Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Taytay Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Taytay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $725 in Taytay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,108 in Taytay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,491 in Taytay.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Taytay 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱401

$4.67 ₱291

37.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,495

$19.60 ₱1,222

104.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱286

$3.11 ₱194

47.27%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱162

$2.46 ₱154

5.69%

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

$1.13 ₱70.2

$0.77 ₱48.02

46.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.94

$0.47 ₱29.03

2.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱150

$1.14 ₱71.4

111.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.64 ₱102

98.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.63 ₱101

19.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.13 ₱70.5

8.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$1.02 ₱63.6

4.90%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱154

$2.10 ₱131

17.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱454

$4.98 ₱311

46.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱302

$3.34 ₱208

45.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱431

$7.14 ₱445

-3.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱248

$2.28 ₱142

74.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.56 ₱97.6

28.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱201

$2.43 ₱152

32.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.04 ₱65.1

127.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱215

$1.68 ₱105

105.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱214

$1.81 ₱113

88.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.2

$0.67 ₱41.60

65.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.53 ₱32.91

118.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.99 ₱186

-14.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱504

$8.88 ₱554

-9.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.0

$0.92 ₱57.2

46.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$2.11 ₱131

-2.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.25 ₱15.56

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,609

$11.31 ₱705

411.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.33

$0.82 ₱51.1

-25.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.21 ₱13.07

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱118

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱73.6

$1.21 ₱75.6

-2.48%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

1.10%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

1.23%

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

$154 ₱9,630

$122 ₱7,602

26.69%

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

$16.28 ₱1,015

$15.13 ₱943

7.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,953

$23.63 ₱1,473

32.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,365

$32.22 ₱2,009

67.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱892

$4.73 ₱295

202.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱443

$5.32 ₱332

33.46%

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

$783 ₱48.8K

$133 ₱8,286

489.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱459.8K

$8,800 ₱548.8K

-16.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,760

$28.63 ₱1,786

110.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,345

$19.77 ₱1,233

90.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,124

$71.0 ₱4,424

15.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,515

$55.2 ₱3,440

89.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.1K

$273 ₱17.0K

176.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.8K

$175 ₱10.9K

145.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱145.7K

$508 ₱31.7K

359.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱66.8K

$349 ₱21.8K

207.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱370.5K

$2,566 ₱160.0K

131.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱238.0K

$1,020 ₱63.6K

274.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱37.8K

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 6, 2026

Last update for Taytay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $273 in Taytay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $20.00 in Taytay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $173 per month, with Taytay 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 Taytay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taytay wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Taytay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,855 in Makati and $1,088 in Taytay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $755 in Makati versus $273 in Taytay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Makati versus $725 in Taytay – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Taytay runs roughly 412% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $725 in Taytay versus $1,237 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Taytay but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Taytay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Taytay delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $725 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Taytay hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Taytay 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 Taytay 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.