Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Island Garden City of Samal Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Island Garden City of Samal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $707 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in Baguio versus $1,099 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,491 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Living in Baguio is roughly 10% more expensive than in Island Garden City of Samal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Island Garden City of Samal 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱221

$1.36 ₱83.0

166.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱818

$12.36 ₱752

8.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱164

$4.57 ₱278

-41.14%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱144

$2.03 ₱124

16.26%

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

$0.66 ₱40.16

$0.86 ₱52.4

-23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱22.84

$0.52 ₱31.76

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱84.4

$1.38 ₱84.2

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱118

$1.80 ₱109

7.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.26 ₱76.7

44.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱73.4

$0.55 ₱33.64

120.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.4

$0.73 ₱44.62

46.58%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱139

$2.08 ₱127

9.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱556

$5.87 ₱357

55.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱236

$3.25 ₱198

19.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱515

$5.17 ₱315

63.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱167

$2.98 ₱181

-7.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$1.18 ₱72.1

55.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱144

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.5

$1.26 ₱76.9

-7.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.29 ₱140

-20.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱138

$1.63 ₱99.3

39.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.68

$0.91 ₱55.2

-25.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.14

$0.46 ₱27.89

56.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱205

$2.68 ₱163

25.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱559

$8.02 ₱488

14.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱65.7

$1.24 ₱75.7

-12.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱138

$1.21 ₱73.4

87.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.25

$0.28 ₱17.16

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱635

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.3

$0.68 ₱41.53

26.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.31

$0.09 ₱5.19

144.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱149

$2.14 ₱130

14.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.0

$1.10 ₱66.7

1.82%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$22.2K ₱1.4M

45.01%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

-2.73%

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

$149 ₱9,059

$99.0 ₱6,026

50.32%

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

$34.55 ₱2,103

$33.65 ₱2,049

2.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,604

$36.59 ₱2,228

-27.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,330

$33.85 ₱2,061

-35.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱248

$4.39 ₱267

-7.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱357

$4.46 ₱271

31.61%

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

$149 ₱9,059

$118 ₱7,178

26.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱285.1K

$4,260 ₱259.4K

9.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,914

$44.98 ₱2,738

6.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,652

$29.81 ₱1,815

-8.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,583

$77.4 ₱4,715

-2.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,807

$68.6 ₱4,176

-32.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.4K

$267 ₱16.2K

26.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,630

$180 ₱10.9K

-21.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱33.9K

$598 ₱36.4K

-7.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.0K

$388 ₱23.6K

-32.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱146.6K

$2,582 ₱157.2K

-6.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱55.9K

$857 ₱52.2K

7.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

9.56

-52.93%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 27, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $267 in Island Garden City of Samal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $12.00 in Island Garden City of Samal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $160 per month, with Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Island Garden City of Samal wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Island Garden City of Samal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,169 in Baguio and $1,060 in Island Garden City of Samal to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $336 in Baguio versus $267 in Island Garden City of Samal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $707 in Island Garden City of Samal – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal 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.