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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $692 in Toledo City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,103 in Toledo City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,513 in Toledo City.

Living in Makati is roughly 72% more expensive than in Toledo City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Toledo City 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$2.61 ₱160

150.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$21.49 ₱1,323

109.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$3.56 ₱219

34.55%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.99 ₱123

48.24%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.56 ₱34.72

114.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.30 ₱18.32

93.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$0.93 ₱57.3

151.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.75 ₱108

103.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.77 ₱109

20.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.21 ₱74.7

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.88 ₱54.3

26.14%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.15 ₱132

8.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$6.00 ₱369

33.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$4.20 ₱259

7.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.08 ₱436

8.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.36 ₱145

92.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.20 ₱73.6

65.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$1.95 ₱120

39.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.55 ₱95.6

47.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.49 ₱154

38.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$1.15 ₱71.0

143.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.69 ₱104

-32.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.91 ₱55.8

8.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$1.20 ₱73.7

149.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$4.19 ₱258

91.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.22 ₱75.0

2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.92 ₱118

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.26 ₱15.80

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.73 ₱44.82

4.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.23 ₱14.04

-43.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.68 ₱165

28.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.14 ₱70.1

0.88%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$23.8K ₱1.5M

43.04%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

13.68%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$67.2 ₱4,134

152.67%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$30.92 ₱1,903

-10.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$30.16 ₱1,857

18.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$33.48 ₱2,061

63.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.34 ₱267

177.19%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$1.80 ₱111

355.56%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$89.8 ₱5,531

260.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$4,365 ₱268.8K

75.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$45.99 ₱2,832

28.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$22.57 ₱1,390

58.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,175

$63.2 ₱3,888

33.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$80.3 ₱4,942

53.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$413 ₱25.4K

59.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$175 ₱10.8K

122.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.0K

$582 ₱35.8K

290.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$394 ₱24.2K

155.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,400 ₱147.8K

150.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$986 ₱60.7K

278.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$318 ₱19.6K

90.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

11.17%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Toledo City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $413 in Toledo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 90% 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 $21.00 in Toledo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $182 per month, with Toledo 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 Toledo City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo City wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Toledo City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 90% 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: $657 in Makati versus $413 in Toledo City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $692 in Toledo City – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $692 in Toledo City versus $1,188 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Toledo City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Toledo City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Toledo City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $692 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Toledo City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Toledo 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 Toledo City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.