Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Santa Cruz, Laguna Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Santa Cruz, Laguna

😐 Solo nomad: Makati is 35.2% more expensive than Santa Cruz, Laguna without rent, and 59% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Makati is 39.4% more expensive than Santa Cruz, Laguna without rent, and 83.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Makati
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.5 ₱362
$1.79 ₱99.7
263.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.55 ₱2,480
$9.05 ₱504
392.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.06 ₱281
$3.02 ₱168
67.55%
Cappuccino
$2.87 ₱160
$2.07 ₱115
38.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₱67.7
$0.42 ₱23.55
188.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₱31.53
$0.28 ₱15.76
103.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ₱135
$1.27 ₱70.7
91.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ₱203
$1.08 ₱59.9
237.96%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Makati
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ₱119
$1.74 ₱96.8
22.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ₱84.2
$1.26 ₱70
19.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ₱59.3
$1.04 ₱58.1
1.92%
Eggs
$2.35 ₱131
$1.73 ₱96.2
35.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.04 ₱448
$5.41 ₱301
48.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱244
$4.23 ₱235
3.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.94 ₱442
$7.08 ₱394
12.15%
Apples (1kg)
$4.59 ₱256
$1.56 ₱87.1
194.23%
Banana (1kg)
$2 ₱111
$0.52 ₱28.75
284.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 ₱152
$1.62 ₱90
68.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 ₱122
$1.65 ₱91.9
32.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.35 ₱186
$2.75 ₱153
21.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 ₱156
$4.13 ₱230
-31.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₱60.9
$1.62 ₱90.2
-32.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 ₱54.6
$1.05 ₱58.3
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3 ₱167
$3.21 ₱179
-6.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.7 ₱373
$7.84 ₱437
-14.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 ₱69.6
$1.57 ₱87.2
-20.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 ₱123
$1.97 ₱110
12.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 ₱30.37
$0.26 ₱14.39
111.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.58 ₱199
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 ₱46.55
$0.81 ₱45.31
3.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.13 ₱7.5
$0.24 ₱13.39
-45.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 ₱203
$2.07 ₱116
76.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ₱61.7
$1.1 ₱61.1
0.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K ₱1.9M
$25.3K ₱1.4M
35.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ₱1.2M
$20.8K ₱1.2M
7.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 ₱9,394
$97.6 ₱5,434
72.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27 ₱1,503
$33.06 ₱1,841
-18.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.66 ₱1,986
$30.51 ₱1,699
16.88%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Makati
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.1 ₱3,122
$34.57 ₱1,925
62.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.87 ₱661
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.16 ₱454
$6.98 ₱389
16.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$324 ₱18.1K
$81.9 ₱4,562
295.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,700 ₱428.7K
$2,807 ₱156.3K
174.26%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Makati
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ₱3,312
$32.27 ₱1,797
84.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.84 ₱1,995
$29.78 ₱1,658
20.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ₱4,779
$98.7 ₱5,495
-13.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₱6,873
$92.3 ₱5,138
33.76%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Makati
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$644 ₱35.8K
$262 ₱14.6K
145.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₱22.5K
$174 ₱9,700
132.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,272 ₱126.5K
$599 ₱33.3K
279.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 ₱57.7K
$398 ₱22.2K
160.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,045 ₱336.6K
$2,238 ₱124.6K
170.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,200 ₱233.8K
-
-
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Makati
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$918 ₱51.1K
-
-
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Santa Cruz, Laguna: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.