🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $663 in Pampanga versus $1,204 in Makati.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,114 in Pampanga versus $2,023 in Makati.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,566 in Pampanga versus $2,841 in Makati.
🙂Living in Pampanga costs roughly 45% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Pampanga50% lower, Makati10% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Pampanga
Makati
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.15₱193
$6.69₱409
-52.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.78₱1,088
$44.22₱2,706
-59.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.14₱192
$4.88₱299
-35.66%
Cappuccino
$2.71₱166
$2.93₱179
-7.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43₱26.09
$1.19₱73.1
-63.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₱23.44
$0.56₱34.49
-32.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.19₱73.0
$2.42₱148
-50.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34₱143
$3.62₱221
-35.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pampanga
Makati
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44₱88.2
$2.20₱135
-34.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14₱69.6
$1.49₱91.2
-23.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85₱51.9
$1.07₱65.2
-20.56%
Eggs
$1.45₱88.7
$2.34₱143
-38.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34₱266
$8.19₱501
-47.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.94₱180
$4.42₱270
-33.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.10₱434
$7.71₱471
-7.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16₱132
$4.36₱267
-50.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09₱66.6
$2.00₱122
-45.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31₱142
$2.57₱157
-10.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.92₱56.5
$2.23₱136
-58.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69₱104
$3.45₱211
-51.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79₱109
$2.86₱175
-37.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96₱58.7
$1.14₱69.5
-15.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61₱37.25
$1.02₱62.2
-40.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18₱134
$2.84₱174
-23.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24₱382
$8.12₱497
-23.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78₱48.00
$1.25₱76.5
-37.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39₱85.3
$2.32₱142
-40.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Pampanga
Makati
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29₱17.78
$0.54₱33.13
-46.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.52₱705
$3.64₱223
216.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱46.81
$0.78₱47.96
-1.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29₱17.86
$0.11₱6.44
163.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.07₱127
$3.65₱223
-43.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16₱70.9
$1.10₱67.4
5.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K₱1.1M
$33.4K₱2.0M
-46.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K₱1.1M
$21.5K₱1.3M
-16.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pampanga
Makati
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129₱7,916
$171₱10.4K
-24.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.24₱1,605
$26.96₱1,649
-2.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.33₱1,611
$35.97₱2,201
-26.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pampanga
Makati
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.6₱3,095
$55.6₱3,402
-9.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.36₱267
$11.87₱726
-63.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.34₱266
$8.19₱501
-47.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pampanga
Makati
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126₱7,737
$322₱19.7K
-60.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,792₱109.6K
$7,811₱477.9K
-77.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pampanga
Makati
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.11₱1,781
$58.8₱3,598
-50.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.13₱1,599
$35.76₱2,188
-26.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.4₱3,695
$83.9₱5,132
-28.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.61₱2,607
$123₱7,550
-65.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pampanga
Makati
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$153₱9,331
$667₱40.8K
-77.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.8₱5,862
$403₱24.6K
-76.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595₱36.4K
$2,307₱141.1K
-74.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$414₱25.3K
$1,015₱62.1K
-59.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,387₱146.0K
$6,283₱384.4K
-62.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,321₱80.8K
$3,903₱238.8K
-66.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pampanga
Makati
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$299₱18.3K
$712₱43.6K
-57.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.17
6.67
-7.50%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Pampanga: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Makati: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $153 in Pampanga and $667 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Makati pays 138% 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: $18.00 in Pampanga vs $44.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $154 vs $236 per month, with Pampanga cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Pampanga vs Makati: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Pampanga or Makati?
Pampanga wins on cost – living expenses run 82% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pampanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Pampanga or Makati?
On paper, Makati earns 138% less. 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 Pampanga vs Makati?
Rent for a central apartment: $153 in Pampanga versus $667 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 Pampanga compared to Makati?
All in, you'll spend $663 per month in Pampanga versus $1,204 in Makati – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Pampanga vs Makati?
A monthly transit pass in Pampanga runs roughly 216% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Pampanga or Makati?
At $663 in Pampanga versus $1,204 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pampanga but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Pampanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pampanga or Makati?
Both work as nomad bases, but Pampanga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $663 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pampanga hard to pass up.
How safe is Pampanga compared to Makati?
Safety-wise, Pampanga 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 Pampanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Pampanga vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado