Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Mambajao Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Mambajao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $505 in Mambajao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $801 in Mambajao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,097 in Mambajao.

Living in Baguio is roughly 52% more expensive than in Mambajao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Mambajao 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$1.33 ₱83.3

203.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,039

$16.14 ₱1,014

2.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$3.27 ₱205

-15.29%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.26 ₱142

-18.58%

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

$0.60 ₱37.82

$0.42 ₱26.34

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.87

$0.27 ₱16.82

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.4

$1.01 ₱63.4

1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.5

$1.12 ₱70.5

40.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱105

$0.84 ₱52.6

97.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.3

$0.58 ₱36.75

98.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.4

$0.71 ₱44.69

42.25%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.25 ₱78.8

61.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$5.66 ₱356

-11.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$4.19 ₱263

-17.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱490

$5.54 ₱348

40.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.34 ₱147

-1.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱96.0

$1.64 ₱103

-6.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.39 ₱150

-3.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.3

$1.03 ₱64.5

0.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$1.24 ₱77.8

33.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.94 ₱122

-8.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.82

$0.75 ₱46.96

-10.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.95

$0.56 ₱35.36

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.66 ₱167

12.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱534

$8.11 ₱510

4.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.3

$0.99 ₱62.1

-3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.18 ₱74.3

72.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.21 ₱13.08

9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱805

$10.85 ₱682

18.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.0

$0.71 ₱44.74

14.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.25 ₱15.91

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.74 ₱109

8.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.2

$1.21 ₱76.2

-0.83%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$24.1K ₱1.5M

-10.97%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$20.0K ₱1.3M

-4.92%

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

$138 ₱8,673

$63.2 ₱3,972

118.38%

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

$17.68 ₱1,111

$15.57 ₱979

13.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,473

$20.17 ₱1,267

16.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,359

$27.25 ₱1,712

-20.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

$4.54 ₱285

16.08%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$4.57 ₱287

12.25%

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

$131 ₱8,244

$144 ₱9,078

-9.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱675.8K

$7,573 ₱475.8K

42.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,845

$32.35 ₱2,033

-9.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,200

$21.79 ₱1,369

-12.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,577

$67.3 ₱4,225

8.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,516

$49.23 ₱3,093

13.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.1K

$99.1 ₱6,228

302.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.6K

$56.0 ₱3,520

256.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.6K

$238 ₱14.9K

259.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.1K

$156 ₱9,806

196.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.5K

$2,958 ₱185.8K

-12.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.3K

$927 ₱58.2K

0.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$151 ₱9,461

19.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $99.1 in Mambajao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $16.00 in Mambajao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $154 per month, with Mambajao 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 Mambajao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mambajao wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mambajao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Baguio, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $399 in Baguio versus $99.1 in Mambajao. 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 $505 in Mambajao – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mambajao runs roughly 18% 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 Mambajao 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 Mambajao 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 Mambajao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.