Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and General Santos Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and General Santos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $701 in General Santos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,078 in General Santos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,455 in General Santos.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, General Santos 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$4.45 ₱275

-19.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$10.55 ₱650

26.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$2.84 ₱175

-7.04%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.06 ₱127

14.56%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.36 ₱21.95

80.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.30 ₱18.33

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.13 ₱69.5

23.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$0.91 ₱56.2

107.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.40 ₱86.2

34.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$0.93 ₱57.3

27.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.85 ₱52.3

31.76%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.06 ₱127

7.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$6.15 ₱379

49.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$3.01 ₱185

24.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$6.38 ₱394

30.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.96 ₱183

-7.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.14 ₱70.6

57.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.30 ₱142

3.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$0.43 ₱26.29

179.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$0.92 ₱56.9

96.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$3.14 ₱193

-27.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.03 ₱63.7

-29.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.60 ₱36.94

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.17 ₱134

50.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$8.18 ₱504

11.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.09 ₱67.0

-2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.50 ₱92.6

54.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.34 ₱20.82

-23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$8.93 ₱550

21.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.82 ₱50.6

12.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.16 ₱9.83

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$1.31 ₱81.0

83.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.10 ₱67.7

1.82%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

54.46%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-0.81%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$74.6 ₱4,601

97.49%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$34.23 ₱2,111

3.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$36.19 ₱2,231

-26.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$33.55 ₱2,069

-33.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$1.75 ₱108

138.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$3.11 ₱192

80.06%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$58.8 ₱3,628

161.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$1,404 ₱86.5K

235.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$44.99 ₱2,774

6.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$16.05 ₱990

68.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$69.6 ₱4,293

9.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$68.7 ₱4,234

-33.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$271 ₱16.7K

27.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$179 ₱11.0K

-18.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$584 ₱36.0K

-6.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$389 ₱24.0K

-32.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.5

-30.77%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for General Santos: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $271 in General Santos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $11.00 in General Santos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $166 per month, with General Santos 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 General Santos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $1,182 in Baguio and $1,052 in General Santos 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: $345 in Baguio versus $271 in General Santos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $701 in General Santos – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in General Santos runs roughly 22% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though General Santos 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 General Santos 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 General Santos 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.