Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Marawi Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Marawi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $782 in Marawi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,212 in Marawi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,643 in Marawi.

Monthly costs are close between Baguio and Marawi; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱220

$3.58 ₱219

0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱826

$18.02 ₱1,103

-25.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱159

$3.27 ₱200

-20.49%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱143

$2.44 ₱149

-4.10%

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

$0.70 ₱42.94

$0.81 ₱49.80

-13.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.52

$0.39 ₱23.94

2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.2

$1.35 ₱82.4

8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱122

$2.10 ₱128

-4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.92 ₱118

-1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱76.6

$1.22 ₱74.9

2.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$0.93 ₱57.1

19.35%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱134

$2.06 ₱126

6.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱555

$8.22 ₱503

10.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱226

$4.30 ₱263

-13.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱515

$7.79 ₱477

8.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱161

$2.89 ₱177

-9.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱114

$1.59 ₱97.2

17.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱138

$2.58 ₱158

-12.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.0

$1.55 ₱94.7

-23.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.25 ₱138

-19.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱140

$2.53 ₱155

-9.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.31

$1.11 ₱68.2

-35.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.22

$0.76 ₱46.55

1.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱205

$2.80 ₱171

19.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱561

$7.28 ₱445

25.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱65.8

$1.19 ₱72.8

-9.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱138

$2.00 ₱122

13.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.77

$0.28 ₱17.18

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱646

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.78 ₱47.67

11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.43

$0.24 ₱14.73

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱150

$2.11 ₱129

16.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.8

$1.10 ₱67.6

0.91%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$26.9K ₱1.6M

19.86%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-0.43%

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

$146 ₱8,914

$113 ₱6,891

29.35%

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

$34.10 ₱2,086

$32.89 ₱2,012

3.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,590

$27.09 ₱1,657

-4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,331

$34.55 ₱2,114

-37.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱254

$4.46 ₱273

-6.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱363

$5.96 ₱365

-0.50%

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

$153 ₱9,378

$154 ₱9,398

-0.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱284.0K

$4,228 ₱258.7K

9.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,005

$44.90 ₱2,747

9.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,667

$26.81 ₱1,640

1.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,667

$75.6 ₱4,627

0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,809

$53.0 ₱3,240

-13.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.2K

$261 ₱15.9K

32.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,706

$177 ₱10.8K

-19.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.3K

$585 ₱35.8K

-7.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.1K

$393 ₱24.1K

-32.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱148.2K

$2,531 ₱154.9K

-4.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.0K

$246 ₱15.1K

285.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.4K

$296 ₱18.1K

-37.19%

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 Marawi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $261 in Marawi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Marawi pays 59% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $18.00 in Marawi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $205 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 Marawi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, Marawi earns 59% 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: $346 in Baguio versus $261 in Marawi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Marawi pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Baguio – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $18.00 in Marawi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 Marawi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Baguio wins on affordability, Marawi on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.