Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Manila versus $1,188 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Manila versus $2,011 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,118 in Manila versus $2,833 in Makati.

Living in Manila costs roughly 19% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Makati 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$6.53 ₱402

-19.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$45.00 ₱2,770

-39.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$4.79 ₱295

-5.01%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.95 ₱181

-7.46%

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

$0.96 ₱59.3

$1.20 ₱73.8

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.58 ₱35.43

-13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$2.34 ₱144

-34.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$3.56 ₱219

-25.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$2.14 ₱132

-11.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.43 ₱88.1

-6.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$1.11 ₱68.6

-3.60%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.33 ₱144

-10.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$7.99 ₱492

16.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.52 ₱279

15.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$7.71 ₱475

10.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$4.54 ₱279

-22.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.98 ₱122

-9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.72 ₱168

31.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$2.28 ₱141

9.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$3.45 ₱212

-19.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.80 ₱173

12.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.14 ₱70.0

73.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.99 ₱60.7

-31.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.99 ₱184

10.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$8.01 ₱493

18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.25 ₱76.9

16.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.24 ₱138

-5.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.51 ₱31.57

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

$3.58 ₱220

239.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.76 ₱47.05

15.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.13 ₱8.20

107.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$3.45 ₱212

-39.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.15 ₱71.0

1.74%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$34.1K ₱2.1M

-23.46%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

3.64%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$170 ₱10.4K

-20.19%

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

$21.56 ₱1,328

$27.66 ₱1,703

-22.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$35.79 ₱2,203

-22.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$54.8 ₱3,371

-24.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$12.03 ₱741

-43.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$8.20 ₱505

-15.61%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$324 ₱20.0K

11.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$7,680 ₱472.8K

50.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$58.9 ₱3,628

-20.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$35.88 ₱2,209

-4.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$84.1 ₱5,175

-2.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$124 ₱7,609

-61.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$657 ₱40.4K

-26.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$390 ₱24.0K

-30.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$2,273 ₱140.0K

-23.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$1,008 ₱62.0K

-36.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$6,013 ₱370.2K

-27.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$3,732 ₱229.8K

-30.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$605 ₱37.3K

-22.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Manila and $657 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 30% 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: $27.00 in Manila vs $45.00 in Makati. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $235, with Makati cheaper for home cooking.

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

Manila vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manila the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Makati. 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: $486 in Manila versus $657 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $957 per month in Manila versus $1,188 in Makati – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Manila runs roughly 239% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $957 in Manila versus $1,188 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manila but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Manila the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Manila delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $957 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Manila hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Manila and Makati 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 Manila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.