Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Surigao and Makati

For one person, living is cheaper in Surigao: $736 a month against $1,228 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

36

Cost of Living Index in Surigao
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Surigao Living Index
60

Cost of Living Index in Makati
Learn more

Makati Living Index

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Surigao

🇵🇭 Philippines

$736

/mo nomad

Makati

🇵🇭 Philippines

$1,228

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $736 in Surigao versus $1,228 in Makati.

Surigao $736
Makati $1,228

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,124 in Surigao versus $2,028 in Makati.

Surigao $1,124
Makati $2,028

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,512 in Surigao versus $2,828 in Makati.

Surigao $1,512
Makati $2,828

Living in Surigao costs roughly 40% less than in Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surigao 45% lower, Makati 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 ₱251

$6.22 ₱392

-36.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.81 ₱1,122

$39.57 ₱2,491

-54.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.87 ₱181

$4.88 ₱307

-41.19%

Cappuccino

$1.99 ₱125

$2.55 ₱161

-21.96%

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

$0.73 ₱45.85

$1.06 ₱67.0

-31.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.84

$0.50 ₱31.54

-36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 ₱79.4

$2.38 ₱150

-47.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₱134

$3.21 ₱202

-33.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₱102

$1.90 ₱120

-14.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$1.29 ₱81.5

-24.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

$1.06 ₱67.0

-6.60%

Eggs

$1.94 ₱122

$2.47 ₱155

-21.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.75 ₱362

$7.29 ₱459

-21.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.14 ₱261

$4.86 ₱306

-14.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.88 ₱433

$7.03 ₱442

-2.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₱131

$4.04 ₱254

-48.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₱99.2

$1.94 ₱122

-18.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 ₱161

$3.22 ₱203

-20.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱73.6

$2.29 ₱144

-48.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 ₱123

$3.48 ₱219

-43.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 ₱111

$3.59 ₱226

-50.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 ₱51.5

$1.06 ₱66.8

-22.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱37.75

$1.11 ₱69.7

-45.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₱187

$2.69 ₱169

10.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.78 ₱427

$8.11 ₱511

-16.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱66.3

$1.32 ₱82.9

-20.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₱108

$1.98 ₱124

-13.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.48

$0.90 ₱56.4

-71.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.30 ₱712

$56.8 ₱3,575

-80.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 ₱41.51

$0.67 ₱41.91

-1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.66

$0.21 ₱13.16

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.93 ₱121

-3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₱83.0

$1.25 ₱78.8

5.60%

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

$18.7K ₱1.2M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

-12.02%

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

$18.0K ₱1.1M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-8.09%

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

$124 ₱7,799

$153 ₱9,620

-18.93%

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

$15.97 ₱1,006

$16.06 ₱1,011

-0.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.80 ₱2,191

$32.37 ₱2,038

7.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.92 ₱2,262

$54.9 ₱3,456

-34.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.18 ₱326

$14.14 ₱890

-63.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.96 ₱313

$7.22 ₱454

-31.30%

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

$144 ₱9,095

$794 ₱50.0K

-81.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,892 ₱433.9K

$7,321 ₱460.9K

-5.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.99 ₱2,329

$61.2 ₱3,850

-39.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.93 ₱1,318

$36.86 ₱2,321

-43.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 ₱4,384

$81.5 ₱5,129

-14.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.50 ₱3,116

$103 ₱6,510

-52.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 ₱15.3K

$815 ₱51.3K

-70.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 ₱10.6K

$417 ₱26.3K

-59.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₱29.0K

$2,274 ₱143.2K

-79.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₱22.9K

$1,069 ₱67.3K

-66.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,434 ₱153.3K

$5,869 ₱369.5K

-58.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,108 ₱69.8K

$3,738 ₱235.4K

-70.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 ₱37.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

7.5

-9.47%

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

Last update for Surigao: October 11, 2026

Last update for Makati: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Surigao

$175 23.7%

Makati

$201 16.4% 15.2% $27

Groceries & Markets

Surigao

$174 23.7%

Makati

$231 18.8% 32.8% $57

Accommodation & Living

Surigao

$168 22.9%

Makati

$417 34% 148% $249

Clothing & Footwear

Surigao

$80 10.8%

Makati

$127 10.4% 59.8% $48

Eating Out

Surigao

$79 10.7%

Makati

$120 9.7% 51.2% $41

Sport & Entertainment

Surigao

$46 6.2%

Makati

$69 5.6% 51.2% $23

Getting Around

Surigao

$14 1.9%

Makati

$62 5.1% 338% $48

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Surigao and $815 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Surigao vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $231 per month, with Surigao cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Surigao

🇵🇭 Makati

🕒 Local time

21:52 9:52 PM

Same time as Surigao

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

171,107

582,602

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Surigao Makati 720 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Surigao
Makati

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

Surigao vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surigao wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Surigao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,104 in Surigao and $1,842 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: $243 in Surigao versus $815 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $736 per month in Surigao versus $1,228 in Makati – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Surigao runs roughly 402% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $736 in Surigao versus $1,228 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Surigao but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Surigao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Surigao delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $736 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Surigao hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Surigao 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 Surigao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.