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: $766 in Baguio versus $717 in Marikina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,122 in Marikina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,527 in Marikina.

Living in Baguio is roughly 7% more expensive than in Marikina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Marikina 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$3.93 ₱246

2.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,037

$31.72 ₱1,989

-47.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$3.14 ₱197

-11.78%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.19 ₱137

-15.98%

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

$0.60 ₱37.76

$0.60 ₱37.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$0.94 ₱59.0

9.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$2.43 ₱153

-35.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.90 ₱119

-12.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.29 ₱81.1

-10.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$1.05 ₱65.9

-3.81%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$2.09 ₱131

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$7.15 ₱448

-30.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$4.34 ₱272

-20.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$7.49 ₱470

4.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.35 ₱148

-1.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.8

$1.99 ₱125

-23.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.32 ₱146

-0.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$2.19 ₱138

-52.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$3.19 ₱200

-48.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$3.43 ₱215

-48.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.75

$1.10 ₱69.1

-39.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.90

$0.71 ₱44.60

-26.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.96 ₱185

0.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱533

$8.92 ₱560

-4.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.2

$0.96 ₱60.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.50 ₱31.09

-54.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.71 ₱44.29

14.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.23 ₱14.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.95 ₱122

-3.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.19 ₱74.7

0.84%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

2.28%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

-2.14%

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

$138 ₱8,659

$139 ₱8,706

-0.54%

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

$17.68 ₱1,109

$16.12 ₱1,011

9.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,471

$27.23 ₱1,708

-13.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,357

$37.73 ₱2,366

-42.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$7.11 ₱446

-27.85%

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

$131 ₱8,230

$130 ₱8,151

0.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.6K

$7,413 ₱464.9K

45.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,842

$60.2 ₱3,777

-51.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,198

$27.54 ₱1,727

-30.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,569

$75.6 ₱4,739

-3.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,510

$55.8 ₱3,500

0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$181 ₱11.4K

120.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$80.5 ₱5,048

148.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$314 ₱19.7K

171.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$169 ₱10.6K

173.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.3K

$1,117 ₱70.1K

133.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$485 ₱30.4K

91.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$394 ₱24.7K

-54.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Marikina: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $181 in Marikina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Marikina pays 120% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $32.00 in Marikina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $210 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 7% 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, salaries run 120% lower in Marikina. 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: $399 in Baguio versus $181 in Marikina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $717 in Marikina – a 7% 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 7% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.