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: $1,188 in Makati versus $539 in Valenzuela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $908 in Valenzuela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,277 in Valenzuela.

Living in Makati is roughly 120% more expensive than in Valenzuela, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Valenzuela 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱403

$2.59 ₱160

152.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,775

$34.81 ₱2,147

29.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$1.80 ₱111

166.11%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱182

$2.26 ₱140

30.53%

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

$1.20 ₱73.9

$0.88 ₱54.4

36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.49

$0.28 ₱17.35

107.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.46 ₱90.0

60.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱220

$1.31 ₱80.6

171.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.71 ₱106

25.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.3

$1.40 ₱86.5

2.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$0.77 ₱47.25

44.16%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.47 ₱90.9

58.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱493

$8.22 ₱507

-2.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.15 ₱194

43.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$6.80 ₱419

13.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱280

$1.79 ₱111

153.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.07 ₱66.0

85.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$1.03 ₱63.7

164.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.39 ₱85.9

64.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.68 ₱104

105.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.63 ₱162

6.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.1

$1.09 ₱67.1

4.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$0.50 ₱31.12

98.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$2.82 ₱174

6.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱494

$7.95 ₱490

0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.0

$0.66 ₱40.94

89.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$0.99 ₱60.9

126.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.62

$0.26 ₱15.89

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.13

$0.68 ₱41.80

11.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.21

$0.12 ₱7.56

8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.14 ₱132

61.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.1

$1.17 ₱72.3

-1.71%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$13.2K ₱815.5K

157.58%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$14.0K ₱864.6K

57.11%

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

$170 ₱10.5K

$73.5 ₱4,532

130.87%

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

$27.66 ₱1,706

$32.44 ₱2,001

-14.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,207

$26.38 ₱1,627

35.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,376

$21.32 ₱1,315

156.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱742

$4.55 ₱281

164.40%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱506

$5.87 ₱362

39.69%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$36.46 ₱2,249

789.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱473.6K

$4,327 ₱266.8K

77.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,634

$45.84 ₱2,827

28.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,213

$8.75 ₱540

310.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,183

$53.9 ₱3,325

55.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,622

$43.81 ₱2,702

182.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.5K

$133 ₱8,222

392.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$62.4 ₱3,845

526.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.2K

$192 ₱11.8K

1084.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.2K

$160 ₱9,873

529.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.8K

$2,497 ₱154.0K

140.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱230.2K

$1,017 ₱62.7K

266.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$564 ₱34.8K

7.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

5.5

21.27%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Valenzuela: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $133 in Valenzuela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 7% 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 $35.00 in Valenzuela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 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 120% 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 7% 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 $133 in Valenzuela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% 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 $539 in Valenzuela – a 120% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $539 in Valenzuela versus $1,188 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 $539 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 120% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.