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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Makati versus $784 in Talisay City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $1,210 in Talisay City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,636 in Talisay City.

Living in Makati is roughly 54% more expensive than Talisay City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Talisay City 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$3.64 ₱225

83.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$18.07 ₱1,115

144.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$3.25 ₱201

50.15%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$2.38 ₱147

23.11%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.78 ₱47.81

52.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.39 ₱24.18

43.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.36 ₱84.0

77.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.12 ₱130

70.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.91 ₱118

15.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.21 ₱74.9

23.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$1.00 ₱61.7

7.00%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.07 ₱127

13.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.32 ₱266

2.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.60 ₱469

1.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.00 ₱185

45.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.59 ₱97.9

25.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$2.58 ₱159

-0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.54 ₱94.8

44.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.27 ₱140

51.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$2.52 ₱156

13.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.06 ₱65.4

7.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.76 ₱47.12

34.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$2.77 ₱171

2.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$7.69 ₱474

5.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.20 ₱73.9

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.98 ₱122

17.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.28 ₱17.33

92.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.82 ₱50.6

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.22 ₱13.52

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.19 ₱135

66.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.10 ₱68.0

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

27.74%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

4.53%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$112 ₱6,892

52.72%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$32.30 ₱1,993

-16.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$27.42 ₱1,691

31.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$34.60 ₱2,134

60.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.52 ₱279

162.61%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$5.82 ₱359

40.72%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$155 ₱9,530

108.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,367 ₱269.3K

78.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$45.84 ₱2,827

28.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$26.51 ₱1,635

34.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$76.4 ₱4,709

9.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$53.9 ₱3,323

129.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$263 ₱16.3K

153.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$174 ₱10.7K

131.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$578 ₱35.7K

298.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$389 ₱24.0K

160.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,237 ₱137.9K

180.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$342 ₱21.1K

108.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for Talisay City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $263 in Talisay City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 108% 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 $18.00 in Talisay City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $206 per month, with Talisay 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 Talisay City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Talisay City wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Talisay City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Makati pays 108% 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 $263 in Talisay City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Makati versus $784 in Talisay City – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $784 in Talisay City versus $1,204 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Talisay City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Talisay City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Talisay City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $784 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Talisay City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Talisay 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 Talisay City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.