Cost of Living Comparison Between Marikina and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Marikina and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $716 in Marikina versus $1,228 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,118 in Marikina versus $2,025 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,519 in Marikina versus $2,822 in Makati.

Living in Marikina costs roughly 42% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Marikina 48% lower, Makati 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 ₱248

$6.57 ₱411

-39.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.71 ₱1,983

$39.99 ₱2,501

-20.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.25 ₱203

$4.59 ₱287

-29.19%

Cappuccino

$2.30 ₱144

$2.76 ₱173

-16.67%

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

$0.59 ₱36.91

$1.07 ₱67.2

-44.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱21.57

$0.45 ₱28.17

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ₱63.4

$2.42 ₱151

-58.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₱154

$3.25 ₱203

-24.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱119

$1.83 ₱115

4.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.1

$1.29 ₱80.6

-0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.8

$1.03 ₱64.3

3.88%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$2.38 ₱149

-15.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 ₱459

$7.31 ₱457

0.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱277

$4.84 ₱303

-8.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.75 ₱485

$7.19 ₱449

7.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 ₱154

$3.98 ₱249

-38.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 ₱128

$2.03 ₱127

0.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 ₱154

$3.26 ₱204

-24.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.31 ₱144

-3.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 ₱199

$3.47 ₱217

-8.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 ₱219

$3.47 ₱217

0.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱68.1

$1.12 ₱70.0

-2.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₱41.62

$1.11 ₱69.4

-39.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ₱183

$2.70 ₱169

8.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.87 ₱554

$7.86 ₱491

12.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₱61.0

$1.40 ₱87.4

-30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$2.08 ₱130

-1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.08

$0.90 ₱56.1

-47.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ₱3,581

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱46.46

$0.61 ₱38.09

21.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.12

$0.21 ₱13.10

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.88 ₱117

1.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱73.0

$1.25 ₱78.3

-6.40%

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

$21.2K ₱1.3M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

-0.46%

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

$19.0K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-3.28%

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

$144 ₱8,996

$154 ₱9,611

-6.40%

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

$16.39 ₱1,025

$15.78 ₱987

3.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.24 ₱1,703

$32.11 ₱2,008

-15.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.93 ₱2,372

$54.6 ₱3,413

-30.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱901

Cinema Ticket

$7.22 ₱452

$7.39 ₱462

-2.30%

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

$134 ₱8,370

$790 ₱49.4K

-83.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,510 ₱469.6K

$7,405 ₱463.0K

1.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,747

$59.8 ₱3,741

0.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ₱1,755

$37.65 ₱2,354

-25.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.2 ₱4,703

$82.2 ₱5,137

-8.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 ₱3,509

$103 ₱6,468

-45.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 ₱11.3K

$748 ₱46.8K

-75.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.6 ₱4,918

$430 ₱26.9K

-81.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 ₱19.9K

$2,276 ₱142.3K

-86.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 ₱10.4K

$1,080 ₱67.5K

-84.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,171 ₱73.2K

$6,003 ₱375.4K

-80.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$487 ₱30.5K

$3,832 ₱239.6K

-87.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$391 ₱24.5K

$610 ₱38.1K

-35.84%

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 Marikina: August 31, 2026

Last update for Makati: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Marikina and $748 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 56% 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: $32.00 in Marikina vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $231 per month, with Marikina 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

Marikina vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marikina wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Marikina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 56% 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: $181 in Marikina versus $748 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $716 per month in Marikina versus $1,228 in Makati – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $716 in Marikina versus $1,228 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marikina but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Marikina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Marikina delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $716 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Marikina hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Marikina 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 Marikina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.