Cost of Living Comparison Between Surigao and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Surigao and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $727 in Surigao versus $1,228 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,107 in Surigao versus $2,025 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,486 in Surigao versus $2,822 in Makati.

Living in Surigao costs roughly 41% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surigao 47% lower, Makati 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 ₱228

$6.57 ₱411

-44.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.05 ₱1,003

$39.99 ₱2,501

-59.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.79 ₱174

$4.59 ₱287

-39.22%

Cappuccino

$2.25 ₱141

$2.76 ₱173

-18.48%

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

$0.62 ₱38.81

$1.07 ₱67.2

-42.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱22.00

$0.45 ₱28.17

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱64.0

$2.42 ₱151

-57.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₱105

$3.25 ₱203

-48.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ₱104

$1.83 ₱115

-8.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 ₱73.9

$1.29 ₱80.6

-8.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₱56.8

$1.03 ₱64.3

-11.65%

Eggs

$1.93 ₱121

$2.38 ₱149

-18.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.89 ₱305

$7.31 ₱457

-33.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 ₱264

$4.84 ₱303

-12.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.31 ₱457

$7.19 ₱449

1.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ₱141

$3.98 ₱249

-43.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱110

$2.03 ₱127

-12.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱160

$3.26 ₱204

-21.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.7

$2.31 ₱144

-54.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱136

$3.47 ₱217

-37.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₱122

$3.47 ₱217

-43.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₱49.70

$1.12 ₱70.0

-29.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱38.70

$1.11 ₱69.4

-44.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ₱183

$2.70 ₱169

8.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.06 ₱442

$7.86 ₱491

-10.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱52.7

$1.40 ₱87.4

-40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₱120

$2.08 ₱130

-8.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.57

$0.90 ₱56.1

-72.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.03 ₱752

$57.3 ₱3,581

-78.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 ₱45.57

$0.61 ₱38.09

19.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.21

$0.21 ₱13.10

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 ₱129

$1.88 ₱117

10.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ₱65.0

$1.25 ₱78.3

-16.80%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

-7.50%

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

$19.5K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-0.92%

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

$123 ₱7,698

$154 ₱9,611

-19.91%

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

$13.94 ₱872

$15.78 ₱987

-11.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.65 ₱2,229

$32.11 ₱2,008

11.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.41 ₱2,214

$54.6 ₱3,413

-35.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.13 ₱321

$14.41 ₱901

-64.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.81 ₱363

$7.39 ₱462

-21.38%

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

$123 ₱7,680

$790 ₱49.4K

-84.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,440 ₱465.2K

$7,405 ₱463.0K

0.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.01 ₱2,064

$59.8 ₱3,741

-44.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.22 ₱1,076

$37.65 ₱2,354

-54.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 ₱4,527

$82.2 ₱5,137

-11.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.8 ₱3,615

$103 ₱6,468

-44.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 ₱17.2K

$748 ₱46.8K

-63.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₱10.8K

$430 ₱26.9K

-59.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ₱27.2K

$2,276 ₱142.3K

-80.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ₱19.4K

$1,080 ₱67.5K

-71.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,901 ₱181.4K

$6,003 ₱375.4K

-51.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$930 ₱58.2K

$3,832 ₱239.6K

-75.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.1K

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 Surigao: August 29, 2026

Last update for Makati: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Surigao and $748 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Surigao vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $231 per month, with Surigao 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

Surigao vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surigao wins on cost – living expenses run 69% 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 $1,090 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: $275 in Surigao versus $748 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $727 per month in Surigao versus $1,228 in Makati – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Surigao runs roughly 376% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $727 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 $727 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 69% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.