Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Cagayan de Oro City Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Cagayan de Oro City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $750 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,121 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,493 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 5% more expensive than Cagayan de Oro City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Cagayan de Oro City 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$3.67 ₱226

-2.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$14.04 ₱866

-4.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.44 ₱212

-23.26%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.62 ₱162

-9.92%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.96 ₱59.2

-32.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.36 ₱22.11

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.45 ₱89.4

-4.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.47 ₱152

-23.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.66 ₱102

13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$0.98 ₱60.3

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.98 ₱60.2

14.29%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.40 ₱148

-7.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$6.08 ₱375

51.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$3.48 ₱215

7.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$6.43 ₱397

29.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.24 ₱138

22.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.13 ₱69.9

59.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.29 ₱141

4.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.22 ₱75.2

-1.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.26 ₱139

-19.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.79 ₱172

-17.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$0.85 ₱52.3

-14.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.51 ₱31.16

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.40 ₱148

35.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$3.95 ₱244

129.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.34 ₱82.9

-20.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.56 ₱96.3

48.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.41 ₱25.24

-36.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$8.72 ₱538

24.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.68 ₱41.72

35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.22 ₱13.49

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.18 ₱134

10.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.14 ₱70.3

-1.75%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

57.32%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

7.80%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$105 ₱6,471

40.42%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$40.33 ₱2,487

-12.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$33.47 ₱2,064

-21.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$22.08 ₱1,362

1.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$3.27 ₱202

27.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$4.62 ₱285

21.21%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$190 ₱11.7K

-19.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$2,462 ₱151.8K

91.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$35.46 ₱2,187

34.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$14.51 ₱895

86.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$58.7 ₱3,621

29.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$42.85 ₱2,642

6.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$362 ₱22.3K

-4.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$214 ₱13.2K

-32.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$581 ₱35.8K

-5.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$383 ₱23.6K

-31.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$1,668 ₱102.8K

44.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$994 ₱61.3K

-6.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$313 ₱19.3K

-42.12%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Cagayan de Oro City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $362 in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cagayan de Oro City pays 73% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $14.00 in Cagayan de Oro City. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $168, with Cagayan de Oro City 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 Cagayan de Oro City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cagayan de Oro City wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cagayan de Oro City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Cagayan de Oro City earns 73% less. 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: $345 in Baguio versus $362 in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $750 in Cagayan de Oro City – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cagayan de Oro City runs roughly 24% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cagayan de Oro City 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 Cagayan de Oro City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $750 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cagayan de Oro City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Baguio and Cagayan de Oro City 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 Cagayan de Oro City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.