Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Calbayog Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Calbayog

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $695 in Calbayog.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,060 in Calbayog.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,425 in Calbayog.

Living in Baguio is roughly 12% more expensive than Calbayog, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Calbayog 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$3.61 ₱223

-0.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$18.04 ₱1,113

-25.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.36 ₱207

-22.62%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$2.47 ₱152

-5.26%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.79 ₱48.47

-11.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.37 ₱22.59

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.36 ₱83.8

7.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.10 ₱129

-4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.35 ₱83.4

40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.27 ₱78.2

-1.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.00 ₱61.7

11.00%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$2.10 ₱129

4.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.84 ₱484

15.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$3.84 ₱237

-3.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$7.61 ₱469

10.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$1.66 ₱102

58.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$0.93 ₱57.2

101.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.59 ₱160

-12.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.55 ₱95.8

-23.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.28 ₱141

-20.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.64 ₱163

-13.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$1.12 ₱69.2

-35.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.70 ₱43.46

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$4.36 ₱269

-23.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$5.77 ₱356

58.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$0.77 ₱47.20

40.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$1.00 ₱61.7

126.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.26 ₱16.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

$20.88 ₱1,288

-49.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.79 ₱48.52

10.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.24 ₱14.89

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.15 ₱133

13.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.54 ₱95.0

-27.92%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

22.88%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

1.34%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$111 ₱6,862

30.97%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$32.40 ₱1,998

5.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$27.85 ₱1,718

-6.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$33.69 ₱2,078

-35.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.56 ₱281

-8.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$6.05 ₱373

-1.98%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$154 ₱9,500

-0.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$4,233 ₱261.1K

9.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$45.05 ₱2,779

9.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$26.15 ₱1,613

4.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$74.4 ₱4,586

2.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$52.3 ₱3,226

-12.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$176 ₱10.9K

96.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$106 ₱6,565

33.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$341 ₱21.0K

59.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$187 ₱11.5K

41.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$525 ₱32.4K

361.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

$502 ₱31.0K

88.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$154 ₱9,519

20.40%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Calbayog: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $176 in Calbayog. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $18.00 in Calbayog. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $179, with Calbayog 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 Calbayog: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calbayog wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calbayog the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baguio pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $346 in Baguio versus $176 in Calbayog. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $695 in Calbayog – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Calbayog runs roughly 98% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Calbayog 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 Calbayog 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 Calbayog gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.