Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Tacloban Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Tacloban

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $769 in Tacloban.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,146 in Tacloban.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,522 in Tacloban.

Living in Makati is roughly 61% more expensive than in Tacloban, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$2.97 ₱186

116.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$15.94 ₱999

151.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$2.46 ₱154

86.18%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.34 ₱147

11.11%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.66 ₱41.12

71.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.35 ₱21.93

37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.63 ₱102

47.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$2.22 ₱139

46.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.98 ₱124

-2.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.17 ₱73.5

5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.82 ₱51.7

30.49%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.98 ₱124

24.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$9.87 ₱619

-26.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.41 ₱277

9.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$7.10 ₱445

-2.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$3.35 ₱210

18.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.09 ₱68.6

83.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.31 ₱145

39.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.48 ₱93.1

60.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$2.37 ₱148

45.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$1.93 ₱121

77.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$1.19 ₱74.4

-6.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.67 ₱41.91

73.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$1.94 ₱122

32.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$6.38 ₱400

26.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$1.09 ₱68.4

23.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$1.75 ₱110

17.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.25 ₱15.55

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

$11.07 ₱694

422.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.76 ₱47.55

-19.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.91 ₱120

-2.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.04 ₱65.0

13.46%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

2.14%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

1.19%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$120 ₱7,494

29.19%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$15.19 ₱952

7.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$28.27 ₱1,773

10.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$32.60 ₱2,044

65.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

$4.71 ₱295

203.82%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$5.52 ₱346

28.62%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$134 ₱8,371

486.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$8,203 ₱514.3K

-10.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$32.10 ₱2,013

87.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$19.66 ₱1,232

91.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$75.7 ₱4,747

8.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$55.2 ₱3,459

89.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$271 ₱17.0K

178.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$194 ₱12.1K

121.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$506 ₱31.7K

361.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$352 ₱22.0K

204.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

$2,646 ₱165.9K

124.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

$1,030 ₱64.6K

270.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$349 ₱21.9K

73.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.2

4.17%

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

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Tacloban: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $271 in Tacloban. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $16.00 in Tacloban for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $201 per month, with Tacloban 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 Tacloban: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 74% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $755 in Makati versus $271 in Tacloban. 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 $769 in Tacloban – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tacloban runs roughly 423% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $769 in Tacloban versus $1,237 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tacloban but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Tacloban the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Tacloban delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $769 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tacloban hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Tacloban 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 Tacloban 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.