Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Surigao Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Surigao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $725 in Surigao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,116 in Surigao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,507 in Surigao.

Living in Makati is roughly 69% more expensive than in Surigao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Surigao 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱405

$3.65 ₱229

77.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,525

$18.21 ₱1,141

121.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.83 ₱177

66.08%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.94 ₱122

36.60%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.62 ₱38.64

79.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.40

$0.36 ₱22.81

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.17 ₱73.3

100.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱200

$1.70 ₱107

88.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.69 ₱106

13.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.16 ₱72.4

10.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.96 ₱59.9

9.38%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.88 ₱118

31.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱437

$5.17 ₱324

35.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.23 ₱265

14.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$7.16 ₱449

-5.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.39 ₱150

72.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.61 ₱101

24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.03 ₱127

57.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.29 ₱81.1

76.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.15 ₱135

63.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$2.16 ₱135

66.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.2

$0.75 ₱47.10

46.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.49 ₱30.69

132.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.89 ₱181

-11.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$8.96 ₱561

-10.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.81 ₱50.9

62.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.69 ₱106

20.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.25 ₱15.51

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,610

$9.46 ₱593

508.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.10

$0.73 ₱46.02

-8.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.26 ₱16.39

-19.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.94 ₱121

-3.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.9

$1.19 ₱74.8

4.20%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

3.20%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.6K ₱1.2M

5.76%

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

$152 ₱9,533

$120 ₱7,514

26.87%

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

$16.13 ₱1,011

$13.92 ₱872

15.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,982

$34.49 ₱2,162

-8.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,413

$34.00 ₱2,130

60.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$5.24 ₱329

175.76%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.38 ₱337

29.18%

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

$803 ₱50.3K

$115 ₱7,234

595.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.1K

$9,128 ₱572.0K

-18.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,752

$33.87 ₱2,122

76.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,350

$21.55 ₱1,350

74.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,126

$77.7 ₱4,872

5.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,538

$54.5 ₱3,418

91.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.1K

$270 ₱16.9K

178.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$171 ₱10.7K

151.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.8K

$518 ₱32.5K

339.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.0K

$316 ₱19.8K

233.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.5K

$2,613 ₱163.8K

124.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.7K

$1,179 ₱73.9K

217.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

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 14, 2026

Last update for Surigao: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $270 in Surigao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $18.00 in Surigao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $179 per month, with Surigao 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 Surigao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surigao wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Surigao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,840 in Makati and $1,087 in Surigao 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: $752 in Makati versus $270 in Surigao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $725 in Surigao – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Surigao runs roughly 509% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $725 in Surigao versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Surigao but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Surigao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Surigao delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $725 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Surigao hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Surigao 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 Surigao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.