🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $684 in Valencia City versus $1,232 in Makati.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,060 in Valencia City versus $2,009 in Makati.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,436 in Valencia City versus $2,786 in Makati.
🙂Living in Valencia City costs roughly 44% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Valencia City49% lower, Makati8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.96₱183
$6.80₱419
-56.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.91₱1,474
$45.15₱2,784
-47.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$1.78₱110
$4.93₱304
-63.89%
Cappuccino
$1.57₱96.5
$2.87₱177
-45.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₱24.56
$1.19₱73.5
-66.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34₱20.90
$0.56₱34.76
-39.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03₱63.6
$2.44₱151
-57.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57₱96.8
$3.66₱225
-57.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31₱80.6
$2.14₱132
-38.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.64₱39.34
$1.43₱88.4
-55.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75₱46.36
$1.08₱66.5
-30.56%
Eggs
$1.63₱100
$2.34₱144
-30.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.94₱366
$8.16₱503
-27.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.16₱133
$4.43₱273
-51.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.02₱186
$7.64₱471
-60.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72₱106
$4.57₱282
-62.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17₱72.3
$1.92₱118
-39.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28₱141
$2.70₱166
-15.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.93₱57.3
$2.25₱139
-58.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₱51.6
$3.29₱203
-74.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17₱134
$2.86₱177
-24.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42₱26.11
$1.08₱66.8
-61.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45₱27.82
$0.99₱61.3
-54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65₱163
$2.94₱181
-9.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$1.86₱115
$8.28₱511
-77.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78₱48.13
$1.20₱74.1
-35.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36₱83.6
$2.34₱144
-41.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.37
$0.51₱31.71
-45.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$3.58₱221
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93₱57.1
$0.81₱50.0
14.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.07
$0.12₱7.44
91.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.18₱134
$3.58₱221
-39.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₱67.2
$1.10₱67.8
-0.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K₱1.4M
$34.3K₱2.1M
-35.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K₱1.3M
$21.5K₱1.3M
-1.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105₱6,470
$172₱10.6K
-39.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.47₱2,064
$26.94₱1,661
24.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.28₱2,237
$36.49₱2,250
-0.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.42₱2,122
$56.0₱3,452
-38.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44₱274
$11.79₱727
-62.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30₱265
$7.90₱487
-45.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$120₱7,407
$321₱19.8K
-62.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,379₱270.0K
$7,538₱464.8K
-41.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.12₱2,844
$60.3₱3,717
-23.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38₱1,873
$35.62₱2,197
-14.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.1₱4,752
$85.6₱5,277
-9.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9₱4,310
$122₱7,516
-42.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263₱16.2K
$666₱41.1K
-60.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177₱10.9K
$390₱24.0K
-54.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$594₱36.6K
$2,260₱139.4K
-73.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400₱24.7K
$1,024₱63.1K
-60.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,359₱145.4K
$6,010₱370.6K
-60.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$948₱58.4K
$3,852₱237.5K
-75.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$682₱42.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.56
6.67
43.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Valencia City: June 2, 2026
Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Valencia City and $666 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Valencia City vs $45.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $120 vs $234 per month, with Valencia City 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
Valencia City vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Valencia City or Makati?
Valencia City wins on cost – living expenses run 80% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Valencia City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Valencia City vs Makati?
You'd need roughly $1,027 in Valencia City and $1,849 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Valencia City vs Makati?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Valencia City versus $666 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Valencia City or Makati?
Supermarket bills run roughly 95% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Valencia City compared to Makati?
All in, you'll spend $684 per month in Valencia City versus $1,232 in Makati – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Valencia City or Makati?
At $684 in Valencia City versus $1,232 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Valencia City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Valencia City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Valencia City or Makati?
Both work as nomad bases, but Valencia City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $684 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Valencia City hard to pass up.
How safe is Valencia City compared to Makati?
Safety-wise, Valencia City 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Valencia City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Valencia City vs other spots: cost of living compared