Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Butuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Butuan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $763 in Baguio versus $579 in Butuan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,175 in Baguio versus $903 in Butuan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Baguio versus $1,227 in Butuan.

Living in Baguio is roughly 32% more expensive than in Butuan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 45% lower, Butuan 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₱246

$4.69 ₱292

-15.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.48 ₱1,027

$26.84 ₱1,674

-38.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 ₱179

$2.33 ₱145

23.61%

Cappuccino

$1.77 ₱110

$2.12 ₱132

-16.51%

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

$0.61 ₱37.75

$0.31 ₱19.11

96.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.83

$0.23 ₱14.27

39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₱60.9

$1.56 ₱97.1

-37.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱97.5

$2.33 ₱145

-33.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱105

$1.95 ₱122

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱72.2

$1.09 ₱68.2

6.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.6

$0.94 ₱58.5

8.51%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱129

$1.93 ₱120

7.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₱321

$6.79 ₱423

-24.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ₱212

$4.30 ₱268

-20.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 ₱504

$8.69 ₱542

-6.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$2.59 ₱162

-10.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱97.6

$1.08 ₱67.2

45.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱150

$2.28 ₱142

5.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$1.20 ₱75.0

-10.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$2.10 ₱131

-16.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱110

$3.61 ₱225

-50.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱38.69

$1.19 ₱74.1

-47.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.07

$0.66 ₱41.22

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱179

$2.50 ₱156

14.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ₱562

$7.90 ₱492

14.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱59.8

$1.24 ₱77.3

-22.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.53 ₱95.7

37.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱810

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱52.2

$0.83 ₱51.6

1.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.61

$0.25 ₱15.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ₱123

$1.94 ₱121

1.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.8

$1.09 ₱67.8

5.50%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

-0.32%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

2.64%

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

$139 ₱8,662

$106 ₱6,632

30.62%

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

$17.39 ₱1,085

$19.04 ₱1,187

-8.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 ₱1,474

$31.42 ₱1,959

-24.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 ₱1,331

$24.08 ₱1,501

-11.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱324

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱318

$4.37 ₱273

16.70%

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

$134 ₱8,351

$108 ₱6,746

23.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱658.6K

$7,486 ₱466.8K

41.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.47 ₱1,775

$61.6 ₱3,843

-53.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.81 ₱1,235

$27.03 ₱1,686

-26.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 ₱4,415

$72.6 ₱4,524

-2.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₱3,529

$60.7 ₱3,784

-6.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 ₱52.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₱29.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₱166.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 ₱56.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

8.31

-18.77%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Last update for Butuan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $16.00 in Baguio vs $27.00 in Butuan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $196 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

Baguio vs Butuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Butuan wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Butuan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,144 in Baguio and $869 in Butuan 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.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $763 per month in Baguio versus $579 in Butuan – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Butuan 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, Baguio and Butuan 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 Butuan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.