Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Malaybalay

For one person, living costs are similar in Baguio and in Malaybalay: $734 and $739 a month, rent and utilities included.

Baguio, Philippines
Malaybalay, Philippines
Baguio
🇵🇭 Philippines
$734
/mo nomad
Malaybalay
🇵🇭 Philippines
$739
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baguio and in Malaybalay

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baguio and in Malaybalay actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Baguio versus $739 in Malaybalay.

  • Baguio $734
  • Malaybalay $739

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,206 in Baguio versus $1,140 in Malaybalay.

  • Baguio $1,206
  • Malaybalay $1,140

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Baguio versus $1,542 in Malaybalay.

  • Baguio $1,677
  • Malaybalay $1,542

Monthly costs are close between Baguio and Malaybalay; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 46% lower, Malaybalay 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baguio
Malaybalay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.10 ₱197
$4.55 ₱289
-31.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.95 ₱1,523
$16.36 ₱1,040
46.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.71 ₱173
$3.49 ₱222
-22.35%
Cappuccino
$1.69 ₱108
$2.14 ₱136
-21.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.70
$0.45 ₱28.56
48.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₱24.55
$0.32 ₱20.47
21.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ₱72.4
$1.18 ₱75.3
-3.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₱122
$2.06 ₱131
-7.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baguio
Malaybalay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 ₱113
$1.97 ₱125
-9.64%
White Bread (500g)
$0.88 ₱55.8
$1.10 ₱70.1
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 ₱61.4
$0.84 ₱53.5
15.48%
Eggs
$1.83 ₱117
$1.90 ₱121
-3.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.75 ₱302
$6.31 ₱401
-24.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 ₱205
$4.55 ₱289
-29.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.01 ₱446
$9.02 ₱573
-22.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.58 ₱164
$2.70 ₱171
-4.44%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 ₱135
$1.11 ₱70.6
91.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 ₱177
$2.39 ₱152
16.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 ₱58.2
$1.14 ₱72.3
-19.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ₱88.4
$1.90 ₱121
-26.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ₱87.0
$3.29 ₱209
-58.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ₱41.46
$1.24 ₱78.8
-47.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₱22.27
$0.67 ₱42.60
-47.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 ₱179
$2.41 ₱153
16.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.99 ₱444
$7.89 ₱501
-11.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₱48.92
$1.22 ₱77.5
-36.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 ₱190
$1.66 ₱106
79.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Baguio
Malaybalay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱16.00
$0.24 ₱15.27
4.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.49 ₱921
$12.31 ₱783
17.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 ₱63.8
$0.79 ₱50.4
26.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱14.00
$0.24 ₱15.32
-8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.86 ₱118
$1.91 ₱121
-2.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ₱82.8
$1.26 ₱80.3
3.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$21.2K ₱1.4M
-1.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$18.7K ₱1.2M
1.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
Malaybalay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.4 ₱6,003
$104 ₱6,590
-8.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.64 ₱1,058
$19.05 ₱1,211
-12.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.88 ₱1,963
$30.84 ₱1,961
0.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
Malaybalay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.58 ₱1,754
$31.24 ₱1,987
-11.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.74 ₱492
$5.12 ₱325
51.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.72 ₱300
$4.80 ₱305
-1.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baguio
Malaybalay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,019 ₱64.8K
$105 ₱6,703
866.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,258 ₱334.3K
$7,393 ₱470.1K
-28.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
Malaybalay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.98 ₱3,178
$32.03 ₱2,036
56.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.84 ₱2,406
$19.04 ₱1,211
98.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ₱4,567
$71.0 ₱4,513
1.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8 ₱5,072
$59.6 ₱3,792
33.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baguio
Malaybalay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 ₱24.6K
$250 ₱15.9K
54.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 ₱12.4K
$166 ₱10.5K
17.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,031 ₱65.6K
$485 ₱30.8K
112.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$513 ₱32.6K
$354 ₱22.5K
44.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,025 ₱255.9K
$2,659 ₱169.1K
51.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,526 ₱97.0K
$1,116 ₱71.0K
36.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baguio
Malaybalay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$180 ₱11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
8.31
-15.76%

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

Last update for Baguio: November 2, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Baguio
$195
Malaybalay
$166 14.9% $29
Groceries & Markets
Baguio
$168
Malaybalay
$196 16.8% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
$142
Malaybalay
$154 8.2% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
$108
Malaybalay
$82 24.1% $26
Eating Out
Baguio
$67
Malaybalay
$86 27.9% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
$37
Malaybalay
$41 10.4% $3.8
Getting Around
Baguio
$18
Malaybalay
$15 13.2% $2.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Baguio and $250 in Malaybalay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24 in Baguio vs $16 in Malaybalay. Groceries flip the comparison at $168 vs $196, with Baguio cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Baguio
🇵🇭 Malaybalay
🕒 Local time
08:09 8:09 AM
08:09 8:09 AM
Same time as Baguio
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
366,358
190,712
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 63.58 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.57 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Baguio Malaybalay 1,040 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Baguio
  • Malaybalay

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Malaybalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Baguio and in Malaybalay?
You’d need roughly $1,102 in Baguio and $1,109 in Malaybalay 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baguio compared to Malaybalay?
Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Baguio versus $250 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Baguio compared to Malaybalay?
A monthly transit pass in Malaybalay runs roughly 15% less than in Baguio. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Are groceries more expensive in Baguio or in Malaybalay?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Malaybalay. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Baguio or Malaybalay?
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.

Baguio vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?