Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $959 in Manila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,528 in Manila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $2,097 in Manila.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 18% less than in Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱221

$5.38 ₱332

-33.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$26.83 ₱1,656

-50.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱163

$4.34 ₱268

-39.17%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.75 ₱169

-14.18%

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

$0.65 ₱40.16

$0.96 ₱59.0

-32.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.19

$0.50 ₱30.58

-24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.49 ₱92.1

-6.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.61 ₱161

-27.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.89 ₱117

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.38 ₱85.4

-13.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$1.05 ₱64.7

6.67%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.18 ₱135

1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$9.61 ₱593

-4.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$5.19 ₱320

-27.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$8.32 ₱513

0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$3.50 ₱216

-21.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$3.58 ₱221

-33.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$2.49 ₱154

-51.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.76 ₱170

-34.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱142

$3.03 ₱187

-24.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.15

$2.01 ₱124

-63.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.28

$0.64 ₱39.60

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$3.32 ₱205

-1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱561

$9.74 ₱601

-6.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.49 ₱92.1

-28.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$2.15 ₱133

7.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.92

$0.52 ₱31.93

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$12.00 ₱741

-9.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.86 ₱53.2

6.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.89

$0.25 ₱15.38

-4.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.16 ₱133

11.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.16 ₱71.9

-3.45%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

21.32%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

-10.49%

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

$147 ₱9,093

$138 ₱8,535

6.54%

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

$35.37 ₱2,183

$22.24 ₱1,372

59.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,631

$27.71 ₱1,710

-4.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,381

$41.41 ₱2,555

-45.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱258

$6.89 ₱425

-39.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.58 ₱406

-14.89%

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

$154 ₱9,502

$357 ₱22.0K

-56.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.4K

$11.5K ₱707.8K

-58.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,949

$46.42 ₱2,864

2.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,672

$35.12 ₱2,167

-22.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,693

$82.4 ₱5,084

-7.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,826

$45.78 ₱2,825

0.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$500 ₱30.8K

-30.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,965

$265 ₱16.3K

-45.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.9K

$1,684 ₱103.9K

-67.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$636 ₱39.2K

-58.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.2K

$4,370 ₱269.6K

-44.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.6K

$2,544 ₱157.0K

-63.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$481 ₱29.7K

-62.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

7.52

-40.16%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $500 in Manila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 165% 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 Manila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $242 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 Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Manila. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Manila earns 165% less. 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: $345 in Baguio versus $500 in Manila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $959 in Manila – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 11% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $788 in Baguio versus $959 in Manila, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Baguio but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Baguio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $788 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Baguio and Manila 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 22% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.