Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and El Nido Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and El Nido

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $806 in El Nido.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,292 in El Nido.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,778 in El Nido.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 3% less than in El Nido, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, El Nido 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$5.16 ₱318

-30.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$30.02 ₱1,851

-55.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$4.10 ₱253

-36.59%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$3.81 ₱235

-38.58%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$1.36 ₱84.1

-48.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.36 ₱22.47

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.35 ₱83.2

8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.15 ₱132

-6.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.90 ₱117

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.28 ₱78.7

-2.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.75 ₱108

-36.57%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$2.49 ₱154

-11.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$8.08 ₱499

12.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$3.31 ₱204

11.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$8.32 ₱513

1.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$2.96 ₱183

-11.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$0.68 ₱41.99

175.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.71 ₱167

-16.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$2.16 ₱133

-45.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.23 ₱138

-18.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.08 ₱128

10.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$1.12 ₱69.1

-35.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.77 ₱47.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$2.82 ₱174

18.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$8.07 ₱498

13.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.15 ₱70.9

-6.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.03 ₱125

11.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.34 ₱20.67

-23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.81 ₱50.0

7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.24 ₱14.82

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.12 ₱131

15.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.04 ₱64.2

6.73%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

19.68%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

-1.20%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$112 ₱6,935

29.58%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$32.73 ₱2,019

4.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$31.85 ₱1,965

-18.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$34.23 ₱2,111

-36.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.39 ₱271

-5.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$6.10 ₱376

-2.79%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$151 ₱9,298

1.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$4,250 ₱262.1K

9.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$45.13 ₱2,784

8.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$26.20 ₱1,616

4.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$76.8 ₱4,736

-0.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$52.6 ₱3,243

-12.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$267 ₱16.5K

29.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$179 ₱11.0K

-20.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$581 ₱35.9K

-6.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$387 ₱23.9K

-31.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,647 ₱163.3K

-8.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$263 ₱16.2K

-29.42%

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 El Nido: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $267 in El Nido. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

El Nido pays 42% 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 $30.00 in El Nido for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $205 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 El Nido: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in El Nido. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, El Nido earns 42% 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: $346 in Baguio versus $267 in El Nido. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $806 in El Nido – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio 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 El Nido 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in El Nido. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.