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: $779 in Baguio versus $621 in Mambajao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $996 in Mambajao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,371 in Mambajao.

Living in Baguio is roughly 25% more expensive than Mambajao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Mambajao 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱220

$1.52 ₱93.2

136.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱826

$26.72 ₱1,635

-49.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱159

$4.36 ₱267

-40.37%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱143

$3.16 ₱194

-25.95%

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

$0.70 ₱42.94

$1.39 ₱85.0

-49.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.52

$0.77 ₱47.29

-48.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.2

$1.14 ₱69.7

28.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱122

$2.64 ₱161

-24.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.32 ₱80.9

43.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱76.6

$0.98 ₱60.2

27.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$0.82 ₱50.3

35.37%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱134

$1.35 ₱82.8

62.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱555

$8.10 ₱496

12.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱226

$4.25 ₱260

-12.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱515

$6.32 ₱386

33.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱161

$2.95 ₱181

-10.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱114

$1.31 ₱80.0

42.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱138

$2.73 ₱167

-17.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.0

$1.63 ₱99.5

-27.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.36 ₱144

-22.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱140

$2.63 ₱161

-12.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.31

$1.06 ₱64.9

-32.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.22

$0.72 ₱43.93

6.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱205

$2.92 ₱179

14.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱561

$4.13 ₱253

122.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱65.8

$1.09 ₱66.7

-0.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱138

$1.29 ₱78.8

75.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.77

$0.22 ₱13.46

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱646

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.82 ₱50.4

6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.43

$0.24 ₱14.69

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱150

$2.15 ₱132

13.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.8

$1.41 ₱86.3

-21.28%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

22.58%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.1K ₱1.2M

1.98%

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

$146 ₱8,914

$85.8 ₱5,251

69.73%

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

$34.10 ₱2,086

$32.42 ₱1,983

5.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,590

$22.22 ₱1,359

16.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,331

$33.68 ₱2,061

-35.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱254

$4.32 ₱264

-3.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱363

$6.02 ₱368

-1.50%

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

$153 ₱9,378

$152 ₱9,297

0.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱284.0K

$4,241 ₱259.5K

9.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,005

$45.26 ₱2,769

8.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,667

$27.00 ₱1,652

0.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,667

$75.1 ₱4,597

1.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,809

$53.8 ₱3,290

-14.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.2K

$135 ₱8,252

156.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,706

$84.7 ₱5,183

67.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.3K

$294 ₱18.0K

85.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.1K

$194 ₱11.9K

36.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱148.2K

$2,622 ₱160.4K

-7.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.4K

$157 ₱9,578

18.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $135 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: $13.00 in Baguio vs $27.00 in Mambajao. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $179, with Mambajao 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 Mambajao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mambajao wins on cost – living expenses run 25% 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.

Baguio pays 19% more on average, 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: $346 in Baguio versus $135 in Mambajao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% 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 $621 in Mambajao – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 25% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.