Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Tagum City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Tagum City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $441 in Tagum City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $543 in Tagum City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $645 in Tagum City.

Living in Makati is roughly 178% more expensive than in Tagum City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Tagum City 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$5.42 ₱340

19.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$12.66 ₱794

218.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$4.93 ₱309

-4.67%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.25 ₱141

17.78%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.88 ₱118

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.47 ₱92.0

117.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.63 ₱102

17.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.93 ₱121

28.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$8.05 ₱505

-15.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$6.48 ₱406

-36.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$1.32 ₱82.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.25 ₱15.76

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.20 ₱75.5

3.33%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

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

$152 ₱9,541

$56.3 ₱3,531

170.20%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$7.80 ₱489

106.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$27.50 ₱1,725

15.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$24.27 ₱1,523

124.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$3.18 ₱200

118.55%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$156 ₱9,789

381.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$128 ₱8,005

236.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$320 ₱20.0K

613.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$205 ₱12.9K

197.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Tagum City: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $156 in Tagum City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 197% 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 $13.00 in Tagum City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $87.0 per month, with Tagum City 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 Tagum City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tagum City wins on cost – living expenses run 178% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tagum City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 197% 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: $752 in Makati versus $156 in Tagum City. 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 $441 in Tagum City – a 178% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 165% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $441 in Tagum City versus $1,226 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tagum City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Tagum City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Tagum City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $441 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tagum City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Tagum City 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 Tagum City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 178% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.