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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $680 in Valencia City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,061 in Valencia City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,442 in Valencia City.

Living in Makati is roughly 75% more expensive than in Valencia City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Valencia City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$3.00 ₱185

117.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$24.19 ₱1,489

86.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$1.79 ₱111

167.60%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.57 ₱96.4

87.90%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.40 ₱24.49

200.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.34 ₱20.81

70.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.04 ₱64.1

125.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.57 ₱96.4

126.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.29 ₱79.5

65.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$0.61 ₱37.32

134.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.81 ₱50.1

37.04%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.55 ₱95.7

50.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$6.17 ₱380

29.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$2.08 ₱128

117.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$3.11 ₱192

147.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$1.79 ₱110

153.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.19 ₱73.5

66.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.27 ₱140

19.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$0.99 ₱61.2

130.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$0.79 ₱48.34

336.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.12 ₱130

32.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.46 ₱28.40

147.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.46 ₱28.35

115.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.64 ₱162

13.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$1.86 ₱115

330.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$0.78 ₱48.14

60.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.30 ₱80.2

72.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.26 ₱15.79

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.93 ₱57.4

-18.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.23 ₱14.13

-43.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.11 ₱130

63.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.11 ₱68.3

3.60%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$21.8K ₱1.3M

56.17%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

4.44%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$105 ₱6,462

61.65%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$33.15 ₱2,041

-16.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$35.64 ₱2,194

0.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$33.43 ₱2,058

63.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.31 ₱266

179.12%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$4.49 ₱277

82.63%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$121 ₱7,433

168.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$4,304 ₱265.0K

78.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$45.41 ₱2,795

29.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$29.58 ₱1,821

21.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$77.6 ₱4,780

8.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$69.6 ₱4,285

77.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$268 ₱16.5K

145.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$177 ₱10.9K

121.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$596 ₱36.7K

281.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$395 ₱24.3K

155.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,442 ₱150.4K

146.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$987 ₱60.8K

278.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

9.56

-30.23%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Valencia City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $268 in Valencia City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $24.00 in Valencia City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $121 per month, with Valencia 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 Valencia City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Valencia City wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Valencia City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,783 in Makati and $1,021 in Valencia City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Makati versus $268 in Valencia City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 94% 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 $680 in Valencia City – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $680 in Valencia City versus $1,188 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Valencia City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Valencia City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Valencia City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $680 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Valencia City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Valencia 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 Valencia City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.