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: $1,232 in Makati versus $687 in Toledo City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,095 in Toledo City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,502 in Toledo City.

Living in Makati is roughly 79% more expensive than Toledo City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Toledo City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$2.69 ₱166

152.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$21.17 ₱1,305

113.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$3.47 ₱214

42.07%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$1.97 ₱122

45.69%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.53 ₱32.58

124.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.30 ₱18.41

86.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$0.96 ₱59.0

154.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$1.73 ₱106

111.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.79 ₱110

19.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.17 ₱72.2

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.93 ₱57.5

16.13%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.15 ₱133

8.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$5.85 ₱360

39.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$4.34 ₱267

2.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$6.78 ₱418

12.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$2.32 ₱143

96.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.14 ₱70.3

68.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.03 ₱125

33.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.57 ₱96.5

43.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.39 ₱148

37.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$1.19 ₱73.4

140.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$1.67 ₱103

-35.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.91 ₱55.9

8.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$1.26 ₱77.9

133.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$4.19 ₱258

97.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.23 ₱75.9

-2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.89 ₱116

23.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.28 ₱17.36

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.69 ₱42.26

17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.25 ₱15.53

-52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.70 ₱166

32.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.14 ₱70.2

-3.51%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$24.3K ₱1.5M

41.34%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

11.00%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$66.3 ₱4,090

159.34%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$30.65 ₱1,890

-12.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$29.80 ₱1,838

22.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$33.57 ₱2,070

66.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$4.34 ₱268

171.66%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$1.74 ₱108

354.02%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$87.2 ₱5,377

267.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$4,309 ₱265.7K

74.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$46.53 ₱2,869

29.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$22.63 ₱1,396

57.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$60.9 ₱3,753

40.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$79.1 ₱4,877

54.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$411 ₱25.3K

62.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$177 ₱10.9K

119.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$596 ₱36.8K

278.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$399 ₱24.6K

156.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$2,471 ₱152.4K

143.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$962 ₱59.3K

300.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$329 ₱20.3K

107.28%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Toledo City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $411 in Toledo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 107% 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 $234 vs $181 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 79% 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.

Makati pays 107% 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 $411 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 $1,232 per month in Makati versus $687 in Toledo City – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $687 in Toledo City versus $1,232 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 $687 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 79% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.