Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Imus Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Imus

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $748 in Baguio versus $667 in Imus.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,182 in Baguio versus $980 in Imus.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,616 in Baguio versus $1,293 in Imus.

Living in Baguio is roughly 12% more expensive than in Imus, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 46% lower, Imus 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱252

$3.92 ₱245

2.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.79 ₱1,051

$16.69 ₱1,045

0.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.79 ₱174

-0.72%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₱112

$1.94 ₱121

-7.73%

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

$0.55 ₱34.73

$0.60 ₱37.70

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱21.60

$0.32 ₱20.01

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$0.98 ₱61.1

4.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱103

$1.72 ₱107

-4.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₱101

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$1.15 ₱72.1

-2.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$1.02 ₱64.1

-3.92%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱132

$2.01 ₱126

4.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.00 ₱313

$5.08 ₱318

-1.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 ₱210

$3.39 ₱212

-0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 ₱508

$7.97 ₱499

1.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₱143

$2.23 ₱139

2.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₱102

$1.56 ₱97.5

3.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱146

$2.35 ₱147

-0.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.4

$1.79 ₱112

-39.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 ₱105

$1.69 ₱106

-0.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 ₱107

$1.80 ₱112

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱39.04

$0.62 ₱38.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.62

$0.53 ₱33.44

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱187

$3.16 ₱198

-5.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 ₱562

$8.91 ₱558

0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₱59.7

$1.09 ₱68.4

-12.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$2.07 ₱130

1.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.65

$0.27 ₱16.75

-7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱793

$10.65 ₱667

18.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.88

$0.81 ₱51.0

-6.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.73

$0.21 ₱13.09

19.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱122

$1.89 ₱118

3.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.16 ₱72.7

3.45%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-2.01%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

1.52%

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

$144 ₱8,984

$123 ₱7,691

16.82%

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

$17.30 ₱1,083

$15.08 ₱944

14.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.28 ₱1,457

$23.43 ₱1,467

-0.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.30 ₱1,333

$27.93 ₱1,749

-23.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.36 ₱336

$4.12 ₱258

30.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 ₱325

$5.20 ₱325

-0.19%

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

$131 ₱8,200

$133 ₱8,344

-1.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱664.2K

$9,099 ₱569.6K

16.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.51 ₱1,847

$29.17 ₱1,826

1.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 ₱1,207

$19.35 ₱1,211

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ₱4,572

$72.6 ₱4,542

0.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 ₱3,469

$56.0 ₱3,506

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.7K

$121 ₱7,586

239.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.4K

$101 ₱6,298

96.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 ₱53.3K

$201 ₱12.6K

324.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₱29.1K

$171 ₱10.7K

172.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,650 ₱165.9K

$2,782 ₱174.1K

-4.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱57.5K

$956 ₱59.8K

-3.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 ₱11.2K

$173 ₱10.8K

3.80%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Imus: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $121 in Imus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Imus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 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 Imus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Imus wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Imus the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Baguio, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Baguio versus $121 in Imus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $748 per month in Baguio versus $667 in Imus – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Imus runs roughly 19% 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 Imus 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 Imus 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 Imus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.