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 $771 in Talisay City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $1,188 in Talisay City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,606 in Talisay City.

Living in Makati is roughly 59% more expensive than in Talisay City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Talisay City 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.62 ₱222

82.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$17.52 ₱1,073

155.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.26 ₱199

46.32%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.36 ₱144

25.00%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.84 ₱51.3

36.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.40 ₱24.27

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.30 ₱79.8

82.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.12 ₱130

70.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.85 ₱113

16.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.26 ₱77.3

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$1.01 ₱62.0

4.95%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.09 ₱128

12.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$7.82 ₱478

0.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.37 ₱268

2.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.86 ₱481

-0.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$2.93 ₱179

51.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.53 ₱93.5

28.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.61 ₱160

-0.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.61 ₱98.4

34.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.32 ₱142

46.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.55 ₱156

10.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.06 ₱64.9

2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.76 ₱46.48

23.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$2.77 ₱169

6.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$9.06 ₱555

-12.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.21 ₱74.2

1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.98 ₱121

13.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.28 ₱17.34

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.79 ₱48.11

-2.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.22 ₱13.38

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.19 ₱134

65.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.14 ₱69.9

0.88%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

25.60%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

6.06%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$111 ₱6,821

55.51%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$32.42 ₱1,984

-15.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$27.19 ₱1,664

33.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$33.37 ₱2,043

64.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.35 ₱266

169.43%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$6.12 ₱374

31.54%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$150 ₱9,188

115.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,261 ₱260.8K

81.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$45.78 ₱2,802

30.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$26.28 ₱1,609

36.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$75.4 ₱4,613

13.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$53.3 ₱3,262

129.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$263 ₱16.1K

150.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$174 ₱10.7K

123.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$592 ₱36.2K

281.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$389 ₱23.8K

165.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,377 ₱145.5K

154.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$922 ₱56.4K

316.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$347 ₱21.2K

75.72%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Talisay City: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $263 in Talisay City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 76% 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: $45.00 in Makati vs $18.00 in Talisay City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $208 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 59% 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 76% 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: $660 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 11% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $771 in Talisay City – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $771 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 $771 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 59% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.