Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Iligan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Iligan City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $735 in Iligan City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,111 in Iligan City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,487 in Iligan City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 4% more expensive than in Iligan City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Iligan City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$3.62 ₱227

11.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,036

$17.64 ₱1,106

-6.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.73 ₱171

1.47%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.48 ₱155

-25.81%

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

$0.60 ₱37.72

$0.62 ₱39.12

-3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.82

$0.30 ₱19.05

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.2

$1.12 ₱70.0

-8.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.2

$1.83 ₱115

-14.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.97 ₱123

-15.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.1

$1.12 ₱70.1

2.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.91 ₱56.9

10.99%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.95 ₱122

3.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱312

$5.37 ₱336

-7.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$4.28 ₱268

-18.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$7.02 ₱440

11.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$2.27 ₱142

1.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.7

$1.53 ₱96.1

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱144

$2.41 ₱151

-4.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.17 ₱73.5

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$2.03 ₱127

-18.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.99 ₱125

-11.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.71

$0.75 ₱47.23

-10.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.87

$0.52 ₱32.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.53 ₱159

17.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱532

$7.82 ₱490

8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.1

$0.92 ₱57.8

4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.87 ₱117

9.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.35

$0.27 ₱17.09

-14.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

$11.93 ₱747

7.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.87 ₱54.4

-6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.21 ₱13.42

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.87 ₱117

0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.08 ₱67.7

11.11%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$23.8K ₱1.5M

-9.70%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-9.98%

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

$138 ₱8,651

$108 ₱6,781

27.60%

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

$17.68 ₱1,108

$15.08 ₱945

17.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,470

$24.61 ₱1,543

-4.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,356

$31.38 ₱1,967

-31.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱330

$5.28 ₱331

-0.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱321

$5.03 ₱315

1.99%

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

$131 ₱8,223

$115 ₱7,207

14.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.0K

$7,666 ₱480.4K

40.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,840

$31.95 ₱2,002

-8.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,197

$21.20 ₱1,328

-9.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,565

$72.7 ₱4,555

0.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,507

$49.30 ₱3,090

13.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$111 ₱6,961

259.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$172 ₱10.8K

15.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$504 ₱31.6K

69.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$352 ₱22.1K

31.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.1K

$2,248 ₱140.8K

15.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$945 ₱59.2K

-1.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

$199 ₱12.5K

-10.03%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Iligan City: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $111 in Iligan City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iligan City pays 11% 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 $18.00 in Iligan City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $180 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 Iligan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iligan City wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Iligan City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Iligan City. 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: $399 in Baguio versus $111 in Iligan City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $735 in Iligan City – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Iligan City runs roughly 7% 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 Iligan City 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 Iligan City 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 Iligan City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.