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: $788 in Baguio versus $778 in Malaybalay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,211 in Malaybalay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,644 in Malaybalay.

Living in Baguio is roughly 1% more expensive than Malaybalay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Malaybalay 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$4.37 ₱269

-18.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$16.17 ₱997

-17.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.91 ₱241

-32.48%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.07 ₱128

14.01%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.51 ₱31.67

27.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.36 ₱22.49

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.08 ₱66.7

28.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.75 ₱108

8.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.74 ₱107

8.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.28 ₱78.7

-7.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.99 ₱60.9

13.13%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.09 ₱129

6.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$5.98 ₱369

54.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.49 ₱277

-16.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.21 ₱444

15.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.90 ₱179

-5.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.19 ₱73.5

51.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.38 ₱147

0.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.35 ₱83.4

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.30 ₱142

-21.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$3.31 ₱204

-30.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.32 ₱81.4

-44.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.60 ₱37.29

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.69 ₱166

21.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.91 ₱488

14.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.40 ₱86.1

-24.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.50 ₱92.2

54.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.28 ₱17.37

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.91 ₱56.2

1.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.25 ₱15.47

-4.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.18 ₱134

10.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.14 ₱70.5

-1.75%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$22.6K ₱1.4M

40.92%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

-2.87%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$103 ₱6,357

42.94%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$33.29 ₱2,053

6.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$36.73 ₱2,265

-28.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$34.32 ₱2,116

-34.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.46 ₱275

-6.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$4.53 ₱279

23.62%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$119 ₱7,334

29.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,392 ₱270.8K

7.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$45.45 ₱2,803

5.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$30.66 ₱1,890

-11.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$77.1 ₱4,756

-1.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$70.1 ₱4,320

-34.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$271 ₱16.7K

27.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$178 ₱11.0K

-18.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$576 ₱35.5K

-4.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$393 ₱24.2K

-33.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$2,167 ₱133.6K

11.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$905 ₱55.8K

3.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 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 $205 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

Malaybalay wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Malaybalay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,182 in Baguio and $1,166 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: $345 in Baguio versus $271 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $778 in Malaybalay – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.