in San Pablo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, San Pablo 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱403

$4.75 ₱293

37.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,775

$14.00 ₱863

221.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$3.14 ₱194

52.55%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱182

$2.98 ₱184

-1.01%

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

$1.20 ₱73.9

$0.43 ₱26.21

179.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.49

$0.28 ₱17.27

107.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$0.70 ₱42.90

234.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱220

$2.17 ₱134

64.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.69 ₱104

26.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.3

$0.81 ₱49.95

76.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$0.74 ₱45.90

50.00%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.99 ₱123

17.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱493

$5.26 ₱324

51.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.86 ₱238

17.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.19 ₱443

7.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱280

$4.51 ₱278

0.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.07 ₱66.0

85.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.37 ₱146

14.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.63 ₱100

39.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.44 ₱88.6

139.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$1.03 ₱63.6

171.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.1

$0.90 ₱55.8

26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$0.59 ₱36.55

67.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$2.53 ₱156

18.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱494

$6.49 ₱400

23.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.0

$1.13 ₱69.8

10.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.97 ₱122

13.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.62

$0.28 ₱17.47

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.13

$0.84 ₱51.7

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.21

$0.24 ₱14.82

-45.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.19 ₱135

57.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.1

$1.15 ₱70.8

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$25.4K ₱1.6M

34.00%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

7.92%

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

$170 ₱10.5K

$166 ₱10.3K

2.03%

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

$27.66 ₱1,706

$32.55 ₱2,008

-15.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,207

$30.25 ₱1,866

18.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,376

$34.57 ₱2,132

58.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱742

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱506

$6.95 ₱428

17.99%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$82.6 ₱5,093

292.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱473.6K

$2,817 ₱173.7K

172.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,634

$17.59 ₱1,085

234.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,213

$29.42 ₱1,815

21.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,183

$99.1 ₱6,113

-15.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,622

$93.1 ₱5,739

32.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.5K

$122 ₱7,530

437.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$175 ₱10.8K

123.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.2K

$579 ₱35.7K

292.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.2K

$394 ₱24.3K

155.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱230.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$295 ₱18.2K

105.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

8.13

-17.96%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for San Pablo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $122 in San Pablo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 105% 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 $14.00 in San Pablo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $179 per month, with San Pablo 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 Pablo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Pablo wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Pablo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 105% 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: $657 in Makati versus $122 in San Pablo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% 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 $822 in San Pablo – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $822 in San Pablo versus $1,188 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Pablo but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes San Pablo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San Pablo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $822 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Pablo hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and San Pablo 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 Pablo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.