Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Malaybalay Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Malaybalay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Baguio versus $784 in Malaybalay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,216 in Malaybalay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,649 in Malaybalay.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 3% less than in Malaybalay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Malaybalay 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$4.37 ₱269

-19.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$15.75 ₱970

-15.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$3.95 ₱243

-32.41%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.14 ₱132

9.81%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$0.50 ₱31.04

38.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$0.37 ₱22.57

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$1.09 ₱66.9

32.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.76 ₱108

9.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.70 ₱104

12.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.22 ₱75.1

-2.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$0.93 ₱57.6

13.98%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$2.00 ₱123

8.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$6.05 ₱372

55.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$4.56 ₱281

-18.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$7.47 ₱460

15.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.83 ₱174

-3.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.19 ₱73.4

50.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.28 ₱140

3.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$1.42 ₱87.5

-17.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.18 ₱134

-16.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$3.17 ₱195

-30.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$1.38 ₱84.8

-50.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$0.60 ₱36.82

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.67 ₱164

24.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

$8.14 ₱501

7.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.36 ₱83.9

-22.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.55 ₱95.4

50.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.26

$0.28 ₱17.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.85 ₱52.6

8.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.23 ₱14.10

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.18 ₱134

7.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$1.09 ₱67.2

1.83%

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

$31.7K ₱1.9M

$21.9K ₱1.3M

44.54%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

-1.74%

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

$144 ₱8,877

$105 ₱6,459

37.44%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$33.33 ₱2,052

2.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$35.84 ₱2,207

-27.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$34.25 ₱2,109

-34.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.36 ₱269

-2.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$4.52 ₱278

28.10%

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

$151 ₱9,286

$118 ₱7,251

28.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$4,376 ₱269.4K

6.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,010

$45.25 ₱2,786

8.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$30.63 ₱1,886

-10.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$76.2 ₱4,691

-2.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$68.0 ₱4,185

-32.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$271 ₱16.7K

29.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,936

$180 ₱11.1K

-19.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$587 ₱36.1K

-7.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$389 ₱23.9K

-31.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

$2,377 ₱146.3K

0.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

$1,109 ₱68.3K

-16.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

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 14, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $271 in Malaybalay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $16.00 in Malaybalay. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $194, with Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Malaybalay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,146 in Baguio and $1,176 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Baguio versus $271 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Malaybalay pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $784 in Malaybalay – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio 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 Malaybalay 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Malaybalay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.