Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose del Monte and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose del Monte and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $705 in San Jose del Monte versus $1,237 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,083 in San Jose del Monte versus $2,035 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,461 in San Jose del Monte versus $2,833 in Makati.

Living in San Jose del Monte costs roughly 43% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Jose del Monte 49% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 ₱244

$6.43 ₱403

-39.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.51 ₱1,035

$40.02 ₱2,509

-58.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.76 ₱173

$4.58 ₱287

-39.74%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₱117

$2.60 ₱163

-28.08%

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

$0.59 ₱37.09

$1.13 ₱70.6

-47.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₱21.38

$0.48 ₱30.10

-29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱64.1

$2.41 ₱151

-57.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱103

$3.25 ₱204

-49.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱102

$1.94 ₱121

-15.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 ₱69.5

$1.23 ₱76.9

-9.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.7

$1.07 ₱66.9

-4.67%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$2.47 ₱155

-19.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.25 ₱329

$7.28 ₱457

-27.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 ₱220

$4.85 ₱304

-27.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$6.91 ₱433

-1.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$3.98 ₱250

-43.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ₱97.1

$2.00 ₱125

-22.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$3.22 ₱202

-26.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$2.37 ₱148

-55.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 ₱107

$3.45 ₱216

-50.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 ₱113

$3.42 ₱215

-47.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ₱39.49

$1.11 ₱69.6

-43.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.03

$1.16 ₱72.7

-54.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 ₱183

$2.57 ₱161

13.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.79 ₱551

$8.08 ₱506

8.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₱60.7

$1.35 ₱84.4

-28.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$2.05 ₱129

2.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱17.10

$0.98 ₱61.6

-72.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.34 ₱711

$57.9 ₱3,628

-80.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.9

$0.61 ₱38.53

36.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.46

$0.23 ₱14.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.86 ₱116

5.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.18 ₱74.0

-1.69%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-2.52%

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

$19.2K ₱1.2M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

-0.94%

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

$126 ₱7,888

$154 ₱9,681

-18.53%

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

$15.27 ₱957

$16.28 ₱1,021

-6.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.90 ₱1,498

$31.31 ₱1,963

-23.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.49 ₱1,974

$54.0 ₱3,383

-41.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.73 ₱296

$14.31 ₱897

-66.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.15 ₱323

$7.10 ₱445

-27.46%

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

$134 ₱8,380

$783 ₱49.1K

-82.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,002 ₱564.3K

$7,374 ₱462.3K

22.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.14 ₱1,826

$60.3 ₱3,780

-51.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.99 ₱1,253

$37.61 ₱2,358

-46.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 ₱4,557

$82.2 ₱5,151

-11.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 ₱3,492

$104 ₱6,550

-46.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.9K

$755 ₱47.3K

-64.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 ₱10.7K

$429 ₱26.9K

-60.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 ₱31.3K

$2,337 ₱146.5K

-78.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 ₱21.8K

$1,072 ₱67.2K

-67.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,557 ₱160.3K

$5,941 ₱372.4K

-56.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,023 ₱64.1K

$3,816 ₱239.2K

-73.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

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 Jose del Monte: September 7, 2026

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in San Jose del Monte and $755 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in San Jose del Monte vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $232 per month, with San Jose del Monte 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 Jose del Monte vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose del Monte wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Jose del Monte the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,057 in San Jose del Monte and $1,855 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: $270 in San Jose del Monte versus $755 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $705 per month in San Jose del Monte versus $1,237 in Makati – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Jose del Monte runs roughly 410% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $705 in San Jose del Monte versus $1,237 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Jose del Monte but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose del Monte the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San Jose del Monte delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $705 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Jose del Monte hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, San Jose del Monte 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 Jose del Monte gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.