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: $1,226 in Makati versus $718 in Talisay City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,105 in Talisay City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,492 in Talisay City.

Living in Makati is roughly 71% more expensive than in Talisay City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Talisay City 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱405

$3.78 ₱237

71.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,525

$16.57 ₱1,038

143.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.77 ₱174

69.68%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.31 ₱145

14.72%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.61 ₱38.50

81.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.40

$0.34 ₱21.00

32.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.12 ₱70.5

109.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱200

$1.84 ₱115

73.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.63 ₱102

17.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.12 ₱70.2

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.96 ₱60.5

9.38%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.89 ₱119

31.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱437

$5.25 ₱329

32.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.18 ₱262

16.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$7.08 ₱444

-4.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.04 ₱128

101.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.59 ₱99.6

25.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.32 ₱145

37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.07 ₱67.1

113.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.85 ₱116

90.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.93 ₱121

86.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.2

$0.70 ₱44.14

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.59 ₱36.68

93.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.79 ₱175

-7.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.73 ₱484

3.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$1.02 ₱64.0

29.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.17 ₱136

-6.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.27 ₱16.86

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,610

$11.72 ₱735

391.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.10

$0.78 ₱48.60

-14.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.22 ₱13.91

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.91 ₱120

-2.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.9

$1.11 ₱69.3

11.71%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$22.3K ₱1.4M

-5.32%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.9K ₱1.2M

-0.98%

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

$152 ₱9,533

$120 ₱7,544

26.37%

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

$16.13 ₱1,011

$12.82 ₱803

25.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,982

$24.86 ₱1,558

27.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,413

$27.75 ₱1,739

96.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$5.10 ₱319

183.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.12 ₱321

35.74%

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

$803 ₱50.3K

$130 ₱8,148

517.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.1K

$9,114 ₱571.1K

-18.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,752

$34.38 ₱2,155

74.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,350

$21.07 ₱1,321

77.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,126

$72.9 ₱4,569

12.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,538

$47.49 ₱2,976

119.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.1K

$265 ₱16.6K

184.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$166 ₱10.4K

159.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.8K

$561 ₱35.2K

306.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.0K

$371 ₱23.3K

183.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.5K

$2,197 ₱137.7K

166.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.7K

$1,161 ₱72.8K

222.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

$332 ₱20.8K

83.90%

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 Talisay City: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $265 in Talisay City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 84% 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 $17.00 in Talisay City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $175 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 71% 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.

Average pay runs 84% 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 $265 in Talisay 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 $718 in Talisay City – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Talisay City runs roughly 392% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $718 in Talisay City versus $1,226 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 $718 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 71% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.