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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $710 in San Pedro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,068 in San Pedro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,425 in San Pedro.

Living in Makati is roughly 73% more expensive than in San Pedro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, San Pedro 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱407

$4.02 ₱252

60.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,531

$16.37 ₱1,029

146.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.87 ₱180

63.76%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.79 ₱113

48.04%

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$0.56 ₱35.31

98.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.47

$0.34 ₱21.08

32.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$0.98 ₱61.4

139.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.56 ₱98.2

105.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.67 ₱105

14.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$1.15 ₱72.1

11.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$0.94 ₱59.3

11.70%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$2.01 ₱126

23.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$4.99 ₱314

39.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$3.43 ₱215

41.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$6.80 ₱427

-0.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$2.31 ₱145

78.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.61 ₱101

24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.38 ₱149

34.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.02 ₱64.0

123.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.73 ₱109

103.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.72 ₱108

108.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.4

$0.62 ₱39.15

77.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.49 ₱30.85

132.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.96 ₱186

-13.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$8.82 ₱554

-9.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$0.99 ₱61.9

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.09 ₱131

-2.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.22 ₱13.94

345.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,619

$11.91 ₱749

383.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.21

$0.82 ₱51.4

-18.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

$0.21 ₱13.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.96 ₱123

-4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$1.20 ₱75.2

3.33%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-2.21%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.8K ₱1.2M

4.34%

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

$152 ₱9,557

$124 ₱7,801

22.51%

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

$16.13 ₱1,014

$15.32 ₱963

5.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,987

$23.32 ₱1,465

35.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,422

$28.65 ₱1,800

90.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱908

$5.22 ₱328

176.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱437

$5.05 ₱318

37.62%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$133 ₱8,347

504.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱468.3K

$8,826 ₱554.5K

-15.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,761

$28.74 ₱1,806

108.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,356

$19.14 ₱1,203

95.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,139

$72.8 ₱4,571

12.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,555

$56.1 ₱3,526

85.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.3K

$260 ₱16.3K

189.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.0K

$181 ₱11.4K

137.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.2K

$445 ₱27.9K

412.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.2K

$313 ₱19.7K

236.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.5K

$2,714 ₱170.5K

116.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.3K

$1,144 ₱71.9K

227.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$306 ₱19.2K

99.23%

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 Pedro: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $260 in San Pedro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 99% 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 Pedro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $172 per month, with San Pedro 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 Pedro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Pedro wins on cost – living expenses run 73% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Pedro the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 99% 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 $260 in San Pedro. 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 $710 in San Pedro – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Pedro runs roughly 384% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $710 in San Pedro versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Pedro but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes San Pedro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San Pedro delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $710 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Pedro hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and San Pedro 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 Pedro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.