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: $764 in Baguio versus $760 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,122 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,484 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 1% more expensive than in Cagayan de Oro City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Cagayan de Oro City 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$3.88 ₱239

-9.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$14.45 ₱890

-7.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$3.38 ₱208

-21.01%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.52 ₱155

-6.75%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$0.98 ₱60.1

-29.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$0.36 ₱21.87

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$1.46 ₱90.0

-1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$2.39 ₱147

-19.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.65 ₱102

16.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$0.91 ₱55.8

30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$0.92 ₱56.6

15.22%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$2.40 ₱147

-9.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$6.11 ₱376

54.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$3.64 ₱224

2.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$6.64 ₱409

29.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.33 ₱143

16.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.13 ₱69.9

58.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.37 ₱146

-0.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$1.28 ₱78.6

-8.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.26 ₱139

-19.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$2.81 ₱173

-21.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$0.91 ₱55.8

-25.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$0.47 ₱28.72

65.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.49 ₱153

33.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

$3.99 ₱246

118.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.42 ₱87.3

-25.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.55 ₱95.6

50.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.27

$0.41 ₱25.24

-31.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

$8.46 ₱521

27.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.70 ₱42.93

31.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.07 ₱127

13.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$1.14 ₱70.4

-2.63%

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

$31.7K ₱1.9M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

54.54%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

5.27%

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

$144 ₱8,878

$106 ₱6,542

35.70%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$39.96 ₱2,460

-14.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$33.15 ₱2,041

-21.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$21.81 ₱1,343

2.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$3.32 ₱204

27.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$4.56 ₱281

26.97%

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

$151 ₱9,287

$186 ₱11.5K

-18.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$2,518 ₱155.1K

84.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,011

$35.44 ₱2,182

37.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$14.29 ₱880

92.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$56.6 ₱3,482

30.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$43.47 ₱2,676

4.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$356 ₱21.9K

-1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,937

$214 ₱13.2K

-32.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$579 ₱35.6K

-6.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$374 ₱23.0K

-29.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

$1,611 ₱99.2K

48.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

$989 ₱60.9K

-6.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

$313 ₱19.3K

-41.57%

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 Cagayan de Oro City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $356 in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cagayan de Oro City pays 71% 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 $206 vs $169, 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 1% 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, salaries run 71% lower in Cagayan de Oro City. 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 $356 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 $764 per month in Baguio versus $760 in Cagayan de Oro City – a 1% 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 28% 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 $760 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 1% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.