Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Boracay Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Boracay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Baguio versus $797 in Boracay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,392 in Boracay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,987 in Boracay.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Boracay 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$3.16 ₱194

11.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$21.07 ₱1,297

-36.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$4.81 ₱296

-44.49%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.37 ₱146

-0.84%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$1.27 ₱78.4

-45.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$0.26 ₱15.86

42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$1.31 ₱80.5

9.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$2.17 ₱134

-11.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.80 ₱111

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.26 ₱77.4

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$0.87 ₱53.8

21.84%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$2.60 ₱160

-16.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$7.88 ₱485

19.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$4.13 ₱254

-9.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$7.83 ₱482

9.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.99 ₱184

-9.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.48 ₱91.2

20.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.58 ₱159

-8.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$1.44 ₱88.6

-18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.79 ₱110

1.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$2.60 ₱160

-15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$1.06 ₱65.2

-35.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$0.71 ₱43.94

9.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$3.87 ₱238

-13.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

$8.26 ₱508

5.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.21 ₱74.6

-12.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.02 ₱125

15.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.26

$0.36 ₱22.34

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.82 ₱50.7

12.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.24 ₱14.80

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.07 ₱127

13.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$1.28 ₱78.7

-13.28%

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

$31.7K ₱1.9M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

19.02%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-0.01%

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

$144 ₱8,877

$117 ₱7,185

23.56%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$8.78 ₱540

287.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$39.13 ₱2,409

-33.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$53.7 ₱3,306

-58.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.30 ₱265

-1.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$4.23 ₱261

36.88%

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

$151 ₱9,286

$149 ₱9,180

1.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$4,041 ₱248.8K

14.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,010

$46.67 ₱2,873

4.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$26.65 ₱1,641

3.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$75.6 ₱4,654

-2.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$52.9 ₱3,253

-13.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$261 ₱16.1K

33.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,936

$179 ₱11.0K

-18.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$581 ₱35.7K

-6.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$742 ₱45.7K

-64.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

$2,397 ₱147.6K

-0.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

$957 ₱58.9K

-3.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

$238 ₱14.7K

-23.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Last update for Boracay: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $261 in Boracay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boracay pays 30% 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: $13.00 in Baguio vs $21.00 in Boracay. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $204, with Boracay cheaper for home cooking.

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

Baguio vs Boracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Boracay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Boracay. 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: $349 in Baguio versus $261 in Boracay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $797 in Boracay – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $764 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Baguio and Boracay 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Boracay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.