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: $766 in Baguio versus $716 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,102 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,488 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Living in Baguio is roughly 7% more expensive than in Island Garden City of Samal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Island Garden City of Samal 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$1.22 ₱77.0

230.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,039

$17.00 ₱1,068

-2.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$3.93 ₱247

-29.52%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.14 ₱134

-14.02%

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

$0.60 ₱37.82

$1.04 ₱65.6

-42.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.87

$0.67 ₱42.37

-50.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.4

$1.12 ₱70.1

-8.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.5

$1.91 ₱120

-17.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱105

$2.00 ₱126

-17.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.3

$1.09 ₱68.6

5.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.4

$0.85 ₱53.2

18.82%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.88 ₱118

7.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$6.61 ₱415

-24.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$4.19 ₱263

-17.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱490

$8.39 ₱527

-7.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.67 ₱168

-13.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱96.0

$1.11 ₱69.8

37.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.17 ₱137

5.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.3

$1.16 ₱72.6

-10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$2.08 ₱131

-20.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$3.56 ₱224

-50.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.82

$1.23 ₱77.1

-45.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.95

$0.70 ₱44.27

-25.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.53 ₱159

17.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱534

$7.87 ₱495

7.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.3

$1.24 ₱78.1

-22.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.57 ₱98.9

29.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.29 ₱18.53

-20.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱805

$10.34 ₱649

23.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.0

$0.78 ₱48.84

3.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.23 ₱14.35

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.96 ₱123

-4.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.2

$1.17 ₱73.6

2.56%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

0.27%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

-0.51%

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

$138 ₱8,673

$101 ₱6,347

36.65%

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

$17.68 ₱1,111

$19.15 ₱1,203

-7.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,473

$31.83 ₱2,000

-26.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,359

$32.81 ₱2,061

-34.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

$4.23 ₱266

24.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$4.70 ₱295

9.15%

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

$131 ₱8,244

$109 ₱6,846

20.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱675.8K

$7,658 ₱481.1K

40.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,845

$31.98 ₱2,009

-8.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,200

$19.21 ₱1,207

-0.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,577

$72.0 ₱4,524

1.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,516

$61.1 ₱3,840

-8.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.1K

$252 ₱15.8K

58.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.6K

$155 ₱9,707

29.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.6K

$565 ₱35.5K

50.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.1K

$300 ₱18.8K

54.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.5K

$2,863 ₱179.9K

-9.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.3K

$1,092 ₱68.6K

-15.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

8.31

-18.77%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $252 in Island Garden City of Samal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Island Garden City of Samal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $194 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 Island Garden City of Samal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Island Garden City of Samal wins on cost – living expenses run 7% 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 $1,149 in Baguio and $1,074 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: $399 in Baguio versus $252 in Island Garden City of Samal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $716 in Island Garden City of Samal – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Island Garden City of Samal runs roughly 24% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 7% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.