Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Cotabato City Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Cotabato City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $776 in Baguio versus $739 in Cotabato City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,142 in Baguio versus $1,153 in Cotabato City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,507 in Baguio versus $1,567 in Cotabato City.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Cotabato City 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱224

$4.34 ₱268

-16.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.20 ₱815

$24.27 ₱1,498

-45.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.70 ₱167

$4.51 ₱278

-40.13%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₱152

$2.12 ₱131

16.51%

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

$0.69 ₱42.78

$0.81 ₱50.1

-14.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.83

$0.49 ₱30.52

-18.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ₱85.2

$1.38 ₱85.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱120

$1.73 ₱107

12.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱113

$1.04 ₱64.1

75.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₱74.0

$0.34 ₱20.98

252.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.7

$0.83 ₱51.2

27.71%

Eggs

$2.21 ₱136

$2.08 ₱129

6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.02 ₱557

$6.12 ₱378

47.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 ₱242

$3.36 ₱207

16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 ₱523

$7.14 ₱441

18.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 ₱169

$1.40 ₱86.4

95.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱109

$1.09 ₱67.1

62.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$1.08 ₱66.7

121.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.16 ₱71.7

3.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.21 ₱74.7

58.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.55 ₱95.8

47.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ₱43.89

$0.55 ₱34.06

29.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱44.00

$0.60 ₱36.99

18.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 ₱197

$0.85 ₱52.7

275.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.87 ₱547

$7.96 ₱492

11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱64.1

$1.36 ₱84.0

-23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.54 ₱95.2

51.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.01

$0.26 ₱16.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.1

$0.93 ₱57.2

-7.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.51

$0.25 ₱15.50

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 ₱152

$2.18 ₱135

12.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.09 ₱67.3

2.75%

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

$32.5K ₱2.0M

$22.5K ₱1.4M

44.45%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-1.46%

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

$145 ₱8,922

$102 ₱6,311

41.37%

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

$34.50 ₱2,130

$34.33 ₱2,119

0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.42 ₱1,631

$36.81 ₱2,272

-28.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.14 ₱1,366

$34.30 ₱2,117

-35.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ₱250

$4.52 ₱279

-10.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.61 ₱346

$3.28 ₱202

71.04%

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

$150 ₱9,231

$121 ₱7,497

23.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,634 ₱286.1K

$4,319 ₱266.6K

7.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.95 ₱3,022

$45.25 ₱2,793

8.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.80 ₱1,716

$29.55 ₱1,824

-5.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,738

-0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.78 ₱2,887

$69.5 ₱4,290

-32.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 ₱21.1K

$269 ₱16.6K

27.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,923

$179 ₱11.1K

-19.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₱33.3K

$577 ₱35.6K

-6.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.7K

$391 ₱24.1K

-30.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,477 ₱152.9K

$2,723 ₱168.1K

-9.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$927 ₱57.2K

$888 ₱54.8K

4.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$187 ₱11.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

9.56

-52.93%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 19, 2026

Last update for Cotabato City: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $342 in Baguio and $269 in Cotabato City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $24.00 in Cotabato City. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $148, with Cotabato 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 Cotabato City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cotabato 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 Cotabato City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,165 in Baguio and $1,108 in Cotabato City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $342 in Baguio versus $269 in Cotabato City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $776 per month in Baguio versus $739 in Cotabato City – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Cotabato City 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 Cotabato 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 Cotabato 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.