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: $759 in Baguio versus $734 in El Nido.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,192 in Baguio versus $1,159 in El Nido.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,624 in Baguio versus $1,585 in El Nido.

Living in Baguio is roughly 3% more expensive than in El Nido, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 45% lower, El Nido 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.10 ₱253

$4.72 ₱291

-13.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.94 ₱1,044

$30.85 ₱1,902

-45.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.79 ₱172

$3.80 ₱234

-26.58%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₱115

$2.27 ₱140

-17.62%

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

$0.61 ₱37.76

$1.24 ₱76.5

-50.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱19.36

$0.32 ₱19.92

-3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$1.05 ₱64.9

-5.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₱97.9

$1.54 ₱94.8

3.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 ₱105

$1.85 ₱114

-8.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ₱69.7

$1.14 ₱70.4

-0.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.5

$1.36 ₱83.8

-26.47%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱130

$1.91 ₱118

9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 ₱311

$4.72 ₱291

6.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$3.90 ₱240

-13.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 ₱497

$7.40 ₱456

9.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.36 ₱145

-4.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₱96.1

$1.54 ₱94.7

1.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 ₱152

$2.09 ₱129

17.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.19 ₱73.3

-11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 ₱109

$2.08 ₱128

-14.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.95 ₱120

-6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱38.25

$0.74 ₱45.31

-16.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.01

$0.56 ₱34.72

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 ₱190

$3.16 ₱195

-2.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.84 ₱545

$9.16 ₱564

-3.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₱62.0

$1.04 ₱64.3

-2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₱129

$2.26 ₱139

-7.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.42

$0.25 ₱15.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.82 ₱790

$11.27 ₱695

13.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.14

$0.71 ₱43.69

9.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.45

$0.27 ₱16.93

-7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.84 ₱114

4.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱72.7

$1.34 ₱82.5

-11.94%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$24.0K ₱1.5M

-10.22%

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

$19.8K ₱1.2M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

-0.85%

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

$140 ₱8,640

$123 ₱7,578

14.03%

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

$18.00 ₱1,110

$14.36 ₱885

25.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.67 ₱1,459

$24.59 ₱1,516

-3.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.66 ₱1,335

$35.03 ₱2,160

-38.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 ₱326

$4.88 ₱301

8.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 ₱319

$6.05 ₱373

-14.55%

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

$135 ₱8,321

$146 ₱9,018

-7.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱655.0K

$8,573 ₱528.5K

23.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.93 ₱1,845

$33.75 ₱2,081

-11.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 ₱1,210

$20.72 ₱1,278

-5.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 ₱4,296

$70.8 ₱4,367

-1.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 ₱3,430

$54.5 ₱3,362

2.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$416 ₱25.6K

$276 ₱17.0K

50.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 ₱12.1K

$197 ₱12.1K

-0.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 ₱53.0K

$495 ₱30.5K

73.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₱29.0K

$400 ₱24.7K

17.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,459 ₱151.6K

$2,382 ₱146.9K

3.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$922 ₱56.9K

$1,017 ₱62.7K

-9.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$257 ₱15.8K

-27.65%

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: August 16, 2026

Last update for El Nido: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $416 in Baguio and $276 in El Nido. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

El Nido pays 38% 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 $31.00 in El Nido for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $182 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

El Nido wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Nido the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 38% lower in El Nido. 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: $416 in Baguio versus $276 in El Nido. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $759 per month in Baguio versus $734 in El Nido – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in El Nido runs roughly 14% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though El Nido 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 El Nido gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.