Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Zamboanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Zamboanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Makati versus $754 in Zamboanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $1,077 in Zamboanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,400 in Zamboanga.

Living in Makati is roughly 60% more expensive than Zamboanga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Zamboanga 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$1.55 ₱95.7

331.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$9.46 ₱583

367.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$2.61 ₱161

86.97%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$1.72 ₱106

70.35%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.97 ₱59.8

22.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.44 ₱27.27

27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.27 ₱78.5

90.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$1.72 ₱106

110.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$2.02 ₱125

8.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.58 ₱97.6

-5.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$1.28 ₱79.2

-16.41%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$1.65 ₱102

41.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$11.16 ₱688

-26.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.59 ₱283

-3.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$3.64 ₱225

111.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.43 ₱211

27.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.37 ₱84.5

45.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$4.15 ₱256

-38.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$2.74 ₱169

-18.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$1.40 ₱86.4

146.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$2.88 ₱177

-0.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.98 ₱60.2

16.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.52 ₱32.35

96.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$3.05 ₱188

-6.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$4.24 ₱262

91.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.43 ₱88.1

-12.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.30 ₱142

0.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.24 ₱14.87

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.86 ₱53.0

-9.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.24 ₱14.82

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.17 ₱134

68.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.27 ₱78.4

-13.39%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

23.23%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

4.64%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$163 ₱10.1K

4.44%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$47.67 ₱2,941

-43.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$54.0 ₱3,332

-33.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$39.85 ₱2,458

39.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.42 ₱273

168.55%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$7.26 ₱448

12.81%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$52.4 ₱3,229

514.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$1,246 ₱76.9K

526.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$25.05 ₱1,545

134.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$26.80 ₱1,653

33.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$89.2 ₱5,504

-6.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$61.0 ₱3,759

102.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$141 ₱8,721

371.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$69.5 ₱4,287

479.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$366 ₱22.5K

531.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$140 ₱8,605

627.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,691 ₱166.0K

133.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$196 ₱12.1K

262.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-44.42%

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $141 in Zamboanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 263% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $9.00 in Zamboanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $211 per month, with Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zamboanga wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zamboanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Makati pays 263% more on average, 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: $667 in Makati versus $141 in Zamboanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Makati versus $754 in Zamboanga – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $754 in Zamboanga versus $1,204 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zamboanga but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Zamboanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Zamboanga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $754 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zamboanga hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.