Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Princesa and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Princesa and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $688 in Puerto Princesa versus $1,226 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,032 in Puerto Princesa versus $2,005 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,376 in Puerto Princesa versus $2,783 in Makati.

Living in Puerto Princesa costs roughly 44% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Puerto Princesa 50% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.31 ₱270

$6.47 ₱406

-33.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.98 ₱1,065

$40.29 ₱2,527

-57.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 ₱277

$4.70 ₱295

-6.17%

Cappuccino

$2.32 ₱146

$2.65 ₱166

-12.45%

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

$0.90 ₱56.3

$1.11 ₱69.7

-18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.74

$0.45 ₱28.42

8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₱75.9

$2.35 ₱148

-48.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱147

$3.20 ₱201

-26.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.91 ₱120

-13.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₱59.0

$1.28 ₱80.6

-26.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 ₱47.93

$1.05 ₱65.6

-27.62%

Eggs

$1.73 ₱108

$2.48 ₱155

-30.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.26 ₱330

$6.98 ₱438

-24.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.51 ₱345

$4.85 ₱304

13.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.83 ₱429

$6.77 ₱424

0.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ₱141

$4.12 ₱258

-45.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 ₱56.0

$2.00 ₱125

-55.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 ₱131

$3.19 ₱200

-34.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱73.5

$2.28 ₱143

-48.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.5

$3.52 ₱221

-56.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₱86.7

$3.59 ₱225

-61.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 ₱50.1

$1.10 ₱69.3

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.51

$1.14 ₱71.7

-40.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₱181

$2.57 ₱161

12.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.26 ₱455

$7.99 ₱501

-9.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₱62.8

$1.32 ₱82.7

-24.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₱81.3

$2.03 ₱127

-35.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.56

$0.98 ₱61.5

-74.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.30 ₱646

$57.6 ₱3,613

-82.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.99

$0.67 ₱42.14

16.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.73

$0.21 ₱13.15

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 ₱120

$1.87 ₱117

2.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$1.24 ₱78.0

-15.32%

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

$17.2K ₱1.1M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

-18.45%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-2.82%

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

$61.2 ₱3,840

$152 ₱9,541

-59.75%

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

$10.89 ₱683

$16.13 ₱1,012

-32.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.36 ₱1,528

$31.63 ₱1,984

-22.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.20 ₱1,957

$54.5 ₱3,416

-42.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.43 ₱278

$14.45 ₱906

-69.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 ₱327

$6.95 ₱436

-25.04%

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

$135 ₱8,462

$803 ₱50.4K

-83.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,668 ₱543.6K

$7,454 ₱467.5K

16.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.74 ₱1,991

$59.9 ₱3,755

-46.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.57 ₱1,228

$37.50 ₱2,352

-47.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 ₱4,538

$81.8 ₱5,130

-11.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.8 ₱3,434

$104 ₱6,544

-47.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ₱17.6K

$752 ₱47.2K

-62.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 ₱12.7K

$429 ₱26.9K

-52.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 ₱31.8K

$2,279 ₱142.9K

-77.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 ₱19.6K

$1,054 ₱66.1K

-70.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,541 ₱159.4K

$5,865 ₱367.9K

-56.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,043 ₱65.4K

$3,745 ₱234.9K

-72.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$226 ₱14.2K

$610 ₱38.3K

-62.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.12

7.5

8.27%

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

Last update for Puerto Princesa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Puerto Princesa and $752 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 170% 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: $17.00 in Puerto Princesa vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $231 per month, with Puerto Princesa 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

Puerto Princesa vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Puerto Princesa wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Puerto Princesa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 170% 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: $281 in Puerto Princesa versus $752 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $688 per month in Puerto Princesa versus $1,226 in Makati – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Puerto Princesa runs roughly 459% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $688 in Puerto Princesa versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puerto Princesa but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Princesa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Puerto Princesa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $688 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Puerto Princesa hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.