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: $766 in Baguio versus $525 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $764 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,004 in Calamba.

Living in Baguio is roughly 46% more expensive than in Calamba, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Calamba 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$4.06 ₱255

-0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,036

$11.82 ₱741

39.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.72 ₱170

1.84%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$1.77 ₱111

3.95%

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

$0.60 ₱37.72

$0.56 ₱35.17

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.82

$0.30 ₱19.10

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.2

$0.87 ₱54.7

18.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.2

$1.56 ₱97.9

0.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.68 ₱105

-1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.1

$1.12 ₱70.2

2.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.96 ₱59.9

5.21%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.98 ₱124

2.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱312

$4.94 ₱310

1.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$3.42 ₱214

1.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$8.04 ₱504

-2.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$2.31 ₱145

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.7

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱144

$2.32 ₱146

-0.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.08 ₱67.5

-3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$1.74 ₱109

-5.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.73 ₱108

2.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.71

$0.62 ₱39.10

8.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.87

$0.53 ₱33.45

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.86 ₱180

4.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱532

$8.58 ₱538

-1.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.1

$0.96 ₱60.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$2.01 ₱126

1.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.78 ₱48.68

3.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.23 ₱14.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$0.96 ₱60.2

25.00%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-1.03%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

-1.45%

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

$138 ₱8,651

$141 ₱8,814

-1.85%

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

$17.68 ₱1,108

$17.71 ₱1,110

-0.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,470

$23.73 ₱1,487

-1.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,356

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱330

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱321

$5.23 ₱327

-1.91%

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

$131 ₱8,223

$133 ₱8,320

-1.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.0K

$10.8K ₱674.2K

-0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,840

$28.53 ₱1,788

2.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,197

$19.71 ₱1,235

-3.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,565

$70.2 ₱4,399

3.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,507

$55.5 ₱3,478

0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

$258 ₱16.2K

-30.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Calamba: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Calamba pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $12.00 in Calamba. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $175, with Baguio 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 Calamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calamba wins on cost – living expenses run 46% 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, salaries run 44% lower in Calamba. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $525 in Calamba – a 46% 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 46% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.