Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Subic Bay Freeport Zone Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $738 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,285 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,832 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Living in Makati is roughly 61% more expensive than in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱403

$4.42 ₱272

47.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,775

$16.02 ₱988

180.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$3.60 ₱222

33.06%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱182

$2.44 ₱150

20.90%

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

$1.20 ₱73.9

$0.82 ₱50.7

46.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.49

$0.46 ₱28.30

26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.44 ₱88.8

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱220

$2.37 ₱146

50.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.83 ₱113

16.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.3

$1.50 ₱92.8

-4.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$0.93 ₱57.6

19.35%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.97 ₱122

18.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱493

$7.91 ₱488

1.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$5.05 ₱311

-10.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$13.86 ₱855

-44.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.86 ₱176

58.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.81 ₱112

9.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$1.38 ₱84.9

97.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.14 ₱70.2

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.75 ₱108

97.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$1.42 ₱87.8

97.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.1

$1.12 ₱68.9

1.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$0.88 ₱54.1

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$2.47 ₱152

21.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱494

$8.15 ₱503

-1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.0

$0.77 ₱47.68

62.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.22 ₱137

0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.62

$0.22 ₱13.56

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$17.91 ₱1,105

-80.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.13

$0.69 ₱42.80

10.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.21

$0.27 ₱16.65

-51.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.07 ₱128

66.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.1

$1.16 ₱71.4

-0.86%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$28.4K ₱1.8M

19.90%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

26.29%

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

$170 ₱10.5K

$129 ₱7,930

31.95%

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

$27.66 ₱1,706

$10.97 ₱676

152.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,207

$18.69 ₱1,153

91.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,376

$31.70 ₱1,955

72.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱742

$4.50 ₱278

167.33%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱506

$7.38 ₱455

11.11%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$154 ₱9,498

110.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱473.6K

$4,271 ₱263.4K

79.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,634

$45.13 ₱2,783

30.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,213

$34.67 ₱2,138

3.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,183

$69.8 ₱4,304

20.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,622

$114 ₱7,014

8.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.5K

$141 ₱8,672

367.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$87.0 ₱5,364

348.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.2K

$361 ₱22.3K

529.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.2K

$486 ₱30.0K

107.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.8K

$2,119 ₱130.7K

183.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱230.2K

$870 ₱53.7K

328.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.17

8.10%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $16.00 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $220 per month, with Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Subic Bay Freeport Zone wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Subic Bay Freeport Zone the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,783 in Makati and $1,107 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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: $657 in Makati versus $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $738 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Subic Bay Freeport Zone runs roughly 400% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $738 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $1,188 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Subic Bay Freeport Zone but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Subic Bay Freeport Zone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Subic Bay Freeport Zone delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $738 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Subic Bay Freeport Zone hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.