Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $726 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,226 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,095 in San Fernando, La Union versus $2,005 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,464 in San Fernando, La Union versus $2,783 in Makati.

Living in San Fernando, La Union costs roughly 41% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Fernando, La Union 47% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.76 ₱236

$6.47 ₱407

-41.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.97 ₱941

$40.29 ₱2,531

-62.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.09 ₱194

$4.70 ₱295

-34.26%

Cappuccino

$2.50 ₱157

$2.65 ₱166

-5.66%

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

$0.55 ₱34.56

$1.11 ₱69.8

-50.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₱18.83

$0.45 ₱28.47

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.9

$2.35 ₱148

-56.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₱111

$3.20 ₱201

-44.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ₱105

$1.91 ₱120

-12.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱81.2

$1.28 ₱80.7

0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱60.0

$1.05 ₱65.8

-9.52%

Eggs

$2.15 ₱135

$2.48 ₱156

-13.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.47 ₱343

$6.98 ₱439

-21.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$4.85 ₱305

-3.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.02 ₱441

$6.77 ₱425

3.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 ₱166

$4.12 ₱259

-35.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₱93.3

$2.00 ₱126

-25.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 ₱154

$3.19 ₱201

-23.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 ₱79.0

$2.28 ₱143

-44.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₱128

$3.52 ₱221

-42.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 ₱140

$3.59 ₱225

-37.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ₱56.1

$1.10 ₱69.4

-19.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.74

$1.14 ₱71.8

-54.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ₱154

$2.57 ₱161

-5.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.31 ₱459

$7.99 ₱502

-8.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₱51.3

$1.32 ₱82.9

-37.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱134

$2.03 ₱127

5.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱16.83

$0.98 ₱61.6

-72.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.01 ₱629

$57.6 ₱3,619

-82.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₱42.56

$0.67 ₱42.21

1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.77

$0.21 ₱13.17

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱136

$1.87 ₱118

15.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$1.24 ₱78.1

-18.55%

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

$20.2K ₱1.3M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

-4.45%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-1.55%

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

$138 ₱8,647

$152 ₱9,557

-9.52%

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

$13.86 ₱871

$16.13 ₱1,014

-14.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.57 ₱1,418

$31.63 ₱1,987

-28.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.83 ₱2,000

$54.5 ₱3,422

-41.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.34 ₱335

$14.45 ₱908

-63.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.57 ₱287

$6.95 ₱437

-34.24%

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

$129 ₱8,087

$803 ₱50.4K

-83.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,412 ₱528.5K

$7,454 ₱468.3K

12.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.11 ₱1,892

$59.9 ₱3,761

-49.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.03 ₱1,258

$37.50 ₱2,356

-46.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 ₱4,510

$81.8 ₱5,139

-12.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 ₱3,541

$104 ₱6,555

-45.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₱16.7K

$752 ₱47.3K

-64.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ₱10.8K

$429 ₱27.0K

-59.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.7K

$2,279 ₱143.2K

-78.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₱22.0K

$1,054 ₱66.2K

-66.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,732 ₱171.6K

$5,865 ₱368.5K

-53.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,146 ₱72.0K

$3,745 ₱235.3K

-69.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.5

-10.00%

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

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: September 14, 2026

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in San Fernando, La Union and $752 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in San Fernando, La Union vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $231 per month, with San Fernando, La Union 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

San Fernando, La Union vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Fernando, La Union wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Fernando, La Union the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,089 in San Fernando, La Union and $1,840 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $267 in San Fernando, La Union versus $752 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $726 per month in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,226 in Makati – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando, La Union runs roughly 476% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $726 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Fernando, La Union but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes San Fernando, La Union the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San Fernando, La Union delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $726 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Fernando, La Union hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.