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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $635 in Santa Cruz, Laguna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $974 in Santa Cruz, Laguna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,313 in Santa Cruz, Laguna.

Living in Makati is roughly 95% more expensive than in Santa Cruz, Laguna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Santa Cruz, Laguna 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱401

$1.64 ₱102

292.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,495

$7.96 ₱497

402.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱286

$2.77 ₱173

65.34%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱162

$1.78 ₱111

46.07%

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

$1.13 ₱70.2

$0.42 ₱26.14

169.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.94

$0.23 ₱14.30

108.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱150

$1.03 ₱64.0

133.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$0.93 ₱57.8

249.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.64 ₱102

18.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.12 ₱69.7

9.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$0.94 ₱58.6

13.83%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱154

$1.56 ₱97.1

58.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱454

$4.75 ₱296

53.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱302

$3.49 ₱218

38.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱431

$7.29 ₱455

-5.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱248

$1.48 ₱92.4

168.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$0.50 ₱31.15

300.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱201

$1.47 ₱91.9

119.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.08 ₱67.2

119.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱215

$1.70 ₱106

102.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱214

$1.74 ₱109

96.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.2

$0.63 ₱39.03

76.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.53 ₱32.86

118.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.98 ₱186

-13.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱504

$8.65 ₱539

-6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.0

$0.93 ₱57.9

45.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$2.01 ₱126

1.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.25 ₱15.51

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,609

$11.30 ₱705

412.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.33

$0.79 ₱49.17

-22.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.25 ₱15.59

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱118

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱73.6

$1.21 ₱75.6

-2.48%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

2.82%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

0.98%

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

$154 ₱9,630

$87.6 ₱5,460

76.39%

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

$16.28 ₱1,015

$17.87 ₱1,114

-8.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,953

$23.16 ₱1,444

35.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,365

$32.24 ₱2,011

67.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱892

$4.72 ₱294

203.18%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱443

$5.34 ₱333

32.96%

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

$783 ₱48.8K

$132 ₱8,260

491.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱459.8K

$10.7K ₱668.8K

-31.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,760

$29.47 ₱1,838

104.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,345

$19.28 ₱1,202

95.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,124

$70.9 ₱4,419

15.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,515

$56.1 ₱3,499

86.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.1K

$273 ₱17.0K

176.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.8K

$175 ₱10.9K

145.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱145.7K

$500 ₱31.2K

367.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱66.8K

$355 ₱22.1K

202.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱370.5K

$2,640 ₱164.6K

125.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱238.0K

$1,024 ₱63.9K

272.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱37.8K

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 6, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz, Laguna: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $273 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $8.00 in Santa Cruz, Laguna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $156 per month, with Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 Santa Cruz, Laguna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz, Laguna wins on cost – living expenses run 95% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Cruz, Laguna the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,855 in Makati and $953 in Santa Cruz, Laguna to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $755 in Makati versus $273 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Makati versus $635 in Santa Cruz, Laguna – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Santa Cruz, Laguna runs roughly 412% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $635 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $1,237 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz, Laguna but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz, Laguna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Santa Cruz, Laguna delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $635 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Santa Cruz, Laguna hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 Santa Cruz, Laguna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.