Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taguig City and Makati

For one person, living is cheaper in Taguig City: $1,123 a month against $1,230 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in Makati despite lower rent and utilities.

Taguig City, Philippines
Makati, Philippines
Taguig City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,123
/mo nomad
Makati
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,230
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,123 in Taguig City versus $1,230 in Makati.

  • Taguig City $1,123
  • Makati $1,230

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,737 in Taguig City versus $2,137 in Makati.

  • Taguig City $1,737
  • Makati $2,137

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,352 in Taguig City versus $3,044 in Makati.

  • Taguig City $2,352
  • Makati $3,044

Living in Taguig City costs roughly 9% less than in Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Taguig City 18% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taguig City
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.88 ₱248
$6.40 ₱409
-39.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.67 ₱1,704
$38.45 ₱2,457
-30.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.18 ₱203
$4.78 ₱306
-33.47%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱161
$2.59 ₱166
-2.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₱45.72
$1.09 ₱69.9
-33.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₱27.83
$0.49 ₱31.39
-10.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 ₱76.9
$2.39 ₱153
-49.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₱146
$3.18 ₱203
-27.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taguig City
Makati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ₱117
$1.80 ₱115
1.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 ₱88.8
$1.26 ₱80.8
10.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 ₱52.4
$1.03 ₱65.9
-20.39%
Eggs
$1.83 ₱117
$2.37 ₱151
-22.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.91 ₱314
$6.91 ₱441
-28.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.58 ₱293
$4.93 ₱315
-7.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.78 ₱497
$6.74 ₱431
15.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 ₱140
$4.12 ₱263
-46.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₱116
$1.90 ₱122
-4.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 ₱179
$3.19 ₱204
-12.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 ₱66.5
$2.25 ₱144
-53.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 ₱110
$3.55 ₱227
-51.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 ₱168
$3.50 ₱223
-24.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 ₱98.8
$1.07 ₱68.1
44.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₱35.06
$1.13 ₱71.9
-51.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90 ₱185
$2.60 ₱166
11.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.54 ₱546
$7.85 ₱502
8.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 ₱81.8
$1.29 ₱82.6
-0.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₱131
$1.93 ₱124
5.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Taguig City
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₱14.58
$0.88 ₱56.4
-73.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.12 ₱838
$56.3 ₱3,595
-76.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 ₱45.35
$0.65 ₱41.59
9.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱15.36
$0.21 ₱13.38
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.90 ₱121
$1.90 ₱122
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₱75.7
$1.28 ₱81.6
-7.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ₱1.3M
$20.8K ₱1.3M
1.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K ₱1.2M
$18.9K ₱1.2M
0.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taguig City
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 ₱6,942
$151 ₱9,669
-28.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.74 ₱1,005
$15.59 ₱996
0.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.38 ₱1,494
$31.38 ₱2,005
-25.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taguig City
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.06 ₱1,857
$53.3 ₱3,403
-45.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.04 ₱897
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ₱415
$7.22 ₱461
-10.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taguig City
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 ₱8,266
$776 ₱49.6K
-83.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,655 ₱553.0K
$7,391 ₱472.2K
17.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taguig City
Makati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.18 ₱2,631
$59.9 ₱3,826
-31.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.19 ₱1,737
$36.96 ₱2,361
-26.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.8 ₱4,266
$81.0 ₱5,177
-17.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.8 ₱3,626
$101 ₱6,446
-43.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taguig City
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$823 ₱52.6K
$829 ₱53.0K
-0.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ₱35.3K
$429 ₱27.4K
28.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,346 ₱213.8K
$2,151 ₱137.4K
55.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,127 ₱72.0K
$1,308 ₱83.6K
-13.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,275 ₱337.0K
$5,714 ₱365.1K
-7.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,423 ₱218.7K
$3,568 ₱228.0K
-4.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taguig City
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$462 ₱29.5K
$587 ₱37.5K
-21.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.83
7.5
-8.93%

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

Last update for Taguig City: October 24, 2026

Last update for Makati: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Taguig City
$552
Makati
$429 22.4% $123
Groceries & Markets
Taguig City
$193
Makati
$227 18% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taguig City
$148
Makati
$198 34.2% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Taguig City
$86
Makati
$125 45.3% $39
Eating Out
Taguig City
$86
Makati
$121 41.1% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Taguig City
$42
Makati
$68 61.1% $26
Getting Around
Taguig City
$16
Makati
$61 286% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $823 in Taguig City and $829 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 27% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $27 in Taguig City vs $38 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $227 per month, with Taguig City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Taguig City
🇵🇭 Makati
🕒 Local time
04:50 4:50 AM
04:50 4:50 AM
Same time as Taguig City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,397
582,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 63.89 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.13 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Taguig City Makati 8 km
From you
  • Taguig City
  • 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
Taguig City vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Taguig City or Makati?
Taguig City wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Taguig City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Taguig City or in Makati?
On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Taguig City. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Taguig City compared to Makati?
Rent for a central apartment: $823 in Taguig City versus $829 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Taguig City compared to Makati?
All in, you’ll spend $1,123 per month in Taguig City versus $1,230 in Makati – Taguig City is about 9% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Taguig City compared to Makati?
A monthly transit pass in Taguig City runs roughly 77% less than in Makati. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Taguig City or in Makati?
Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Taguig City gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Taguig City or Makati?
Both work as nomad bases, but Taguig City delivers better value at $1,123 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Taguig City hard to pass up.
How safe is Taguig City compared to Makati?
Safety-wise, Taguig City and Makati are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Should I move to Taguig City or to Makati?
It comes down to priorities – Taguig City wins on affordability, Makati on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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