Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in San Fernando, La Union: $721 a month against $1,174 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

34

Cost of Living Index in San Fernando, La Union
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San Fernando, La Union Living Index
56

Cost of Living Index in Makati
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Makati Living Index

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San Fernando, La Union

🇵🇭 Philippines

$721

/mo nomad

Makati

🇵🇭 Philippines

$1,174

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $721 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,174 in Makati.

San Fernando, La Union $721
Makati $1,174

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,102 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,962 in Makati.

San Fernando, La Union $1,102
Makati $1,962

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,484 in San Fernando, La Union versus $2,750 in Makati.

San Fernando, La Union $1,484
Makati $2,750

Living in San Fernando, La Union costs roughly 39% less than in Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Fernando, La Union 47% lower, Makati 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 ₱252

$4.72 ₱300

-15.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.71 ₱1,061

$26.37 ₱1,674

-36.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱171

$4.01 ₱255

-32.92%

Cappuccino

$2.14 ₱136

$2.46 ₱156

-13.01%

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

$0.69 ₱43.61

$1.05 ₱66.8

-34.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱21.20

$0.59 ₱37.49

-44.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₱75.2

$1.16 ₱73.7

2.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₱131

$2.41 ₱153

-14.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₱105

$1.86 ₱118

-11.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 ₱69.5

$1.12 ₱71.3

-2.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ₱56.7

$0.99 ₱62.6

-10.10%

Eggs

$1.90 ₱121

$2.20 ₱139

-13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.52 ₱350

$7.51 ₱477

-26.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.09 ₱260

$4.63 ₱294

-11.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱452

$7.01 ₱445

1.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ₱151

$3.23 ₱205

-26.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱99.4

$1.90 ₱121

-17.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱148

$2.76 ₱175

-15.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱74.5

$0.88 ₱56.1

32.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 ₱131

$1.33 ₱84.4

54.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 ₱146

$1.38 ₱87.5

66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱68.7

$1.87 ₱119

-42.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.60

$0.58 ₱36.98

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 ₱179

$3.03 ₱192

-6.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₱479

$9.67 ₱614

-22.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱62.8

$1.25 ₱79.6

-20.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱122

$2.01 ₱128

-3.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.90

$0.76 ₱48.44

-71.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.52 ₱795

$57.7 ₱3,663

-78.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 ₱51.0

$0.75 ₱47.73

6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₱12.70

$0.20 ₱12.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 ₱122

$1.96 ₱124

-2.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ₱65.6

$1.25 ₱79.6

-17.60%

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

-0.60%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

0.62%

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

$119 ₱7,577

$111 ₱7,037

7.68%

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

$15.64 ₱993

$16.82 ₱1,068

-7.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.84 ₱1,513

$24.00 ₱1,524

-0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.64 ₱2,009

$56.6 ₱3,594

-44.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.16 ₱328

$14.14 ₱898

-63.51%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 ₱332

$6.31 ₱400

-17.27%

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

$130 ₱8,228

$619 ₱39.3K

-79.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,895 ₱501.2K

$5,231 ₱332.1K

50.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.12 ₱2,102

$55.4 ₱3,518

-40.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.07 ₱1,211

$31.32 ₱1,988

-39.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ₱4,396

$70.0 ₱4,444

-1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 ₱3,515

$57.8 ₱3,672

-4.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 ₱15.9K

$820 ₱52.0K

-69.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 ₱10.6K

$495 ₱31.4K

-66.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ₱31.1K

$2,487 ₱157.9K

-80.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₱22.2K

$1,294 ₱82.2K

-72.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,657 ₱168.7K

$5,608 ₱356.0K

-52.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,125 ₱71.4K

$3,558 ₱225.9K

-68.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ₱33.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.92

-1.14%

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

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: November 2, 2026

Last update for Makati: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

San Fernando, La Union

$179 24.8%

Makati

$203 17.3% 13.6% $24

Accommodation & Living

San Fernando, La Union

$167 23.2%

Makati

$495 42.1% 196% $328

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Fernando, La Union

$159 22%

Makati

$152 12.9% 4.5% $7.2

Eating Out

San Fernando, La Union

$80 11.1%

Makati

$97 8.2% 21.2% $17

Clothing & Footwear

San Fernando, La Union

$80 11%

Makati

$97 8.2% 21.4% $17

Sport & Entertainment

San Fernando, La Union

$42 5.8%

Makati

$69 5.9% 64.5% $27

Getting Around

San Fernando, La Union

$15 2.1%

Makati

$62 5.3% 311% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $251 in San Fernando, La Union and $820 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17 in San Fernando, La Union vs $26 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $203 per month, with San Fernando, La Union cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 San Fernando, La Union

🇵🇭 Makati

🕒 Local time

12:44 12:44 PM

Same time as San Fernando, La Union

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

83,003

582,602

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.58 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

100 PHP = 1.58 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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San Fernando, La Union Makati 240 km

From you

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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

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

San Fernando, La Union wins on cost – living expenses run 39% 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 $1,082 in San Fernando, La Union and $1,761 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: $251 in San Fernando, La Union versus $820 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $721 per month in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,174 in Makati – San Fernando, La Union is about 39% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando, La Union runs roughly 78% less than in Makati. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.

At $721 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,174 in Makati, a $1,000 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 cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, San Fernando, La Union and Makati are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Expats usually find San Fernando, La Union gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.