Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Naga and Makati

For one person, living is cheaper in Naga: $552 a month against $1,230 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Naga, Philippines
Makati, Philippines
Naga
🇵🇭 Philippines
$552
/mo nomad
Makati
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,230
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Naga 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 Naga and in Makati actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $552 in Naga versus $1,230 in Makati.

  • Naga $552
  • Makati $1,230

Estimated couple costs with rent: $845 in Naga versus $2,137 in Makati.

  • Naga $845
  • Makati $2,137

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,138 in Naga versus $3,044 in Makati.

  • Naga $1,138
  • Makati $3,044

Living in Naga costs roughly 55% less than in Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Naga 59% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Naga
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.10 ₱325
$6.40 ₱408
-20.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.37 ₱852
$38.45 ₱2,450
-65.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.77 ₱176
$4.78 ₱305
-42.05%
Cappuccino
$2.74 ₱175
$2.59 ₱165
5.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.78
$1.09 ₱69.7
-38.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 ₱13.99
$0.49 ₱31.30
-55.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.31 ₱83.2
$2.39 ₱152
-45.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 ₱197
$3.18 ₱202
-2.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Naga
Makati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱124
$1.80 ₱115
8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₱50.9
$1.26 ₱80.6
-36.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 ₱49.14
$1.03 ₱65.7
-25.24%
Eggs
$1.68 ₱107
$2.37 ₱151
-29.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 ₱641
$6.91 ₱440
45.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.12 ₱263
$4.93 ₱314
-16.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.84 ₱436
$6.74 ₱430
1.48%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₱121
$4.12 ₱262
-53.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₱106
$1.90 ₱121
-12.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ₱154
$3.19 ₱203
-24.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.37 ₱151
$2.25 ₱143
5.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 ₱161
$3.55 ₱226
-28.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 ₱141
$3.50 ₱223
-36.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.63 ₱295
$1.07 ₱67.9
332.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₱38.27
$1.13 ₱71.7
-46.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.76 ₱176
$2.60 ₱165
6.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.77 ₱240
$7.85 ₱500
-51.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₱97.3
$1.29 ₱82.3
18.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.93 ₱123
-
🚌 Getting Around
Naga
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.88 ₱56.3
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$56.3 ₱3,585
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 ₱36.73
$0.65 ₱41.48
-10.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.21 ₱13.34
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.90 ₱121
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ₱75.8
$1.28 ₱81.4
-7.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.8K ₱1.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$18.9K ₱1.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naga
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.7 ₱6,226
$151 ₱9,643
-35.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.84 ₱1,519
$15.59 ₱993
52.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.59 ₱1,631
$31.38 ₱1,999
-18.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Naga
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$7.73 ₱493
$53.3 ₱3,394
-85.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.04 ₱895
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.80 ₱306
$7.22 ₱460
-33.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Naga
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$776 ₱49.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,801 ₱497.0K
$7,391 ₱471.0K
5.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Naga
Makati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$59.9 ₱3,816
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$36.96 ₱2,355
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$81.0 ₱5,163
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$101 ₱6,429
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Naga
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$158 ₱10.1K
$829 ₱52.8K
-80.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$85.9 ₱5,473
$429 ₱27.3K
-79.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$240 ₱15.3K
$2,151 ₱137.0K
-88.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 ₱12.4K
$1,308 ₱83.4K
-85.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,714 ₱364.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,568 ₱227.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Naga
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$138 ₱8,819
$587 ₱37.4K
-76.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
7.5
-

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

Last update for Naga: 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
Naga
–
Makati
$429
Groceries & Markets
Naga
–
Makati
$227
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naga
–
Makati
$198
Clothing & Footwear
Naga
–
Makati
$125
Eating Out
Naga
–
Makati
$121
Sport & Entertainment
Naga
–
Makati
$68
Getting Around
Naga
–
Makati
$61

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $158 in Naga and $829 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays about 4.2 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $13 in Naga vs $38 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $227 per month, with Naga cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Naga
🇵🇭 Makati
🕒 Local time
02:16 2:16 AM
02:16 2:16 AM
Same time as Naga
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
115,750
582,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 63.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.15 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Naga Makati 260 km
From you
  • Naga
  • Makati

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
Naga vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Naga or Makati?
Naga wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Naga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Naga or in Makati?
On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Naga. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Naga compared to Makati?
Rent for a central apartment: $158 in Naga versus $829 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Naga compared to Makati?
All in, you’ll spend $552 per month in Naga versus $1,230 in Makati – Naga is about 55% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Are groceries more expensive in Naga or in Makati?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Naga or in Makati?
At $552 in Naga versus $1,230 in Makati, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Naga but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Naga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Naga or Makati?
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.
How safe is Naga compared to Makati?
Safety-wise, Naga and Makati are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Should I move to Naga or to Makati?
It comes down to priorities – Naga wins on affordability, Makati on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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