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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $743 in General Trias.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,209 in General Trias.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,674 in General Trias.

Living in Baguio is roughly 5% more expensive than General Trias, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, General Trias 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$4.54 ₱280

-20.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$20.42 ₱1,259

-33.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$2.73 ₱168

-4.76%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$2.14 ₱132

9.35%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.45 ₱27.87

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.34 ₱20.95

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.22 ₱75.1

19.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.65 ₱102

21.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.05 ₱126

-7.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.24 ₱76.6

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.09 ₱67.2

1.83%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$1.95 ₱120

12.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$6.84 ₱422

32.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$4.16 ₱257

-11.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$7.15 ₱441

17.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$4.32 ₱266

-39.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$1.54 ₱95.1

21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.92 ₱180

-22.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.69 ₱105

-30.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.80 ₱173

-35.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$4.07 ₱251

-43.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$1.62 ₱100

-55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$1.04 ₱64.4

-25.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$3.15 ₱194

6.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$9.11 ₱562

0.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.61 ₱99.6

-32.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.01 ₱124

12.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.26 ₱16.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.79 ₱48.51

10.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.22 ₱13.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.08 ₱128

17.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.14 ₱70.1

-2.63%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$12.8K ₱787.8K

152.51%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

0.99%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$36.12 ₱2,228

303.38%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$33.13 ₱2,043

2.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$23.90 ₱1,474

8.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$33.94 ₱2,094

-35.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.55 ₱280

-8.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$7.27 ₱449

-18.43%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$79.9 ₱4,929

91.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$2,785 ₱171.8K

66.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$32.09 ₱1,980

53.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$29.69 ₱1,832

-8.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$99.3 ₱6,125

-23.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$94.7 ₱5,842

-51.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$111 ₱6,826

212.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$180 ₱11.1K

-20.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$174 ₱10.7K

212.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$392 ₱24.2K

-32.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,617 ₱161.4K

-7.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

8.13

-44.65%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for General Trias: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $111 in General Trias. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $20.00 in General Trias for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $225 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 Trias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

General Trias wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making General Trias the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,168 in Baguio and $1,115 in General Trias 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: $346 in Baguio versus $111 in General Trias. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $743 in General Trias – 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 General Trias 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 Trias 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 Trias 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.