Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Valenzuela Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Valenzuela

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $756 in Valenzuela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,136 in Valenzuela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,515 in Valenzuela.

Living in Makati is roughly 62% more expensive than in Valenzuela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Valenzuela 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱405

$3.91 ₱245

65.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,525

$16.66 ₱1,044

141.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.85 ₱178

64.91%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.04 ₱128

29.90%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.59 ₱37.17

88.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.40

$0.30 ₱19.06

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.29 ₱81.0

82.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱200

$1.56 ₱98.0

105.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.61 ₱101

18.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.16 ₱72.5

10.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$1.03 ₱64.8

1.94%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$2.01 ₱126

23.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱437

$5.07 ₱317

37.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$3.31 ₱208

46.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$6.82 ₱427

-0.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.36 ₱148

74.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.55 ₱96.8

29.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.32 ₱145

37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.03 ₱64.6

121.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.67 ₱104

110.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.70 ₱107

111.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.2

$0.63 ₱39.31

74.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.56 ₱34.81

103.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.67 ₱167

-3.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.83 ₱491

2.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.92 ₱57.8

43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.97 ₱124

3.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.23 ₱14.43

326.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,610

$11.26 ₱706

411.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.10

$0.61 ₱38.41

9.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.23 ₱14.44

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.86 ₱116

0.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.9

$1.19 ₱74.3

4.20%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

1.02%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

2.47%

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

$152 ₱9,533

$143 ₱8,934

6.71%

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

$16.13 ₱1,011

$16.21 ₱1,016

-0.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,982

$31.54 ₱1,977

0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,413

$32.28 ₱2,023

68.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$4.07 ₱255

255.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$6.33 ₱396

9.79%

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

$803 ₱50.3K

$131 ₱8,214

512.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.1K

$7,356 ₱461.0K

1.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,752

$28.51 ₱1,787

110.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,350

$19.41 ₱1,216

93.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,126

$72.9 ₱4,570

12.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,538

$55.1 ₱3,452

89.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.1K

$249 ₱15.6K

202.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$145 ₱9,117

194.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.8K

$527 ₱33.0K

332.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.0K

$397 ₱24.9K

165.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.5K

$2,318 ₱145.2K

153.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.7K

$1,102 ₱69.0K

239.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

$579 ₱36.3K

5.33%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Valenzuela: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $249 in Valenzuela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 5% 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 Valenzuela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $169 per month, with Valenzuela 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 Valenzuela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Valenzuela wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Valenzuela the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 5% 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: $752 in Makati versus $249 in Valenzuela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $756 in Valenzuela – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Valenzuela runs roughly 412% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $756 in Valenzuela versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Valenzuela but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Valenzuela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Valenzuela delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $756 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Valenzuela hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Valenzuela 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 Valenzuela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.