Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Mandaue Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Mandaue

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $748 in Baguio versus $842 in Mandaue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,182 in Baguio versus $1,202 in Mandaue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,616 in Baguio versus $1,562 in Mandaue.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 11% less than in Mandaue, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 46% lower, Mandaue 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱252

$3.12 ₱195

29.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.79 ₱1,050

$23.01 ₱1,439

-27.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱173

$3.90 ₱244

-28.97%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₱112

$2.51 ₱157

-28.69%

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

$0.55 ₱34.69

$0.59 ₱36.76

-6.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱21.58

$0.50 ₱31.03

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$1.78 ₱111

-42.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱103

$2.20 ₱138

-25.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₱101

$1.94 ₱122

-16.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$1.19 ₱74.4

-5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.92 ₱57.7

6.52%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱132

$2.06 ₱129

2.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.00 ₱313

$9.95 ₱622

-49.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 ₱210

$4.46 ₱279

-24.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 ₱508

$7.39 ₱462

9.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₱143

$3.31 ₱207

-30.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₱101

$1.47 ₱91.9

10.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱146

$2.42 ₱151

-3.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.3

$1.55 ₱97.0

-30.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 ₱105

$2.36 ₱147

-28.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 ₱107

$1.89 ₱118

-9.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱39.00

$1.20 ₱74.9

-48.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.59

$0.63 ₱39.13

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱187

$2.47 ₱154

21.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 ₱561

$6.37 ₱399

40.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₱59.6

$1.24 ₱77.3

-23.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$1.69 ₱105

24.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.64

$0.24 ₱14.86

4.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱793

$10.58 ₱661

19.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.83

$0.78 ₱49.01

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.71

$0.21 ₱13.09

19.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱122

$1.94 ₱121

1.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.27 ₱79.2

-5.51%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

0.70%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-0.75%

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

$144 ₱8,975

$99.6 ₱6,229

44.08%

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

$17.30 ₱1,082

$14.83 ₱927

16.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.28 ₱1,456

$28.47 ₱1,781

-18.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.30 ₱1,332

$31.87 ₱1,993

-33.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.36 ₱335

$5.02 ₱314

6.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 ₱325

$5.69 ₱356

-8.79%

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

$131 ₱8,192

$136 ₱8,512

-3.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱663.5K

$8,067 ₱504.5K

31.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.51 ₱1,845

$32.04 ₱2,004

-7.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 ₱1,206

$19.34 ₱1,210

-0.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ₱4,568

$78.5 ₱4,911

-6.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 ₱3,466

$58.8 ₱3,674

-5.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.7K

$440 ₱27.5K

-6.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.4K

$252 ₱15.8K

-21.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 ₱53.2K

$754 ₱47.1K

12.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₱29.1K

$356 ₱22.2K

30.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,650 ₱165.7K

$2,943 ₱184.0K

-9.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱57.5K

$1,157 ₱72.4K

-20.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 ₱11.2K

$244 ₱15.3K

-26.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.2

-6.25%

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

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mandaue: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $440 in Mandaue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandaue pays 36% 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 $23.00 in Mandaue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $206 per month, with Baguio 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 Mandaue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Mandaue. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Mandaue. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Baguio versus $440 in Mandaue. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $748 per month in Baguio versus $842 in Mandaue – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 20% less than in Mandaue. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 Mandaue 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 13% less than in Mandaue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.