Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Marikina Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Marikina

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $684 in Marikina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,072 in Marikina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,459 in Marikina.

Living in Baguio is roughly 15% more expensive than Marikina, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Marikina 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$3.47 ₱214

2.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$28.45 ₱1,754

-52.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.46 ₱214

-23.70%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.69 ₱166

-12.27%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.72 ₱44.50

-9.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.40 ₱24.94

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.08 ₱66.9

28.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.63 ₱162

-28.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$2.05 ₱127

-8.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.45 ₱89.7

-17.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.10 ₱68.0

1.82%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.26 ₱139

-1.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$7.94 ₱490

15.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.61 ₱284

-18.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.93 ₱489

5.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.72 ₱167

0.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.92 ₱118

-6.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.71 ₱167

-11.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$2.16 ₱133

-44.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$3.32 ₱205

-45.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.91 ₱179

-21.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.14 ₱70.0

-35.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.69 ₱42.57

4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.85 ₱176

14.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$8.76 ₱540

3.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.24 ₱76.6

-14.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$2.08 ₱128

11.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.46 ₱28.46

-43.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.76 ₱47.15

21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.12 ₱7.64

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$3.61 ₱223

-33.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.10 ₱67.9

1.82%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$34.0K ₱2.1M

-6.62%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

16.73%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$110 ₱6,765

34.31%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$13.62 ₱840

159.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$26.05 ₱1,606

1.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$41.93 ₱2,585

-46.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.38 ₱393

-12.23%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$321 ₱19.8K

-52.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$1,131 ₱69.8K

316.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$46.42 ₱2,862

2.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$26.04 ₱1,606

4.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$56.5 ₱3,482

34.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$26.95 ₱1,662

69.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$178 ₱11.0K

94.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$88.2 ₱5,435

64.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$297 ₱18.3K

84.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$168 ₱10.4K

55.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$1,140 ₱70.3K

112.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$478 ₱29.5K

95.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$398 ₱24.5K

-54.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.25

-28.00%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Marikina: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $178 in Marikina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Marikina pays 119% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $28.00 in Marikina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $222 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 Marikina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marikina wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Marikina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Marikina earns 119% 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 $178 in Marikina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $684 in Marikina – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Marikina 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 Marikina 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 Marikina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.