Cost of Living Comparison Between Albay and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Albay and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Albay versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,100 in Albay versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,470 in Albay versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in Albay costs roughly 4% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Albay 47% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 ₱228

$3.95 ₱246

-7.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.73 ₱1,043

$16.48 ₱1,027

1.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱172

$2.88 ₱179

-3.82%

Cappuccino

$2.15 ₱134

$1.77 ₱110

21.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱36.49

$0.61 ₱37.75

-3.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.77

$0.32 ₱19.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 ₱67.9

$0.98 ₱60.9

11.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₱116

$1.56 ₱97.5

19.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ₱105

$1.69 ₱105

-0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱69.9

$1.16 ₱72.2

-3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₱56.9

$1.02 ₱63.6

-10.78%

Eggs

$1.94 ₱121

$2.07 ₱129

-6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.31 ₱331

$5.15 ₱321

3.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 ₱259

$3.40 ₱212

22.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.34 ₱458

$8.09 ₱504

-9.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₱143

$2.31 ₱144

-0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱97.7

$1.57 ₱97.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱147

$2.41 ₱150

-2.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ₱70.7

$1.07 ₱66.6

5.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 ₱132

$1.76 ₱110

20.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 ₱126

$1.77 ₱110

14.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₱48.91

$0.62 ₱38.69

25.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.69

$0.53 ₱33.07

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₱180

$2.87 ₱179

0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 ₱510

$9.02 ₱562

-9.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₱60.9

$0.96 ₱59.8

2.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ₱125

$2.10 ₱131

-4.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱16.86

$0.25 ₱15.63

8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.14 ₱695

$12.99 ₱810

-14.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.58

$0.84 ₱52.2

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.67

$0.25 ₱15.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.97 ₱123

-4.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱70.2

$1.15 ₱71.8

-1.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

3.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.5K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-0.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ₱7,636

$139 ₱8,662

-11.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.25 ₱951

$17.39 ₱1,085

-12.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.58 ₱1,533

$23.64 ₱1,474

3.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.78 ₱1,982

$21.34 ₱1,331

48.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 ₱297

$5.20 ₱324

-8.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.28 ₱329

$5.10 ₱318

3.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$135 ₱8,447

$134 ₱8,351

1.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,000 ₱498.9K

$10.6K ₱658.6K

-24.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.79 ₱2,045

$28.47 ₱1,775

15.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.93 ₱1,243

$19.81 ₱1,235

0.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 ₱4,487

$70.8 ₱4,415

1.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₱3,532

$56.6 ₱3,529

0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.8K

$411 ₱25.6K

-34.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₱10.8K

$198 ₱12.3K

-12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 ₱30.7K

$849 ₱52.9K

-41.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 ₱22.2K

$465 ₱29.0K

-23.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,618 ₱163.3K

$2,662 ₱166.0K

-1.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,025 ₱63.9K

$900 ₱56.1K

13.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 ₱10.3K

$179 ₱11.2K

-8.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Albay: September 6, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Albay and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $17.00 in Albay vs $16.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $178 per month, with Baguio 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

Albay vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albay and Baguio differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($731 vs $763 including rent). Albay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Baguio. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $269 in Albay versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Albay – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $16.00 in Baguio. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Albay gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Albay and Baguio are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.