Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Tuguegarao Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Tuguegarao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $624 in Tuguegarao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,017 in Tuguegarao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,411 in Tuguegarao.

Living in Makati is roughly 90% more expensive than in Tuguegarao, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Tuguegarao 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱403

$1.82 ₱112

258.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,775

$13.26 ₱818

239.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$2.59 ₱160

84.94%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱182

$2.31 ₱142

27.71%

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

$1.20 ₱73.9

$0.52 ₱32.01

130.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.49

$0.33 ₱20.59

75.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.43 ₱88.2

63.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱220

$1.93 ₱119

84.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.83 ₱113

16.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.3

$1.25 ₱77.1

14.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$0.78 ₱47.89

42.31%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.20 ₱136

5.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱493

$6.39 ₱394

25.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.84 ₱237

17.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$8.45 ₱521

-8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.65 ₱163

71.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.83 ₱113

8.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.29 ₱141

18.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.20 ₱74.1

90.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.83 ₱113

88.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.28 ₱140

22.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.1

$0.67 ₱41.07

70.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$0.71 ₱43.82

39.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$2.09 ₱129

43.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱494

$8.76 ₱540

-8.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.0

$1.06 ₱65.5

17.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.36 ₱146

-5.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.62

$0.26 ₱15.91

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.13

$0.92 ₱56.6

-17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.21

$0.22 ₱13.48

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.42 ₱149

42.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.1

$1.10 ₱68.0

4.55%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

5.32%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

7.43%

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

$170 ₱10.5K

$34.77 ₱2,144

387.98%

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

$27.66 ₱1,706

$17.94 ₱1,106

54.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,207

$26.25 ₱1,619

36.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,376

$33.76 ₱2,082

62.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱742

$4.49 ₱277

167.93%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱506

$5.68 ₱350

44.37%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$151 ₱9,304

114.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱473.6K

$4,781 ₱294.8K

60.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,634

$48.24 ₱2,975

22.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,213

$27.50 ₱1,696

30.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,183

$44.13 ₱2,722

90.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,622

$27.10 ₱1,671

356.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.5K

$270 ₱16.6K

143.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$176 ₱10.8K

122.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.2K

$593 ₱36.6K

283.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.2K

$401 ₱24.7K

151.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱230.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$211 ₱13.0K

186.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $270 in Tuguegarao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 187% 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 $13.00 in Tuguegarao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $195 per month, with Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tuguegarao wins on cost – living expenses run 90% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tuguegarao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 187% 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 $270 in Tuguegarao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% 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 $624 in Tuguegarao – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $624 in Tuguegarao versus $1,188 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tuguegarao but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Tuguegarao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Tuguegarao delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $624 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tuguegarao hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.