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: $664 in Marikina versus $1,188 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,053 in Marikina versus $2,011 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,441 in Marikina versus $2,833 in Makati.

Living in Marikina costs roughly 44% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Marikina 50% lower, Makati 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 ₱213

$6.53 ₱402

-46.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.88 ₱1,778

$45.00 ₱2,770

-35.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.54 ₱218

$4.79 ₱295

-26.10%

Cappuccino

$2.68 ₱165

$2.95 ₱181

-9.15%

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

$0.68 ₱42.10

$1.20 ₱73.8

-43.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₱26.95

$0.58 ₱35.43

-24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₱66.3

$2.34 ₱144

-53.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₱167

$3.56 ₱219

-23.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.14 ₱132

-1.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.8

$1.11 ₱68.6

-3.60%

Eggs

$2.27 ₱140

$2.33 ₱144

-2.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 ₱499

$7.99 ₱492

1.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 ₱281

$4.52 ₱279

0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.57 ₱466

$7.71 ₱475

-1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$4.54 ₱279

-40.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.98 ₱122

0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.72 ₱168

-4.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.28 ₱141

-3.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 ₱203

$3.45 ₱212

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₱181

$2.80 ₱173

5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.7

$1.14 ₱70.0

-5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₱44.80

$0.99 ₱60.7

-26.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.99 ₱184

-9.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.99 ₱553

$8.01 ₱493

12.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.25 ₱76.9

-4.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.24 ₱138

-7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.06

$0.51 ₱31.57

-9.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.31

$0.76 ₱47.05

1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.84

$0.13 ₱8.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₱221

$3.45 ₱212

4.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.15 ₱71.0

-5.22%

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

$33.6K ₱2.1M

$34.1K ₱2.1M

-1.30%

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

$17.4K ₱1.1M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

-20.89%

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

$110 ₱6,800

$170 ₱10.4K

-34.90%

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

$13.50 ₱831

$27.66 ₱1,703

-51.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.08 ₱1,605

$35.79 ₱2,203

-27.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.72 ₱2,568

$54.8 ₱3,371

-23.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

Cinema Ticket

$6.35 ₱391

$8.20 ₱505

-22.56%

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

$322 ₱19.8K

$324 ₱20.0K

-0.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,163 ₱71.6K

$7,680 ₱472.8K

-84.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.46 ₱2,860

$58.9 ₱3,628

-21.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.76 ₱1,586

$35.88 ₱2,209

-28.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.7 ₱3,613

$84.1 ₱5,174

-30.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.03 ₱1,664

$124 ₱7,609

-78.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.7K

$657 ₱40.4K

-73.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.4 ₱5,383

$390 ₱24.0K

-77.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 ₱17.8K

$2,273 ₱139.9K

-87.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 ₱10.5K

$1,008 ₱62.0K

-83.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,150 ₱70.8K

$6,013 ₱370.2K

-80.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$485 ₱29.8K

$3,732 ₱229.8K

-87.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$395 ₱24.3K

$605 ₱37.3K

-34.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

6.67

-6.30%

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

Last update for Marikina: July 14, 2026

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $175 in Marikina and $657 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 53% 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: $29.00 in Marikina vs $45.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $235 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 79% 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 53% 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: $175 in Marikina versus $657 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $664 per month in Marikina versus $1,188 in Makati – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $664 in Marikina versus $1,188 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 $664 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 79% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.