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 $735 in General Trias.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in Baguio versus $1,215 in General Trias.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,695 in General Trias.

Living in Baguio is roughly 6% more expensive than in General Trias, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, General Trias 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱222

$4.42 ₱270

-17.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱822

$20.78 ₱1,272

-35.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱164

$2.86 ₱175

-5.94%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.08 ₱128

13.46%

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

$0.66 ₱40.38

$0.46 ₱27.94

43.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱22.96

$0.34 ₱20.65

11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱84.9

$1.22 ₱74.8

13.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱118

$1.69 ₱104

14.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.08 ₱127

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱73.8

$1.20 ₱73.6

0.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.8

$1.09 ₱66.8

-1.83%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱139

$2.03 ₱124

12.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱559

$6.94 ₱425

31.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱237

$4.35 ₱266

-11.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱518

$7.34 ₱450

15.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱168

$4.40 ₱269

-37.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱113

$1.53 ₱93.5

20.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱145

$3.02 ₱185

-21.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.9

$1.66 ₱102

-30.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.84 ₱174

-35.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$4.03 ₱247

-43.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.91

$1.59 ₱97.1

-57.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.38

$1.01 ₱61.9

-28.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$3.15 ₱193

6.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱562

$8.76 ₱536

4.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.1

$1.62 ₱99.0

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.98 ₱121

14.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.34

$0.28 ₱17.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱639

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.6

$0.76 ₱46.58

13.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.38

$0.22 ₱13.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱149

$2.08 ₱127

17.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.4

$1.10 ₱67.1

1.82%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$13.0K ₱796.9K

147.64%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

2.05%

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

$149 ₱9,108

$34.76 ₱2,128

328.05%

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

$34.55 ₱2,115

$32.88 ₱2,012

5.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,613

$24.23 ₱1,483

8.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,337

$34.29 ₱2,099

-36.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱249

$4.30 ₱263

-5.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱359

$6.95 ₱425

-15.54%

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

$149 ₱9,109

$82.4 ₱5,044

80.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱286.7K

$2,823 ₱172.8K

65.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,930

$31.74 ₱1,943

50.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,661

$30.08 ₱1,841

-9.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,608

$98.7 ₱6,043

-23.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,822

$93.9 ₱5,745

-50.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.6K

$109 ₱6,660

208.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,677

$177 ₱10.9K

-20.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱34.0K

$180 ₱11.0K

209.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$387 ₱23.7K

-32.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.4K

$2,189 ₱134.0K

9.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱56.2K

$905 ₱55.4K

1.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱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: July 27, 2026

Last update for General Trias: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $109 in General Trias. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $21.00 in General Trias for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $226 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 6% 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 $1,169 in Baguio and $1,102 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: $336 in Baguio versus $109 in General Trias. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 10% 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 $735 in General Trias – a 6% 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 6% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.