Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Siargao Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Siargao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $778 in Siargao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,212 in Siargao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,645 in Siargao.

Living in Makati is roughly 59% more expensive than in Siargao, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Siargao 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱401

$3.62 ₱226

77.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,495

$19.51 ₱1,217

105.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱286

$3.29 ₱205

39.21%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱162

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

$1.13 ₱70.2

$0.83 ₱51.5

36.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.94

$0.37 ₱23.06

29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱150

$1.29 ₱80.4

86.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$2.11 ₱131

54.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.92 ₱120

1.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.23 ₱76.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$0.96 ₱60.0

11.46%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱154

$2.05 ₱128

20.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱454

$8.26 ₱515

-11.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱302

$4.34 ₱271

11.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱431

$7.82 ₱487

-11.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱248

$2.87 ₱179

38.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.56 ₱97.2

28.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱201

$2.58 ₱161

24.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.62 ₱101

46.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱215

$2.25 ₱140

53.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱214

$2.62 ₱163

30.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.2

$1.07 ₱66.5

3.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.76 ₱47.59

52.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.86 ₱178

-10.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱504

$6.64 ₱414

21.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.0

$1.16 ₱72.6

16.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$2.06 ₱129

-0.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.26 ₱16.01

276.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,609

$11.32 ₱706

411.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.33

$0.83 ₱51.8

-26.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.22 ₱13.72

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$2.17 ₱135

-14.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱73.6

$1.14 ₱71.1

3.51%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$26.5K ₱1.7M

-18.31%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

-4.87%

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

$154 ₱9,630

$111 ₱6,908

39.42%

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

$16.28 ₱1,015

$33.32 ₱2,078

-51.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,953

$27.25 ₱1,699

14.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,365

$33.44 ₱2,085

61.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱892

$4.46 ₱278

220.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱443

$5.95 ₱371

19.33%

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

$783 ₱48.8K

$154 ₱9,620

407.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱459.8K

$4,282 ₱267.0K

72.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,760

$44.89 ₱2,799

34.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,345

$27.03 ₱1,686

39.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,124

$75.4 ₱4,700

9.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,515

$52.2 ₱3,254

100.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.1K

$265 ₱16.5K

184.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.8K

$173 ₱10.8K

147.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱145.7K

$597 ₱37.2K

291.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱66.8K

$391 ₱24.4K

174.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱370.5K

$2,360 ₱147.2K

151.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱238.0K

$1,019 ₱63.6K

274.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱37.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.67

12.44%

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

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Siargao: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $265 in Siargao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $20.00 in Siargao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $204 per month, with Siargao 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 Siargao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Siargao wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Siargao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,855 in Makati and $1,167 in Siargao 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 $265 in Siargao. 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 $778 in Siargao – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Siargao runs roughly 411% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $778 in Siargao versus $1,237 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Siargao but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Siargao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Siargao delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $778 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Siargao hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Siargao 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 Siargao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.