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Cost of Living: Makati/Greenbelt
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What is the cost of living in the Makati/Greenbelt area of the Philippines (e.g. rent, food, electricity and etc.)? We have never been there before.
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Makati, being a CBD, isn't cheap – and living there isn't either. Greenbelt feels particularly catered towards expat income and budgets. A few years ago I moved to Makati from London and I found the prices in Greenbelt only slightly cheaper than those in the UK! However, that's not to say you can't live in Makati within a decent budget. The answer to your question relies partly on three things: How long you will be staying in Makati for;Whether you need to stay specifically in Greenbelt; and Whether you (collectively) have the salaries to support the cost of living there.The thing about Makati, and the Greenbelt area particularly, is that living there can quickly become unaffordable if your spending is greater than your income. Rent and Electricity The projected costs that Alistair Israel suggested in terms of rent and so on are very realistic. I also agree with his idea of finding somewhere to live slightly out of Makati, because the cost reduction in rent is significant once you leave the CBD. A tip would be to try and find a place to rent through a friend or an acquaintance, in case they'd be able to give you 'mates rates' on the place. On that same note, find someone in a hurry to rent, as they're more likely to accept a lower rent just so they can have someone move in as quickly as possible. We were looking for someone to rent out our condo asap before I went back to London; I ended up renting out to my cousin's ex-girlfriend and giving her a smashing deal (see: P18,000 per month) on the rent! With regards to keeping electricity costs down, use electric fans when you can instead of air-con, remember to conserve water and turn off the lights when you aren't using them. Also, unplug electronic devices from the wall whenever you're not using them! If you've been careful about using electricity and your bill seems higher than it should, double check with your electricity company that they haven't just taken an average reading and charged you according to other residents in your building. Food The spending scale goes up from Greenbelt 1, which is full of fast food joints and lower-end stores, with Greenbelt 5 hosting the most expensive restaurants and shops. To be honest, any restaurant or food joint in Greenbelt 3 onwards starts creeping towards Western prices, which stretch the limits of being affordable, especially on an average salary here in the Philippines. Thus, when in doubt, COOK! I suggest going out of Greenbelt for food shopping, such as Cash & Carry, or going to SM Hypermart, a 20 minute walk away through Greenbelt, Landmark, Glorietta, which are all interconnected. The Rustan's supermarket in Greenbelt 1 is always busy, doesn't have that much produce compared to others, and offers no cheaper alternatives to certain products (E.g. a bottle of almond milk is P1,060. Madness.) In any case, if you don't mind spending on groceries, go to the main Rustan's supermarket. I would do my average grocery shopping every few weeks there, and on average my bill would be around P3,000-4,000 each time. What to do Makati is bubbling with life, with creativity, with new restaurants and bars and events popping up all the time. It's extremely international, with almost as many foreigners, expats and tourists on the scene as Filipinos. In Greenbelt, there are always live music and events happening at places like Sticky Fingers and Nuvo. Please note, though, that many escorts operate within the Greenbelt courtyards, which could potentially make you feel uncomfortable. There are many sports classes, gyms, and fitness centers dotted around Makati, which means it's easy to get in shape and socialise near your home. Also, take advantage of the museums in the area: the Ayala Museum is nestled there in the heart of Greenbelt and the Yuchengco Museum is nearby on Gil Puyat Ave. The number one thing I loved about living in Greenbelt particularly is how walkable the area is. Pavements are great and streets are catered to pedestrians. Go for a jog, an after-dinner walk, or just stroll through the air-conned malls to stretch your legs (presumably after being trapped in traffic for most of the day, ha!). On the same note, Ayala MRT is nearby and is a godsend on the days when you just cannot bring yourself to sit in a car in traffic for hours on end. Take the MRT every once in a while! If you're a female, use the female-only carriage. Smells better 😉 What not to do I have heard so many scary unlicensed/dodgy taxi cab stories that I either hitch a ride when I can, or I use ordered cab apps such as GrabTaxi and Uber. Unless, of course, it's an emergency or I'm with a companion. Safety is priceless. If you take a taxi from the street and you notice that you're headed the wrong way, or that anything feels wrong, trust your instincts and get the hell outta there. Don't be a slave to the area you live in! Don't blow all your money in the surrounding malls and restaurants. It's so convenient to pop over and pick up a Starbucks latte or eat out for dinner a couple of nights a week, but all that impulse spending adds up! Exploring the area is fun, but save up for other fun stuff or journeys away, too. Makati is not the centre of the universe 🙂
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If you don't mind not having a posh address (Makati CBD including Greenbelt/Legazpi and Salcedo villages) or don't feel the need to live in an exclusive, gated subdivision (San Lorenzo, Urdaneta, or Bel-Air), there are several other neighborhoods around Makati that offer relatively better value. If you absolutely have to live in those areas, then P45,000 might not even be enough for some units. Areas like San Antonio Village, the J.P. Rizal and P. Burgos areas, even San Isidro, Palanan and Bangkal are all a short commute (one jeepney or taxi ride away) or a 15-30 minute walk away from Makati CBD. P 30,000 to 40,000 might be enough for a smallish (30 sqm) studio or 1-bedroom unit in Makati CBD, but could get you a larger (50-60 sqm), maybe even 2-storey apartment in the outlying areas of Makati. Let's take a hypothetical 2-bedroom unit in San Antonio Village, which you might find for P30,000. That leaves you P5,000-10,000 from your budget for water and electricity. Since you won't have a garden, and likely, won't be washing your own clothes or car (it's more convenient to avail of laundry and carwash services) then your water bill for 3 persons will probably hover around P1,000 a month. If you do have a car, then consider that most condos don't come with parking slots and that can cost around P2,500 a month as well. For electricity, likely, the largest contributing factor is air-conditioning. Having said that, I've lived on my own with phones, laptop, TV, home theatre, a (seldom-used) electric range, a mini-refrigerator and an 1.5 HP airconditioner always on when I was at home, and my electricity bill would top out at P1,200 during summer months. So, for 3 people I estimate it can reach around P2,000-2,500. In other words, a budget of P45,000 for 3 people should be ample and gives you flexible options. You can choose to live nearer to the malls and business district, if you don't mind smaller living space. Or, you can opt for more breathing room, if you don't mind the commute. Just set aside a budget for basic rent and give yourselves maybe P4,000-6,000 for utilities.