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: $1,237 in Makati versus $447 in Tuguegarao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $733 in Tuguegarao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,018 in Tuguegarao.

Living in Makati is roughly 177% more expensive than in Tuguegarao, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Tuguegarao 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$1.56 ₱98.0

312.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$16.89 ₱1,059

136.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$2.79 ₱175

64.16%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$1.85 ₱116

40.54%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.47 ₱29.35

140.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.28 ₱17.46

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.01 ₱63.5

138.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.55 ₱97.4

109.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.63 ₱102

19.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.17 ₱73.1

5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.74 ₱46.31

44.59%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$2.00 ₱125

23.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.23 ₱328

39.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$3.52 ₱221

37.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$7.77 ₱487

-11.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$2.23 ₱140

78.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.59 ₱99.8

25.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.44 ₱153

31.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.04 ₱65.1

127.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$1.76 ₱110

96.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$1.76 ₱110

94.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$0.61 ₱38.18

81.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.53 ₱32.93

118.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$1.89 ₱118

35.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$8.69 ₱545

-7.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.89 ₱56.0

51.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$2.06 ₱129

-0.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.77 ₱48.06

-20.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.33

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.89 ₱119

-1.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.14 ₱71.6

3.51%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

1.36%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

1.09%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$32.48 ₱2,036

375.46%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$17.60 ₱1,103

-7.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$23.04 ₱1,444

35.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$24.27 ₱1,522

122.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

$4.69 ₱294

205.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$5.24 ₱329

35.50%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$134 ₱8,397

484.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$10.9K ₱680.6K

-32.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$29.00 ₱1,818

107.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$19.17 ₱1,202

96.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$39.31 ₱2,465

109.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$23.81 ₱1,492

338.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$127 ₱7,966

494.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$62.6 ₱3,922

586.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$188 ₱11.8K

1143.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$129 ₱8,101

729.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$205 ₱12.9K

195.73%

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 Tuguegarao: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $127 in Tuguegarao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 196% 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 $17.00 in Tuguegarao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $175 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 177% 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 196% 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 $127 in Tuguegarao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Makati versus $447 in Tuguegarao – a 177% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $447 in Tuguegarao versus $1,237 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 $447 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 177% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.