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 $755 in Zamboanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $1,095 in Zamboanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,435 in Zamboanga.

Living in Makati is roughly 62% more expensive than in Zamboanga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Zamboanga 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$1.52 ₱93.1

334.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$9.65 ₱591

363.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$2.72 ₱166

75.37%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.81 ₱111

62.98%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.94 ₱57.8

22.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.45 ₱27.34

15.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.23 ₱75.2

92.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$1.70 ₱104

112.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.02 ₱124

6.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.63 ₱100.0

-11.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$1.28 ₱78.6

-17.19%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.70 ₱104

38.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$11.16 ₱683

-29.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.52 ₱277

-0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$3.70 ₱227

110.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$3.44 ₱210

28.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.35 ₱82.7

45.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$4.22 ₱258

-38.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$2.71 ₱166

-19.93%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$1.35 ₱82.4

152.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.75 ₱168

2.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$0.91 ₱55.6

19.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.53 ₱32.56

77.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$3.12 ₱191

-5.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$4.18 ₱256

89.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.40 ₱85.6

-12.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$2.22 ₱136

1.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.22 ₱13.46

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.86 ₱52.5

-10.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.22 ₱13.43

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.16 ₱132

67.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.27 ₱77.7

-9.45%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$27.0K ₱1.6M

23.99%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

7.64%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$162 ₱9,946

6.65%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$48.37 ₱2,961

-43.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$53.3 ₱3,263

-31.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$39.65 ₱2,427

38.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.52 ₱277

159.29%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$6.98 ₱428

15.33%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$53.1 ₱3,247

509.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$1,258 ₱77.0K

513.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$24.38 ₱1,492

144.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$26.48 ₱1,621

35.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$87.2 ₱5,340

-1.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$62.6 ₱3,830

95.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$140 ₱8,563

371.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$69.5 ₱4,254

460.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$372 ₱22.8K

507.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$141 ₱8,639

631.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,694 ₱164.9K

124.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$1,031 ₱63.1K

271.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$196 ₱12.0K

210.26%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $140 in Zamboanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 210% 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 $10.00 in Zamboanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 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 62% 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 210% 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: $660 in Makati versus $140 in Zamboanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $755 in Zamboanga – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $755 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 $755 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 62% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.