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: $1,228 in Makati versus $663 in Valencia City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Makati versus $985 in Valencia City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,307 in Valencia City.

Living in Makati is roughly 85% more expensive than in Valencia City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Valencia City 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₱411

$3.00 ₱187

119.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.99 ₱2,501

$16.88 ₱1,056

136.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₱287

$1.62 ₱102

183.33%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ₱173

$2.25 ₱141

22.67%

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

$1.07 ₱67.2

$0.32 ₱20.23

234.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.17

$0.31 ₱19.31

45.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱151

$1.12 ₱70.4

116.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.84 ₱115

76.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.23 ₱76.9

48.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱80.6

$0.58 ₱36.22

122.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$0.70 ₱43.60

47.14%

Eggs

$2.38 ₱149

$1.41 ₱87.9

68.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ₱457

$6.78 ₱424

7.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₱303

$1.95 ₱122

148.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱449

$2.77 ₱173

159.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱249

$1.56 ₱97.7

155.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.13 ₱70.6

79.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱204

$2.04 ₱128

59.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$0.86 ₱54.0

168.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$0.70 ₱44.00

395.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.98 ₱124

75.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$0.41 ₱25.92

173.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$0.38 ₱23.96

192.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.52 ₱157

7.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 ₱491

$1.75 ₱110

349.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱87.4

$0.75 ₱46.74

86.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$1.22 ₱76.4

70.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₱56.1

$0.25 ₱15.40

260.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ₱3,581

$12.44 ₱778

360.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.09

$0.77 ₱48.17

-20.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.10

$0.25 ₱15.70

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱117

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.3

$1.14 ₱71.0

9.65%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-0.82%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

2.66%

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

$154 ₱9,611

$109 ₱6,790

41.56%

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

$15.78 ₱987

$19.13 ₱1,196

-17.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.11 ₱2,008

$31.54 ₱1,973

1.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 ₱3,413

$33.79 ₱2,113

61.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱901

$5.23 ₱327

175.53%

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 ₱462

$4.95 ₱309

49.29%

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

$790 ₱49.4K

$110 ₱6,864

619.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,405 ₱463.0K

$7,508 ₱469.5K

-1.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₱3,741

$31.76 ₱1,986

88.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.65 ₱2,354

$19.64 ₱1,228

91.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,137

$73.1 ₱4,571

12.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₱6,468

$63.3 ₱3,955

63.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₱46.8K

$290 ₱18.1K

158.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.9K

$166 ₱10.4K

158.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,276 ₱142.3K

$451 ₱28.2K

404.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 ₱67.5K

$323 ₱20.2K

233.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,003 ₱375.4K

$2,934 ₱183.5K

104.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,832 ₱239.6K

$1,140 ₱71.3K

236.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

8.31

-9.75%

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

Last update for Makati: August 31, 2026

Last update for Valencia City: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $748 in Makati and $290 in Valencia City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Valencia City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $114 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 85% 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 $1,842 in Makati and $995 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: $748 in Makati versus $290 in Valencia City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,228 per month in Makati versus $663 in Valencia City – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Valencia City runs roughly 360% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $663 in Valencia City versus $1,228 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 $663 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 85% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.