Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandaluyong and Makati

For one person, living is cheaper in Mandaluyong: $1,066 a month against $1,230 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. The total is higher in Makati despite lower rent and utilities.

52

Cost of Living Index in Mandaluyong
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Mandaluyong Living Index
59

Cost of Living Index in Makati
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Makati Living Index

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Mandaluyong

🇵🇭 Philippines

$1,066

/mo nomad

Makati

🇵🇭 Philippines

$1,230

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mandaluyong and in Makati

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mandaluyong and in Makati actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,066 in Mandaluyong versus $1,230 in Makati.

Mandaluyong $1,066
Makati $1,230

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,643 in Mandaluyong versus $2,137 in Makati.

Mandaluyong $1,643
Makati $2,137

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,221 in Mandaluyong versus $3,044 in Makati.

Mandaluyong $2,221
Makati $3,044

Living in Mandaluyong costs roughly 13% less than in Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mandaluyong 22% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 ₱308

$6.40 ₱409

-24.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.11 ₱1,029

$38.45 ₱2,457

-58.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.48 ₱222

$4.78 ₱306

-27.20%

Cappuccino

$2.20 ₱140

$2.59 ₱166

-15.06%

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

$0.96 ₱61.3

$1.09 ₱69.9

-11.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱31.06

$0.49 ₱31.39

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱74.0

$2.39 ₱153

-51.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱149

$3.18 ₱203

-26.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₱105

$1.80 ₱115

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₱83.9

$1.26 ₱80.8

3.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱60.2

$1.03 ₱65.9

-8.74%

Eggs

$2.19 ₱140

$2.37 ₱151

-7.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.07 ₱324

$6.91 ₱441

-26.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 ₱306

$4.93 ₱315

-3.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱435

$6.74 ₱431

1.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 ₱211

$4.12 ₱263

-19.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱121

$1.90 ₱122

-0.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ₱191

$3.19 ₱204

-5.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 ₱115

$2.25 ₱144

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 ₱141

$3.55 ₱227

-37.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 ₱164

$3.50 ₱223

-26.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱39.34

$1.07 ₱68.1

-42.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.91

$1.13 ₱71.9

-57.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ₱179

$2.60 ₱166

8.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.55 ₱546

$7.85 ₱502

8.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₱56.0

$1.29 ₱82.6

-31.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱129

$1.93 ₱124

4.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₱20.59

$0.88 ₱56.4

-63.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.10 ₱837

$56.3 ₱3,595

-76.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱48.38

$0.65 ₱41.59

16.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱15.38

$0.21 ₱13.38

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱121

$1.90 ₱122

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱76.5

$1.28 ₱81.6

-6.25%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

1.40%

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

$18.8K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

-0.58%

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

$138 ₱8,839

$151 ₱9,669

-8.59%

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

$17.04 ₱1,089

$15.59 ₱996

9.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.94 ₱1,530

$31.38 ₱2,005

-23.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.69 ₱2,025

$53.3 ₱3,403

-40.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.04 ₱897

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 ₱385

$7.22 ₱461

-16.48%

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

$132 ₱8,429

$776 ₱49.6K

-83.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,937 ₱571.0K

$7,391 ₱472.2K

20.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.86 ₱1,780

$59.9 ₱3,826

-53.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.00 ₱1,725

$36.96 ₱2,361

-26.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 ₱4,505

$81.0 ₱5,177

-12.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.2 ₱3,529

$101 ₱6,446

-45.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ₱46.4K

$829 ₱53.0K

-12.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 ₱29.2K

$429 ₱27.4K

6.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,395 ₱153.0K

$2,151 ₱137.4K

11.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$996 ₱63.6K

$1,308 ₱83.6K

-23.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,203 ₱268.6K

$5,714 ₱365.1K

-26.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,924 ₱186.8K

$3,568 ₱228.0K

-18.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$537 ₱34.3K

$587 ₱37.5K

-8.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.5

-10.00%

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

Last update for Mandaluyong: October 26, 2026

Last update for Makati: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Mandaluyong

$457 42.9%

Makati

$429 34.8% 6.3% $29

Groceries & Markets

Mandaluyong

$196 18.4%

Makati

$227 18.5% 15.9% $31

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mandaluyong

$179 16.8%

Makati

$198 16.1% 10.6% $19

Eating Out

Mandaluyong

$92 8.6%

Makati

$121 9.9% 32.5% $30

Clothing & Footwear

Mandaluyong

$81 7.6%

Makati

$125 10.2% 54.3% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Mandaluyong

$44 4.1%

Makati

$68 5.5% 54.8% $24

Getting Around

Mandaluyong

$16 1.5%

Makati

$61 5% 276% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $727 in Mandaluyong and $829 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 9% 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: $16 in Mandaluyong vs $38 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $227 per month, with Mandaluyong cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Mandaluyong

🇵🇭 Makati

🕒 Local time

04:48 4:48 AM

Same time as Mandaluyong

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

425,758

582,602

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Mandaluyong vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mandaluyong wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Mandaluyong the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Mandaluyong. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $727 in Mandaluyong versus $829 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $1,066 per month in Mandaluyong versus $1,230 in Makati – Mandaluyong is about 13% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

A monthly transit pass in Mandaluyong runs roughly 77% less than in Makati. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.

Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Mandaluyong gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Mandaluyong and Makati are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Expats usually find Mandaluyong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.