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: $1,226 in Makati versus $731 in Zamboanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $1,099 in Zamboanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,467 in Zamboanga.

Living in Makati is roughly 68% more expensive than in Zamboanga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Zamboanga 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱405

$1.32 ₱82.7

390.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,525

$16.92 ₱1,061

138.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$3.51 ₱220

33.90%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.08 ₱130

27.40%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.87 ₱54.2

27.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.40

$0.42 ₱26.50

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.46 ₱91.6

60.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱200

$1.99 ₱125

60.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.73 ₱108

10.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.43 ₱89.5

-10.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$1.11 ₱69.7

-5.41%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.52 ₱95.0

63.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱437

$10.08 ₱632

-30.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.06 ₱254

19.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$3.16 ₱198

114.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$3.07 ₱192

34.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.17 ₱73.2

70.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$3.69 ₱231

-13.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.14 ₱71.3

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.18 ₱74.3

198.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$2.44 ₱153

47.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.2

$0.83 ₱52.0

32.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.50 ₱31.55

128.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.79 ₱175

-7.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$4.11 ₱257

94.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$1.31 ₱82.1

0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.96 ₱123

3.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.22 ₱13.80

345.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,610

$11.85 ₱743

386.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.10

$0.77 ₱48.02

-12.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.21 ₱13.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.67 ₱105

11.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.9

$0.97 ₱60.9

27.84%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

2.31%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.5K ₱1.2M

6.21%

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

$152 ₱9,533

$122 ₱7,667

24.34%

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

$16.13 ₱1,011

$14.78 ₱926

9.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,982

$47.02 ₱2,947

-32.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,413

$36.01 ₱2,257

51.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$4.65 ₱291

210.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.09 ₱319

36.54%

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

$803 ₱50.3K

$131 ₱8,182

514.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.1K

$7,834 ₱490.9K

-4.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,752

$32.17 ₱2,016

86.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,350

$18.84 ₱1,181

99.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,126

$71.0 ₱4,448

15.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,538

$54.5 ₱3,417

91.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.1K

$263 ₱16.5K

186.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$174 ₱10.9K

147.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.8K

$340 ₱21.3K

570.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.0K

$354 ₱22.2K

197.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.5K

$2,560 ₱160.4K

129.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.7K

$1,002 ₱62.8K

273.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

$188 ₱11.8K

223.66%

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 Zamboanga: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Makati and $263 in Zamboanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 224% 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 Zamboanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $181 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 68% 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.

Average pay runs 224% 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 $263 in Zamboanga. 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 $731 in Zamboanga – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Zamboanga runs roughly 386% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $731 in Zamboanga versus $1,226 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 $731 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 68% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.