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 $719 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,097 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,476 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Living in Baguio is roughly 8% more expensive than Island Garden City of Samal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Island Garden City of Samal 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱220

$1.31 ₱80.2

174.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱826

$12.51 ₱765

7.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱159

$4.47 ₱274

-41.83%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱143

$2.13 ₱131

9.86%

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

$0.70 ₱42.94

$0.81 ₱49.69

-13.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.52

$0.53 ₱32.45

-24.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.2

$1.45 ₱88.8

0.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱122

$1.82 ₱111

9.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.21 ₱74.3

56.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱76.6

$0.60 ₱36.60

108.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$0.69 ₱42.18

60.87%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱134

$2.05 ₱126

7.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱555

$5.88 ₱360

54.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱226

$3.25 ₱199

13.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱515

$5.27 ₱323

59.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱161

$2.89 ₱177

-9.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱114

$1.13 ₱69.4

65.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱138

$2.29 ₱140

-1.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.0

$1.27 ₱77.6

-7.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.30 ₱141

-20.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱140

$1.58 ₱96.4

44.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.31

$0.90 ₱55.3

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.22

$0.50 ₱30.46

54.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱205

$2.63 ₱161

27.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱561

$8.18 ₱500

12.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱65.8

$1.24 ₱76.0

-12.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱138

$1.22 ₱74.5

85.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.77

$0.28 ₱17.21

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱646

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.69 ₱42.16

26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.43

$0.09 ₱5.78

144.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱150

$2.17 ₱132

12.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.8

$1.15 ₱70.1

-3.48%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$21.9K ₱1.3M

46.95%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

-1.29%

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

$146 ₱8,914

$100 ₱6,125

45.53%

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

$34.10 ₱2,086

$34.22 ₱2,094

-0.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,590

$36.41 ₱2,227

-28.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,331

$34.49 ₱2,110

-36.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱254

$4.36 ₱267

-4.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱363

$4.39 ₱268

35.08%

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

$153 ₱9,378

$120 ₱7,321

28.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱284.0K

$4,354 ₱266.4K

6.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,005

$46.40 ₱2,839

5.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,667

$29.67 ₱1,815

-8.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,667

$76.4 ₱4,672

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,809

$69.2 ₱4,235

-33.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.2K

$262 ₱16.0K

32.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,706

$176 ₱10.8K

-19.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.3K

$595 ₱36.4K

-8.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.1K

$402 ₱24.6K

-34.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱148.2K

$2,083 ₱127.5K

16.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $262 in Island Garden City of Samal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $13.00 in Island Garden City of Samal. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $160, with Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Island Garden City of Samal wins on cost – living expenses run 8% 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 $1,168 in Baguio and $1,078 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: $346 in Baguio versus $262 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 $719 in Island Garden City of Samal – a 8% 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 8% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.