Living in BGC vs Makati
If you're moving to Manila and choosing between BGC and Makati, here's my take after living in BGC: for most people, BGC is the better place to live. You'll pay a bit more for a condo, but you get a neighbourhood you can actually walk around, that's quieter and cleaner, and where everything you need is close by.
Makati still has a lot going for it. It's cheaper, it has more variety in food and nightlife, and it has the best weekend markets in the city. If those matter more to you than a quiet walk to the gym, it could be the better pick.
At a glance
| BGC | Makati | |
|---|---|---|
| Walkability | Wide sidewalks, proper crossings, simple grid | Patchy outside Ayala and Salcedo; more spread out |
| Noise | Quiet; no jeepneys or tricycles | Louder, with more traffic and street life |
| Cleanliness | Consistently clean | Varies a lot by area |
| Feel | Modern, newer buildings | Older, more lived-in |
| Food and bars | Plenty, spread across High Street, Uptown and others | More variety; Poblacion packs bars close together |
| Shopping | Several malls close together | Bigger malls with more variety |
| Markets | Few | Salcedo (Saturday) and Legazpi (Sunday) markets |
| Studio or 1BR rent | About ₱15,000–40,000 a month | About ₱12,000–35,000 a month |
| 2BR rent | About ₱28,000–65,000 a month | About ₱22,000–55,000 a month |
Rent ranges are from RentScout's 2026 rental market overview.
Walking and getting around
This is BGC's biggest win. The sidewalks are wide, the crossings have proper lights, and the streets follow a simple grid of numbered avenues and streets. Once you know that 26th Street runs one way and 5th Avenue the other, you can't really get lost.
It also means you can do most of your life on foot. Groceries, the gym, dinner and the cinema are usually a short walk away, which is rare in Manila.
Makati is more spread out. The Ayala, Salcedo and Legazpi areas are walkable, with elevated walkways around Ayala Avenue, but step outside them and sidewalks get narrow or disappear. You'll end up in a Grab more often.
For getting further, the BGC Bus connects BGC with EDSA Ayala in Makati on several routes. You pay with a Beep card or GCash (BGC Bus on Wikipedia).
Noise, cleanliness and feel
BGC is quiet for a city centre. There are no jeepneys or tricycles, so you don't get the constant engines and horns you hear in most of Manila. The streets are kept clean, and the whole place feels modern and well looked after.
Makati is louder and busier. Some parts are spotless, but others are noticeably dirtier, and a lot of the buildings are older. That's partly the point: Makati has been around much longer, and some people prefer its more lived-in, less polished feel.
Food, bars and nightlife
BGC has plenty of restaurants and bars, mostly around Bonifacio High Street, Uptown and the streets in between. You won't run out of places to eat, and most are a short walk from wherever you live.
Makati has more variety, though. It has more independent places and more cuisines, and in Poblacion it has lots of bars packed close together, so you can easily hop between several in one night. If nightlife is a big part of your week, that's hard to beat.
Malls, gyms and markets
BGC has plenty of malls close together, including SM Aura, Uptown Mall, Market! Market! and the outdoor shops along High Street. There are also lots of gyms, so you'll probably have one within walking distance.
Makati's malls are bigger and have more variety. The Ayala Center alone covers Glorietta, Greenbelt and Landmark, and Power Plant Mall is in Rockwell.
Makati also has the weekend markets, which BGC doesn't really match:
- Salcedo Saturday Market: every Saturday, 7am to 2pm, in Salcedo Park. It's known for regional dishes, gourmet food, local desserts and plants (Salcedo Park on Wikipedia).
- Legazpi Sunday Market: every Sunday from early morning to early afternoon. It's known for fresh and organic produce, homemade food and a vegetarian section (Legazpi Active Park on Wikipedia).
Rent and condo prices
BGC costs more, but in my view it's generally worth it. A studio or one-bedroom typically rents for about ₱15,000–40,000 a month in BGC, against about ₱12,000–35,000 in Makati (RentScout).
Makati's cheaper condos can still be nice, especially in Legazpi Village or along Buendia. Poblacion is the cheapest area, and Rockwell is the most expensive.
By area, for a studio or one-bedroom (RentScout's Makati and BGC guide, March 2026):
| Area | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Rockwell, Makati | ₱25,000–45,000 |
| BGC Uptown | ₱22,000–40,000 |
| Salcedo Village, Makati | ₱20,000–35,000 |
| BGC South | ₱18,000–30,000 |
| Legazpi Village, Makati | ₱18,000–30,000 |
| Poblacion, Makati | ₱10,000–18,000 |
Two things to budget for in both:
- Upfront payment: usually two months' advance plus one month's deposit, so about ₱75,000 to move into a ₱25,000 unit. Many buildings also want post-dated cheques for the whole lease.
- Association dues: about ₱3,000–8,000 a month in newer BGC buildings and ₱2,000–5,000 in Makati. Check whether they're included in the rent before you sign.
Which one is for you
Pick BGC if you want to walk everywhere, you like it quiet and clean, and you'd rather have the gym, supermarket and restaurants on your doorstep. It's worth the extra rent for most people, especially if you're new to Manila.
Pick Makati if you're on a tighter budget, you want the widest choice of food and nightlife, or you love a weekend market. Just be ready to take more Grabs.
If you're looking for a place in BGC or Makati, get in touch and we'll help you find one.
Sources
- Philippine rental market 2026: prices and trends, RentScout
- Renting in Makati and BGC: a guide, RentScout, March 2026
- BGC Bus, Wikipedia
- Salcedo Park, Wikipedia
- Legazpi Active Park, Wikipedia