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: $788 in Baguio versus $682 in Iloilo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,034 in Iloilo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,386 in Iloilo.

Living in Baguio is roughly 16% more expensive than Iloilo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Iloilo 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$2.59 ₱160

37.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$21.53 ₱1,328

-37.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.60 ₱222

-26.67%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$1.96 ₱121

20.41%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.57 ₱35.19

14.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.30 ₱18.37

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$0.95 ₱58.7

46.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.79 ₱110

5.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.81 ₱112

3.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.26 ₱77.6

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.93 ₱57.3

20.43%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.27 ₱140

-2.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$5.81 ₱358

58.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.35 ₱268

-14.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.12 ₱439

16.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$3.70 ₱228

-25.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.14 ₱70.2

57.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$3.26 ₱201

-26.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.56 ₱96.4

-23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.59 ₱160

-30.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$3.04 ₱187

-24.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.68 ₱104

-56.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.90 ₱55.6

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$3.11 ₱192

4.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$5.51 ₱340

64.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.28 ₱78.9

-17.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.44 ₱88.5

60.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.25 ₱15.50

4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$5.27 ₱325

105.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.68 ₱41.68

35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.31 ₱19.39

-22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.70 ₱167

-11.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.10 ₱67.6

1.82%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$24.0K ₱1.5M

32.20%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

4.39%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$66.0 ₱4,070

123.29%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$31.13 ₱1,919

13.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$30.21 ₱1,863

-12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$27.72 ₱1,709

-19.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$5.45 ₱336

2.75%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$35.18 ₱2,169

337.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,364 ₱269.1K

7.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$44.89 ₱2,768

6.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$22.74 ₱1,402

19.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$61.3 ₱3,777

24.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$26.86 ₱1,656

70.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$237 ₱14.6K

45.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$179 ₱11.0K

-18.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$357 ₱22.0K

53.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$285 ₱17.6K

-8.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$3,776 ₱232.9K

-35.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$1,049 ₱64.7K

-11.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$222 ₱13.7K

-18.10%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $237 in Iloilo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iloilo pays 22% 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 $22.00 in Iloilo. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $202, 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 16% 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, Iloilo earns 22% less. 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: $345 in Baguio versus $237 in Iloilo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $682 in Iloilo – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Iloilo runs roughly 106% 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 $682 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 16% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.