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: $764 in Baguio versus $905 in Mandaue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,369 in Mandaue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,833 in Mandaue.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 16% less than in Mandaue, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Mandaue 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$4.40 ₱271

-20.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$23.85 ₱1,468

-44.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$4.37 ₱269

-38.90%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.55 ₱157

-7.84%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$0.78 ₱48.26

-11.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$0.43 ₱26.31

-13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$1.52 ₱93.8

-5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$2.15 ₱132

-10.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$2.12 ₱130

-9.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$0.80 ₱49.37

48.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$0.98 ₱60.5

8.16%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$2.26 ₱139

-3.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$12.94 ₱797

-27.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$5.18 ₱319

-28.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$7.77 ₱478

10.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$3.57 ₱220

-23.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.53 ₱94.3

16.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$3.39 ₱209

-30.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$2.26 ₱139

-48.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.55 ₱157

-29.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$2.47 ₱152

-10.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$0.94 ₱57.7

-27.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$0.79 ₱48.55

-1.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.62 ₱161

27.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

$6.24 ₱384

39.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.17 ₱71.8

-9.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.36 ₱145

-0.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.26

$0.26 ₱15.98

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.87 ₱53.4

5.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.25 ₱15.48

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.63 ₱162

-10.65%

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

$30.1K ₱1.9M

5.25%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$27.4K ₱1.7M

-25.09%

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

$144 ₱8,877

$96.6 ₱5,944

49.34%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$26.07 ₱1,605

30.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$30.13 ₱1,855

-14.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$48.75 ₱3,001

-54.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.36 ₱268

-2.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$6.11 ₱376

-5.24%

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

$151 ₱9,286

$228 ₱14.1K

-33.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$3,860 ₱237.6K

20.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,010

$44.98 ₱2,769

8.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$23.33 ₱1,437

18.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$75.8 ₱4,667

-2.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$55.5 ₱3,416

-17.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$263 ₱16.2K

32.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,936

$287 ₱17.7K

-49.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$837 ₱51.6K

-35.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$442 ₱27.2K

-40.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

$2,718 ₱167.3K

-12.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

$837 ₱51.5K

10.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

$246 ₱15.1K

-25.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-43.75%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mandaue: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $263 in Mandaue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandaue pays 34% 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 $24.00 in Mandaue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $231 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 18% 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 34% 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: $349 in Baguio versus $263 in Mandaue. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Mandaue. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $905 in Mandaue – a 18% 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 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 18% less than in Mandaue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.