Cost of Living Comparison Between Negros and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Negros and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $803 in Negros versus $1,199 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,227 in Negros versus $2,015 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,650 in Negros versus $2,831 in Makati.

Living in Negros costs roughly 33% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Negros 40% lower, Makati 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 ₱218

$6.46 ₱389

-43.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.03 ₱784

$43.79 ₱2,636

-70.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 ₱183

$5.02 ₱302

-39.24%

Cappuccino

$1.57 ₱94.7

$2.98 ₱179

-47.32%

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

$0.30 ₱18.30

$1.16 ₱69.9

-74.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₱27.62

$0.56 ₱33.98

-17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱78.3

$2.46 ₱148

-47.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₱126

$3.45 ₱207

-39.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₱136

$2.22 ₱134

1.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱94.4

$1.51 ₱90.8

3.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱69.4

$1.06 ₱64.0

8.49%

Eggs

$2.29 ₱138

$2.23 ₱134

2.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 ₱763

$8.00 ₱481

58.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.30 ₱319

$4.54 ₱273

16.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.51 ₱452

$7.74 ₱466

-2.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱208

$4.49 ₱270

-22.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱92.2

$1.90 ₱114

-19.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.33 ₱201

$2.61 ₱157

27.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱136

$2.18 ₱131

3.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 ₱155

$3.37 ₱203

-23.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₱150

$2.86 ₱172

-12.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱60.5

$1.08 ₱65.1

-7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱46.44

$0.94 ₱56.9

-18.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₱190

$2.88 ₱173

9.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 ₱389

$8.17 ₱492

-20.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱69.1

$1.25 ₱75.1

-8.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱141

$2.34 ₱141

0.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.04

$0.55 ₱33.00

-49.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱216

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.1

$0.82 ₱49.51

1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱13.83

$0.11 ₱6.82

109.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱162

$3.60 ₱217

-25.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱68.7

$1.11 ₱66.6

2.70%

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

$30.2K ₱1.8M

$33.3K ₱2.0M

-9.28%

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

$26.7K ₱1.6M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

24.73%

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

$96.1 ₱5,780

$167 ₱10.1K

-42.57%

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

$34.90 ₱2,100

$27.19 ₱1,636

28.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.18 ₱1,816

$35.64 ₱2,145

-15.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.15 ₱2,055

$55.3 ₱3,327

-38.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.42 ₱266

$11.94 ₱718

-62.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.12 ₱368

$7.76 ₱467

-21.13%

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

$233 ₱14.0K

$317 ₱19.1K

-26.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,942 ₱237.3K

$7,749 ₱466.3K

-49.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.68 ₱2,749

$60.1 ₱3,618

-24.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.47 ₱1,412

$34.79 ₱2,094

-32.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 ₱4,587

$84.8 ₱5,100

-10.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.3 ₱3,330

$124 ₱7,438

-55.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.2K

$668 ₱40.2K

-59.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.7K

$403 ₱24.3K

-56.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 ₱35.1K

$2,323 ₱139.8K

-74.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 ₱23.6K

$1,018 ₱61.3K

-61.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,228 ₱134.1K

$6,311 ₱379.8K

-64.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,938 ₱237.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 ₱14.8K

$698 ₱42.0K

-64.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.95%

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

Last update for Negros: April 21, 2026

Last update for Makati: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Negros and $668 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 185% 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: $13 in Negros vs $44 in Makati. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $234, 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

Negros vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Negros wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Negros the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Makati earns 185% less. 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: $269 in Negros versus $668 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Makati pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $803 per month in Negros versus $1,199 in Makati – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $803 in Negros versus $1,199 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Negros but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Negros the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Negros delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $803 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Negros hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Negros 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 Negros gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.