Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Valencia City and Makati

For one person, living is cheaper in Valencia City: $734 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.

Valencia City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$734
/mo nomad
Makati
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,228
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Valencia City versus $1,228 in Makati.

  • Valencia City $734
  • Makati $1,228

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,125 in Valencia City versus $2,028 in Makati.

  • Valencia City $1,125
  • Makati $2,028

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,516 in Valencia City versus $2,828 in Makati.

  • Valencia City $1,516
  • Makati $2,828

Living in Valencia City costs roughly 40% less than in Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Valencia City 46% lower, Makati 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.91 ₱183
$6.22 ₱392
-53.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.68 ₱1,050
$39.57 ₱2,491
-57.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.02 ₱127
$4.88 ₱307
-58.61%
Cappuccino
$2.26 ₱142
$2.55 ₱161
-11.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₱24.45
$1.06 ₱67.0
-63.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₱26.20
$0.50 ₱31.54
-16.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.17 ₱73.6
$2.38 ₱150
-50.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ₱121
$3.21 ₱202
-40.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱123
$1.90 ₱120
2.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 ₱71.5
$1.29 ₱81.5
-11.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 ₱49.20
$1.06 ₱67.0
-26.42%
Eggs
$1.58 ₱99.2
$2.47 ₱155
-36.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.42 ₱404
$7.29 ₱459
-11.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.85 ₱305
$4.86 ₱306
-0.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.18 ₱578
$7.03 ₱442
30.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 ₱172
$4.04 ₱254
-32.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₱70.0
$1.94 ₱122
-42.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.43 ₱153
$3.22 ₱203
-24.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ₱74.8
$2.29 ₱144
-48.03%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₱41.16
$3.48 ₱219
-81.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 ₱142
$3.59 ₱226
-37.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 ₱75.4
$1.06 ₱66.8
13.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₱44.47
$1.11 ₱69.7
-36.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.50 ₱157
$2.69 ₱169
-7.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 ₱507
$8.11 ₱511
-0.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₱81.4
$1.32 ₱82.9
-2.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ₱105
$1.98 ₱124
-16.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.55
$0.90 ₱56.4
-72.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.82 ₱744
$56.8 ₱3,575
-79.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.79 ₱49.51
$0.67 ₱41.91
17.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.41
$0.21 ₱13.16
9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 ₱124
$1.93 ₱121
2.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ₱80.1
$1.25 ₱78.8
1.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ₱1.4M
$21.3K ₱1.3M
1.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K ₱1.2M
$19.6K ₱1.2M
-3.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 ₱6,731
$153 ₱9,620
-30.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.47 ₱1,226
$16.06 ₱1,011
21.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.37 ₱1,975
$32.37 ₱2,038
-3.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.13 ₱1,897
$54.9 ₱3,456
-45.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97 ₱250
$14.14 ₱890
-71.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.72 ₱297
$7.22 ₱454
-34.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$109 ₱6,869
$794 ₱50.0K
-86.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,414 ₱466.8K
$7,321 ₱460.9K
1.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.76 ₱2,062
$61.2 ₱3,850
-46.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.17 ₱1,207
$36.86 ₱2,321
-47.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.0 ₱4,530
$81.5 ₱5,129
-11.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.0 ₱3,840
$103 ₱6,510
-41.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$293 ₱18.4K
$815 ₱51.3K
-64.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 ₱11.1K
$417 ₱26.3K
-57.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$468 ₱29.5K
$2,274 ₱143.2K
-79.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 ₱23.3K
$1,069 ₱67.3K
-65.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,456 ₱154.7K
$5,869 ₱369.5K
-58.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,075 ₱67.7K
$3,738 ₱235.4K
-71.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valencia City
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$601 ₱37.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.31
7.5
10.80%

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

Last update for Valencia City: October 11, 2026

Last update for Makati: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Valencia City
$193
Makati
$231 19.9% $38
Accommodation & Living
Valencia City
$176
Makati
$417 137% $241
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valencia City
$158
Makati
$201 27.6% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Valencia City
$83
Makati
$127 53% $44
Eating Out
Valencia City
$69
Makati
$120 72.5% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Valencia City
$40
Makati
$69 75.2% $30
Getting Around
Valencia City
$15
Makati
$62 321% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $293 in Valencia City and $815 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Valencia City vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $231 per month, with Valencia City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Valencia City
🇵🇭 Makati
🕒 Local time
02:18 2:18 AM
02:18 2:18 AM
Same time as Valencia City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
216,546
582,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Valencia City Makati 860 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Valencia 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
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 67% 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 and in Makati?
You'd need roughly $1,101 in Valencia City 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Valencia City compared to Makati?
Rent for a central apartment: $293 in Valencia City versus $815 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 Valencia City compared to Makati?
All in, you'll spend $734 per month in Valencia City versus $1,228 in Makati – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Valencia City compared to Makati?
A monthly transit pass in Valencia City runs roughly 380% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Valencia City or in Makati?
At $734 in Valencia City versus $1,228 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 $734 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 67% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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