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: $748 in Baguio versus $618 in General Santos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,182 in Baguio versus $1,007 in General Santos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,616 in Baguio versus $1,396 in General Santos.

Living in Baguio is roughly 21% more expensive than in General Santos, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 46% lower, General Santos 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱252

$3.42 ₱214

17.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.79 ₱1,050

$27.30 ₱1,707

-38.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱173

$2.76 ₱173

0.36%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₱112

$2.61 ₱163

-31.42%

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

$0.55 ₱34.69

$0.30 ₱18.85

83.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱21.57

$0.25 ₱15.70

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$1.58 ₱99.1

-35.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱103

$2.36 ₱147

-30.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₱101

$2.01 ₱126

-19.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱69.9

$1.13 ₱70.9

-0.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.88 ₱54.9

11.36%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱132

$1.94 ₱121

8.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.00 ₱313

$6.62 ₱414

-24.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 ₱210

$4.15 ₱260

-19.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 ₱508

$8.73 ₱546

-6.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₱143

$2.69 ₱168

-14.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₱101

$1.12 ₱70.0

44.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱146

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.3

$1.21 ₱75.7

-10.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 ₱105

$2.08 ₱130

-19.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 ₱107

$3.10 ₱194

-44.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱39.00

$1.20 ₱74.7

-48.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.59

$0.66 ₱41.43

-25.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱187

$2.41 ₱151

24.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 ₱561

$8.05 ₱503

11.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₱59.6

$1.26 ₱78.8

-24.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$1.60 ₱99.9

31.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.64

$0.41 ₱25.86

-39.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱792

$8.20 ₱513

54.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.83

$0.83 ₱52.1

-8.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.71

$0.23 ₱14.37

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱122

$0.83 ₱52.0

136.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.07 ₱66.7

12.15%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

2.82%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$18.7K ₱1.2M

4.90%

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

$144 ₱8,974

$75.1 ₱4,696

91.11%

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

$17.30 ₱1,082

$6.50 ₱406

166.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.28 ₱1,456

$31.86 ₱1,992

-26.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.30 ₱1,332

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.36 ₱335

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 ₱325

$4.73 ₱296

9.73%

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

$131 ₱8,191

$108 ₱6,772

20.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱663.5K

$7,671 ₱479.7K

38.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.51 ₱1,845

$62.3 ₱3,896

-52.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 ₱1,206

$26.97 ₱1,686

-28.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ₱4,568

$71.2 ₱4,454

2.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 ₱3,466

$61.1 ₱3,822

-9.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.7K

$178 ₱11.1K

130.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.4K

$112 ₱6,973

77.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 ₱53.2K

$367 ₱23.0K

131.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₱29.1K

$241 ₱15.1K

93.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,650 ₱165.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

8.31

-18.77%

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

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Last update for General Santos: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $178 in General Santos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $27.00 in General Santos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $196 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 General Santos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

General Santos wins on cost – living expenses run 21% 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 $1,122 in Baguio and $927 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: $411 in Baguio versus $178 in General Santos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $748 per month in Baguio versus $618 in General Santos – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in General Santos runs roughly 55% 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 21% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.