Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Iloilo Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Iloilo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Baguio versus $699 in Iloilo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,062 in Iloilo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,425 in Iloilo.

Living in Baguio is roughly 9% more expensive than in Iloilo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Iloilo 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$2.73 ₱168

28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$21.10 ₱1,299

-36.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$3.64 ₱224

-26.65%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$1.98 ₱122

18.69%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$0.53 ₱32.54

30.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$0.30 ₱18.18

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$0.96 ₱58.9

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.73 ₱107

11.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.80 ₱111

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.26 ₱77.3

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$0.89 ₱54.6

19.10%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$2.26 ₱139

-3.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$5.85 ₱360

60.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$4.36 ₱269

-14.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$7.00 ₱431

23.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$3.56 ₱219

-23.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.14 ₱70.0

57.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$3.41 ₱210

-31.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$1.59 ₱98.1

-26.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.65 ₱163

-31.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$3.00 ₱185

-26.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$1.70 ₱104

-60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$0.93 ₱57.2

-16.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$3.15 ₱194

5.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

$5.73 ₱353

52.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.33 ₱81.7

-20.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.40 ₱86.0

67.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.27

$0.25 ₱15.49

12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

$5.17 ₱318

109.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.68 ₱41.97

35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.29 ₱17.84

-24.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.69 ₱166

-12.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$1.10 ₱67.5

0.91%

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

$31.7K ₱1.9M

$24.3K ₱1.5M

30.10%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

6.54%

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

$144 ₱8,878

$66.2 ₱4,076

117.78%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$30.98 ₱1,907

9.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$30.56 ₱1,881

-15.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$26.79 ₱1,649

-16.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$5.43 ₱334

6.63%

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

$151 ₱9,287

$35.86 ₱2,207

320.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$4,353 ₱268.0K

6.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,011

$43.56 ₱2,682

12.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$23.27 ₱1,433

18.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$62.4 ₱3,842

18.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$27.07 ₱1,666

68.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$241 ₱14.8K

44.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,937

$177 ₱10.9K

-17.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$360 ₱22.2K

50.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$286 ₱17.6K

-7.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

$3,729 ₱229.6K

-35.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

$1,059 ₱65.2K

-12.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

$208 ₱12.8K

-12.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-43.75%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $241 in Iloilo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iloilo pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $21.00 in Iloilo. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $203, with Iloilo cheaper for home cooking.

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 Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iloilo wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Iloilo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Iloilo. 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: $349 in Baguio versus $241 in Iloilo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $699 in Iloilo – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Iloilo runs roughly 109% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Iloilo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Iloilo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $699 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Iloilo hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Baguio and Iloilo 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 Iloilo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.