Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Muntinlupa Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Muntinlupa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $919 in Muntinlupa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,444 in Muntinlupa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,970 in Muntinlupa.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 15% less than in Muntinlupa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Muntinlupa 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$4.67 ₱288

-23.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$27.00 ₱1,665

-50.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.11 ₱192

-16.40%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$2.63 ₱162

-11.03%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.93 ₱57.4

-24.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.46 ₱28.07

-13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.39 ₱85.9

5.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.61 ₱161

-23.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.24 ₱76.3

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.09 ₱67.0

1.83%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$2.04 ₱126

7.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.19 ₱443

26.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$4.67 ₱288

-20.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$7.70 ₱475

9.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$3.83 ₱236

-31.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$1.62 ₱100.0

15.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.97 ₱183

-23.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$2.38 ₱147

-50.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.78 ₱172

-34.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$3.08 ₱190

-25.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$1.98 ₱122

-63.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$1.02 ₱62.9

-24.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$3.25 ₱200

3.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$9.19 ₱567

-0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.55 ₱95.8

-30.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.03 ₱125

11.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.28 ₱17.27

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

$14.46 ₱892

-26.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.81 ₱50.0

7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.24 ₱14.86

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.09 ₱129

17.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.16 ₱71.3

-4.31%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$25.9K ₱1.6M

24.31%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

-1.12%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$136 ₱8,392

7.09%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$21.93 ₱1,353

55.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$29.69 ₱1,831

-12.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$48.83 ₱3,012

-55.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.38 ₱270

-5.02%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$6.54 ₱404

-9.33%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$113 ₱6,957

35.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$4,528 ₱279.3K

2.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$45.98 ₱2,836

6.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$34.65 ₱2,137

-21.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$98.2 ₱6,056

-22.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$92.4 ₱5,700

-50.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$402 ₱24.8K

-13.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$210 ₱12.9K

-32.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$1,171 ₱72.3K

-53.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$448 ₱27.6K

-41.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,310 ₱142.5K

4.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

$832 ₱51.3K

14.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$641 ₱39.6K

-71.03%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Muntinlupa: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $402 in Muntinlupa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muntinlupa pays 245% 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 Muntinlupa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $229 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 Muntinlupa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Muntinlupa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Muntinlupa earns 245% 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 $402 in Muntinlupa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $919 in Muntinlupa – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 37% less than in Muntinlupa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 Muntinlupa 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 Muntinlupa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.