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: $1,204 in Makati versus $803 in San Pedro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $1,257 in San Pedro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,710 in San Pedro.

Living in Makati is roughly 50% more expensive than San Pedro, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, San Pedro 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makati
San Pedro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.69 ₱412
$4.80 ₱296
39.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.22 ₱2,728
$21.62 ₱1,333
104.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.88 ₱301
$3.07 ₱189
58.96%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ₱181
$2.75 ₱169
6.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 ₱73.7
$0.97 ₱59.9
22.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₱34.78
$0.37 ₱23.03
51.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ₱150
$1.21 ₱74.3
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 ₱223
$2.61 ₱161
38.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makati
San Pedro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₱136
$1.96 ₱121
12.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 ₱92.0
$1.26 ₱77.9
18.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 ₱65.7
$1.04 ₱64.3
2.88%
Eggs
$2.34 ₱144
$2.02 ₱124
15.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 ₱505
$7.15 ₱441
14.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.42 ₱273
$4.21 ₱260
4.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.71 ₱475
$7.24 ₱446
6.49%
Apples (1kg)
$4.36 ₱269
$3.40 ₱210
28.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 ₱123
$1.57 ₱96.9
27.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 ₱159
$2.89 ₱178
-11.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₱138
$1.70 ₱105
31.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.45 ₱213
$2.83 ₱174
21.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 ₱176
$3.02 ₱186
-5.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 ₱70.0
$1.64 ₱101
-30.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₱62.7
$0.64 ₱39.44
59.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 ₱175
$3.18 ₱196
-10.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.12 ₱501
$8.88 ₱548
-8.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 ₱77.1
$1.50 ₱92.7
-16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 ₱143
$2.03 ₱125
14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
San Pedro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ₱33.40
$0.26 ₱15.91
107.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.64 ₱225
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 ₱48.35
$0.81 ₱50.3
-3.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.11 ₱6.49
$0.22 ₱13.51
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 ₱225
$2.16 ₱133
68.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₱67.9
$1.15 ₱71.0
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K ₱2.1M
$26.0K ₱1.6M
28.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K ₱1.3M
$20.6K ₱1.3M
4.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
San Pedro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 ₱10.5K
$134 ₱8,247
27.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.96 ₱1,663
$22.18 ₱1,368
21.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.97 ₱2,219
$26.96 ₱1,663
33.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makati
San Pedro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.6 ₱3,430
$34.07 ₱2,101
63.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.87 ₱732
$4.35 ₱268
172.87%
Cinema Ticket
$8.19 ₱505
$6.85 ₱423
19.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
San Pedro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 ₱19.9K
$79.7 ₱4,918
303.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,811 ₱481.8K
$2,789 ₱172.0K
180.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makati
San Pedro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ₱3,628
$32.43 ₱2,001
81.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.76 ₱2,206
$29.38 ₱1,812
21.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.9 ₱5,174
$81.8 ₱5,048
2.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₱7,612
$46.87 ₱2,891
163.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makati
San Pedro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$667 ₱41.2K
$267 ₱16.5K
149.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$403 ₱24.8K
$176 ₱10.8K
129.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,307 ₱142.3K
$594 ₱36.6K
288.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,015 ₱62.6K
$395 ₱24.4K
156.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,283 ₱387.5K
$2,334 ₱144.0K
169.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,903 ₱240.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makati
San Pedro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$712 ₱43.9K
$318 ₱19.6K
124.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
7.52
-11.30%

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $267 in San Pedro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 124% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $22.00 in San Pedro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $213 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
Which city is more expensive, Makati or San Pedro?
San Pedro wins on cost – living expenses run 50% 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.
Are salaries higher in Makati or San Pedro?
Makati pays 124% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Makati vs San Pedro?
Rent for a central apartment: $667 in Makati versus $267 in San Pedro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Makati or San Pedro?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Makati compared to San Pedro?
All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Makati versus $803 in San Pedro – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Makati or San Pedro?
At $803 in San Pedro versus $1,204 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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Makati or San Pedro?
Both work as nomad bases, but San Pedro delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $803 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Pedro hard to pass up.
How safe is Makati compared to San Pedro?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find San Pedro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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