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: $1,237 in Makati versus $644 in Toledo City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,034 in Toledo City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,424 in Toledo City.

Living in Makati is roughly 92% more expensive than in Toledo City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Toledo City 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$2.88 ₱180

123.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$19.11 ₱1,198

109.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$3.17 ₱199

44.48%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$1.95 ₱122

33.33%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.66 ₱41.35

71.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.32 ₱20.05

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.06 ₱66.5

127.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.81 ₱113

79.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.68 ₱105

15.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.20 ₱75.5

2.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.91 ₱57.0

17.58%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.95 ₱123

26.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.90 ₱370

23.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.09 ₱257

18.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$6.06 ₱380

14.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$3.28 ₱206

21.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.03 ₱64.8

94.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.92 ₱183

10.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.45 ₱90.8

63.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$2.41 ₱151

43.15%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$2.76 ₱173

23.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$1.46 ₱91.6

-23.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.76 ₱47.76

52.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$0.79 ₱49.45

225.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$6.48 ₱406

24.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$1.10 ₱69.0

22.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$1.31 ₱81.9

56.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.27 ₱17.04

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

$11.01 ₱690

425.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.75 ₱47.01

-18.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.36 ₱22.63

-36.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$2.36 ₱148

-21.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.09 ₱68.5

8.26%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

1.35%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-0.88%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$62.9 ₱3,944

145.44%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$9.41 ₱590

73.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$27.68 ₱1,736

13.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$31.56 ₱1,979

71.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

$4.73 ₱297

202.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$1.58 ₱98.9

349.37%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$79.9 ₱5,009

880.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$8,197 ₱513.9K

-10.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$32.20 ₱2,019

87.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$19.59 ₱1,228

91.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$55.0 ₱3,445

49.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$55.9 ₱3,505

86.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$272 ₱17.1K

177.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$173 ₱10.9K

147.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$509 ₱31.9K

359.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$347 ₱21.7K

209.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

$2,614 ₱163.9K

127.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

$1,060 ₱66.4K

260.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$324 ₱20.3K

87.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

25.00%

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

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Toledo City: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $272 in Toledo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 87% 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 $19.00 in Toledo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $187 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 92% 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 87% 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: $755 in Makati versus $272 in Toledo City. 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 $644 in Toledo City – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Toledo City runs roughly 426% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $644 in Toledo City versus $1,237 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 $644 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 92% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.