Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Iloilo

For one person, living is cheaper in Iloilo: $686 a month against $757 in Baguio, rent and utilities included – about $850 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Baguio
🇵🇭 Philippines
$757
/mo nomad
Iloilo
🇵🇭 Philippines
$686
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baguio and in Iloilo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baguio and in Iloilo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $757 in Baguio versus $686 in Iloilo.

  • Baguio $757
  • Iloilo $686

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,171 in Baguio versus $1,038 in Iloilo.

  • Baguio $1,171
  • Iloilo $1,038

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,585 in Baguio versus $1,390 in Iloilo.

  • Baguio $1,585
  • Iloilo $1,390

Living in Baguio is roughly 10% more expensive than in Iloilo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Iloilo 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baguio
Iloilo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.04 ₱255
$2.72 ₱171
48.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.77 ₱1,056
$18.73 ₱1,179
-10.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.85 ₱180
$3.23 ₱203
-11.76%
Cappuccino
$1.86 ₱117
$2.02 ₱127
-7.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₱37.34
$0.63 ₱39.83
-6.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₱19.17
$0.31 ₱19.48
-3.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 ₱61.3
$1.10 ₱69.0
-11.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₱98.9
$1.74 ₱109
-9.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baguio
Iloilo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ₱106
$1.66 ₱105
1.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 ₱70.7
$1.16 ₱73.3
-3.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 ₱60.5
$0.91 ₱57.5
5.49%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$2.02 ₱127
0.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.22 ₱329
$6.02 ₱379
-13.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ₱210
$4.11 ₱259
-18.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.04 ₱506
$6.09 ₱383
32.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 ₱145
$3.31 ₱208
-30.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₱100
$1.08 ₱68.1
47.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 ₱148
$2.95 ₱186
-20.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 ₱67.7
$1.43 ₱90.1
-24.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 ₱107
$2.29 ₱144
-26.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 ₱111
$2.72 ₱171
-35.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ₱38.85
$1.45 ₱91.6
-57.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₱31.33
$0.84 ₱52.6
-40.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ₱181
$2.97 ₱187
-3.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.00 ₱567
$6.35 ₱400
41.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₱57.8
$1.10 ₱69.2
-16.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 ₱127
$1.25 ₱78.7
61.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Baguio
Iloilo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.84
$0.22 ₱13.83
13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.90 ₱812
$4.68 ₱294
175.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.34
$0.78 ₱48.87
-1.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.44
$0.34 ₱21.29
-32.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.93 ₱121
$2.44 ₱153
-20.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ₱78.7
$1.21 ₱76.4
3.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K ₱1.4M
$21.6K ₱1.4M
-0.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$19.6K ₱1.2M
-3.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
Iloilo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 ₱8,682
$62.7 ₱3,947
119.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.71 ₱1,115
$9.43 ₱594
87.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.76 ₱1,496
$27.38 ₱1,724
-13.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
Iloilo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.05 ₱1,325
$9.34 ₱588
125.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.19 ₱327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.30 ₱334
$4.89 ₱308
8.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baguio
Iloilo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$135 ₱8,486
$32.47 ₱2,044
315.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₱673.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
Iloilo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.76 ₱1,811
$23.44 ₱1,476
22.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.76 ₱1,244
$17.15 ₱1,080
15.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.1 ₱4,479
$56.7 ₱3,570
25.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.4 ₱3,551
$23.75 ₱1,496
137.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baguio
Iloilo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$409 ₱25.8K
$306 ₱19.3K
33.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$200 ₱12.6K
$249 ₱15.7K
-19.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$836 ₱52.6K
$1,175 ₱74.0K
-28.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$466 ₱29.3K
$437 ₱27.5K
6.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,647 ₱166.7K
$3,747 ₱235.9K
-29.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$930 ₱58.6K
$1,026 ₱64.6K
-9.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baguio
Iloilo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$182 ₱11.4K
$201 ₱12.7K
-9.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
7.33
-7.91%

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

Last update for Baguio: October 12, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Baguio
$200
Iloilo
$249 24.8% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
$179
Iloilo
$100 44.5% $80
Groceries & Markets
Baguio
$176
Iloilo
$188 6.6% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
$79
Iloilo
$54 31.3% $25
Eating Out
Baguio
$75
Iloilo
$68 8.6% $6.4
Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
$32
Iloilo
$19 39.6% $13
Getting Around
Baguio
$16
Iloilo
$8 49.3% $7.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Baguio and $306 in Iloilo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iloilo 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 $19.00 in Iloilo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $188 per month, with Baguio cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Baguio
🇵🇭 Iloilo
🕒 Local time
01:55 1:55 AM
01:55 1:55 AM
Same time as Baguio
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
366,358
457,626
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Baguio Iloilo 670 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Baguio
  • Iloilo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Baguio or Iloilo?
Iloilo wins on cost – living expenses run 10% 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.
Are salaries higher in Baguio or in Iloilo?
On paper, salaries run 11% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baguio compared to Iloilo?
Rent for a central apartment: $409 in Baguio versus $306 in Iloilo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Baguio compared to Iloilo?
All in, you'll spend $757 per month in Baguio versus $686 in Iloilo – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Baguio compared to Iloilo?
A monthly transit pass in Iloilo runs roughly 176% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Baguio or in Iloilo?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Baguio or Iloilo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Iloilo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $686 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Iloilo hard to pass up.
How safe is Baguio compared to Iloilo?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Iloilo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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