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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Makati versus $621 in Tarlac City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $954 in Tarlac City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,286 in Tarlac City.

Living in Makati is roughly 98% more expensive than Tarlac City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Tarlac City 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$2.70 ₱166

151.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$14.96 ₱922

201.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$3.51 ₱216

40.46%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$1.57 ₱96.7

82.80%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.87 ₱53.4

36.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.26 ₱15.95

115.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$0.99 ₱60.8

146.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$1.72 ₱106

112.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.66 ₱103

28.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.54 ₱95.3

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.98 ₱60.7

10.20%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.02 ₱124

15.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$9.07 ₱560

-10.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$3.21 ₱198

38.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$5.91 ₱365

29.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$2.89 ₱178

58.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.62 ₱99.6

18.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.15 ₱132

25.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.52 ₱94.0

48.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$1.45 ₱89.2

126.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$1.18 ₱72.9

142.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$0.92 ₱56.9

17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.90 ₱55.4

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$2.78 ₱171

5.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$3.76 ₱232

120.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$0.83 ₱50.9

44.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.56 ₱96.5

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.28 ₱17.30

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$7.93 ₱489

-54.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.84 ₱51.7

-3.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.22 ₱13.50

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.11 ₱130

69.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.15 ₱71.0

-4.35%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$28.6K ₱1.8M

19.76%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

9.11%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$101 ₱6,199

71.11%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$15.85 ₱977

69.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$26.78 ₱1,651

36.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$44.51 ₱2,745

25.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$17.48 ₱1,078

-32.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$6.27 ₱387

26.00%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$170 ₱10.5K

88.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$14.0K ₱866.1K

-46.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$46.32 ₱2,856

30.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$26.53 ₱1,636

34.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$50.4 ₱3,109

69.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$37.32 ₱2,301

226.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$131 ₱8,057

409.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$103 ₱6,333

279.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$268 ₱16.5K

742.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$176 ₱10.9K

481.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$372 ₱23.0K

1514.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$294 ₱18.1K

1211.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$212 ₱13.1K

221.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.17

8.10%

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $131 in Tarlac City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 221% 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 $15.00 in Tarlac City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $181 per month, with Tarlac 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 Tarlac City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tarlac City wins on cost – living expenses run 98% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tarlac City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Makati pays 221% 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: $666 in Makati versus $131 in Tarlac City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Makati versus $621 in Tarlac City – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tarlac City runs roughly 122% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $621 in Tarlac City versus $1,232 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tarlac City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Tarlac City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Tarlac City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $621 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tarlac City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Tarlac 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 Tarlac City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.