Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Tagaytay Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Tagaytay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Makati versus $771 in Tagaytay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $1,208 in Tagaytay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,645 in Tagaytay.

Living in Makati is roughly 56% more expensive than Tagaytay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Tagaytay 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$4.24 ₱262

57.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$14.42 ₱889

206.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$2.73 ₱168

78.75%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$1.75 ₱108

67.43%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.71 ₱43.57

67.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.40 ₱24.54

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.44 ₱89.0

68.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.58 ₱159

40.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$2.91 ₱179

-24.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.38 ₱84.9

7.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$1.02 ₱62.6

4.90%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$1.99 ₱123

17.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$7.86 ₱485

4.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$5.16 ₱318

-14.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$8.17 ₱504

-5.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.37 ₱208

29.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.87 ₱116

6.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$3.40 ₱210

-24.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.62 ₱100.0

37.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$1.72 ₱106

100.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$1.65 ₱102

73.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.12 ₱68.8

1.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.70 ₱42.92

45.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$2.07 ₱128

37.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$7.94 ₱490

2.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.20 ₱74.3

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.45 ₱151

-5.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.28 ₱17.35

92.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

$18.01 ₱1,111

-79.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.77 ₱47.64

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.22 ₱13.52

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.15 ₱133

69.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.12 ₱68.9

-1.79%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

58.77%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$18.3K ₱1.1M

16.94%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$72.2 ₱4,452

136.42%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$32.48 ₱2,003

-17.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$26.52 ₱1,636

35.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$33.59 ₱2,072

65.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.41 ₱272

169.16%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$6.01 ₱371

36.27%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$151 ₱9,285

113.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,308 ₱265.7K

81.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$45.37 ₱2,799

29.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$34.21 ₱2,110

4.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$68.0 ₱4,196

23.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$87.5 ₱5,394

41.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$259 ₱16.0K

157.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$161 ₱9,928

150.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$450 ₱27.7K

412.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$366 ₱22.6K

177.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,361 ₱145.6K

166.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

$3,032 ₱187.0K

28.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$417 ₱25.7K

70.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

33.40%

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for Tagaytay: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $259 in Tagaytay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 71% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $14.00 in Tagaytay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $227 per month, with Tagaytay 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 Tagaytay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tagaytay wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tagaytay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Makati pays 71% more on average, 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: $667 in Makati versus $259 in Tagaytay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Makati versus $771 in Tagaytay – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tagaytay runs roughly 395% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $771 in Tagaytay versus $1,204 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tagaytay but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Tagaytay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Tagaytay delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $771 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tagaytay hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Tagaytay 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 Tagaytay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.