Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pagadian and Makati

For one person, living is cheaper in Pagadian: $717 a month against $1,228 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pagadian
🇵🇭 Philippines
$717
/mo nomad
Makati
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,228
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $717 in Pagadian versus $1,228 in Makati.

  • Pagadian $717
  • Makati $1,228

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,100 in Pagadian versus $2,028 in Makati.

  • Pagadian $1,100
  • Makati $2,028

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,483 in Pagadian versus $2,828 in Makati.

  • Pagadian $1,483
  • Makati $2,828

Living in Pagadian costs roughly 42% less than in Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pagadian 47% lower, Makati 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pagadian
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.81 ₱240
$6.22 ₱392
-38.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.55 ₱1,042
$39.57 ₱2,491
-58.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.77 ₱174
$4.88 ₱307
-43.24%
Cappuccino
$1.93 ₱121
$2.55 ₱161
-24.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ₱54.7
$1.06 ₱67.0
-17.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 ₱14.39
$0.50 ₱31.54
-54.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 ₱89.3
$2.38 ₱150
-40.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₱125
$3.21 ₱202
-38.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pagadian
Makati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 ₱107
$1.90 ₱120
-10.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 ₱65.8
$1.29 ₱81.5
-18.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ₱58.5
$1.06 ₱67.0
-12.26%
Eggs
$1.63 ₱102
$2.47 ₱155
-34.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.93 ₱310
$7.29 ₱459
-32.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 ₱258
$4.86 ₱306
-15.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.05 ₱381
$7.03 ₱442
-13.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 ₱163
$4.04 ₱254
-35.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 ₱90.8
$1.94 ₱122
-25.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 ₱159
$3.22 ₱203
-21.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.00 ₱62.8
$2.29 ₱144
-56.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 ₱111
$3.48 ₱219
-49.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 ₱123
$3.59 ₱226
-45.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 ₱56.7
$1.06 ₱66.8
-15.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₱40.28
$1.11 ₱69.7
-42.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.12 ₱197
$2.69 ₱169
15.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.03 ₱506
$8.11 ₱511
-0.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₱64.2
$1.32 ₱82.9
-22.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₱107
$1.98 ₱124
-13.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Pagadian
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱16.36
$0.90 ₱56.4
-71.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.91 ₱687
$56.8 ₱3,575
-80.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 ₱46.09
$0.67 ₱41.91
8.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.71
$0.21 ₱13.16
19.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.89 ₱119
$1.93 ₱121
-2.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ₱66.9
$1.25 ₱78.8
-15.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$21.3K ₱1.3M
-10.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ₱1.1M
$19.6K ₱1.2M
-8.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pagadian
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ₱7,687
$153 ₱9,620
-20.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.52 ₱977
$16.06 ₱1,011
-3.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.08 ₱1,516
$32.37 ₱2,038
-25.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pagadian
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.90 ₱2,260
$54.9 ₱3,456
-34.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.29 ₱270
$14.14 ₱890
-69.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.59 ₱352
$7.22 ₱454
-22.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pagadian
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 ₱8,114
$794 ₱50.0K
-83.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,823 ₱429.6K
$7,321 ₱460.9K
-6.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pagadian
Makati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.11 ₱2,148
$61.2 ₱3,850
-44.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.27 ₱1,088
$36.86 ₱2,321
-53.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 ₱4,719
$81.5 ₱5,129
-8.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0 ₱3,527
$103 ₱6,510
-45.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pagadian
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$263 ₱16.5K
$815 ₱51.3K
-67.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 ₱10.2K
$417 ₱26.3K
-61.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 ₱32.0K
$2,274 ₱143.2K
-77.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 ₱22.5K
$1,069 ₱67.3K
-66.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,576 ₱162.2K
$5,869 ₱369.5K
-56.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$989 ₱62.2K
$3,738 ₱235.4K
-73.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pagadian
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$601 ₱37.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
7.5
-9.47%

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

Last update for Pagadian: October 13, 2026

Last update for Makati: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Pagadian
$173
Makati
$231 33.8% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pagadian
$162
Makati
$201 24.4% $40
Accommodation & Living
Pagadian
$161
Makati
$417 158% $256
Clothing & Footwear
Pagadian
$82
Makati
$127 55.1% $45
Eating Out
Pagadian
$77
Makati
$120 54.6% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Pagadian
$47
Makati
$69 47.2% $22
Getting Around
Pagadian
$14
Makati
$62 346% $48

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Pagadian and $815 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Pagadian vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $231 per month, with Pagadian cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Pagadian
🇵🇭 Makati
🕒 Local time
10:51 10:51 AM
10:51 10:51 AM
Same time as Pagadian
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
199,060
582,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pagadian Makati 790 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Pagadian
  • 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
Pagadian vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pagadian or Makati?
Pagadian wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pagadian the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Pagadian and in Makati?
You'd need roughly $1,075 in Pagadian and $1,842 in Makati to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Pagadian compared to Makati?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Pagadian versus $815 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 Pagadian compared to Makati?
All in, you'll spend $717 per month in Pagadian versus $1,228 in Makati – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Pagadian compared to Makati?
A monthly transit pass in Pagadian runs roughly 420% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Pagadian or in Makati?
At $717 in Pagadian versus $1,228 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pagadian but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Pagadian the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pagadian or Makati?
Both work as nomad bases, but Pagadian delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $717 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pagadian hard to pass up.
How safe is Pagadian compared to Makati?
Safety-wise, Pagadian 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Pagadian 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.

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