Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Calamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Calamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $720 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,195 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,490 in Baguio versus $1,670 in Calamba.

Living in Baguio is roughly 9% more expensive than Calamba, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Calamba 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱217

$3.63 ₱221

-1.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.22 ₱802

$13.11 ₱796

0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.65 ₱161

$2.61 ₱158

1.53%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱143

$2.45 ₱149

-3.67%

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

$0.69 ₱41.93

$0.64 ₱39.07

7.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.55

$0.40 ₱24.53

-7.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.03 ₱62.6

39.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱115

$2.01 ₱122

-5.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.86 ₱113

1.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱74.8

$1.19 ₱72.4

3.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.3

$1.07 ₱65.3

0.93%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱137

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱555

$9.34 ₱567

-2.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ₱237

$3.74 ₱227

4.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 ₱531

$8.67 ₱526

0.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 ₱160

$2.73 ₱166

-3.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱109

$1.85 ₱112

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱140

$2.26 ₱137

2.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.2

$1.21 ₱73.6

-4.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$1.80 ₱110

2.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱139

$2.30 ₱140

-0.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱40.39

$0.73 ₱44.21

-8.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.15

$0.77 ₱47.04

-1.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ₱203

$3.19 ₱194

4.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.91 ₱541

$8.76 ₱532

1.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱63.1

$1.07 ₱65.1

-2.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱141

$2.28 ₱138

1.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱51.7

$0.91 ₱55.0

-6.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.32

$0.22 ₱13.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ₱143

$2.45 ₱149

-3.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.1

$1.15 ₱69.9

-4.35%

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

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-0.05%

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

$20.5K ₱1.2M

$20.4K ₱1.2M

0.16%

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

$146 ₱8,846

$145 ₱8,785

0.71%

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

$35.30 ₱2,143

$34.17 ₱2,075

3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.09 ₱1,584

$26.48 ₱1,608

-1.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.90 ₱1,330

$34.09 ₱2,070

-35.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ₱246

$4.47 ₱272

-9.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱353

$5.88 ₱357

-1.02%

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

$154 ₱9,378

$153 ₱9,276

1.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,658 ₱282.9K

$4,821 ₱292.7K

-3.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.66 ₱2,955

$49.55 ₱3,009

-1.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.00 ₱1,700

$27.80 ₱1,688

0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 ₱4,624

$76.1 ₱4,620

0.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.62 ₱2,831

$45.86 ₱2,785

1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ₱20.7K

$124 ₱7,556

173.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,635

$78.9 ₱4,791

80.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$552 ₱33.5K

$585 ₱35.5K

-5.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.1K

$400 ₱24.3K

-33.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ₱145.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱56.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 ₱11.2K

$257 ₱15.6K

-28.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Last update for Calamba: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Baguio and $124 in Calamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calamba pays 39% 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 $13.00 in Calamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $206 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 Calamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calamba wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calamba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Calamba earns 39% 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: $340 in Baguio versus $124 in Calamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $720 in Calamba – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Calamba 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 Calamba 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 Calamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.