Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Olongapo Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Olongapo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $694 in Olongapo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,029 in Olongapo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,490 in Baguio versus $1,364 in Olongapo.

Living in Baguio is roughly 13% more expensive than Olongapo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Olongapo 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱217

$3.47 ₱210

2.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.22 ₱802

$13.47 ₱818

-1.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.65 ₱161

$2.60 ₱158

1.92%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱143

$2.43 ₱148

-2.88%

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

$0.69 ₱41.93

$0.65 ₱39.66

6.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.55

$0.41 ₱24.60

-9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.44 ₱87.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.62 ₱98.2

17.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.85 ₱112

2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱74.8

$0.42 ₱25.56

192.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.3

$0.91 ₱55.2

18.68%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱137

$2.15 ₱131

5.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱555

$8.96 ₱544

2.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ₱237

$2.86 ₱174

36.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 ₱531

$8.66 ₱526

1.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 ₱160

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱109

$1.05 ₱63.6

71.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱140

$2.26 ₱137

2.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.2

$1.22 ₱74.0

-4.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$1.83 ₱111

0.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱139

$2.19 ₱133

4.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱40.39

$0.67 ₱40.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.15

$0.42 ₱25.65

80.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ₱203

$3.36 ₱204

-0.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.91 ₱541

$9.17 ₱557

-2.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱63.1

$1.02 ₱62.2

1.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱141

$2.26 ₱137

2.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.11

$0.22 ₱13.38

27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

$18.05 ₱1,096

-41.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱51.7

$0.87 ₱52.7

-2.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.32

$0.22 ₱13.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ₱143

$2.43 ₱147

-2.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.1

$1.10 ₱66.7

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

$31.9K ₱1.9M

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-1.95%

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

$20.5K ₱1.2M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

1.30%

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

$146 ₱8,846

$146 ₱8,892

-0.52%

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

$35.30 ₱2,143

$34.60 ₱2,101

2.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.09 ₱1,584

$26.33 ₱1,599

-0.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.90 ₱1,330

$15.36 ₱932

42.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ₱246

$4.39 ₱266

-7.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱353

$4.36 ₱264

33.49%

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

$154 ₱9,378

$89.0 ₱5,404

73.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,658 ₱282.9K

$4,793 ₱291.0K

-2.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.66 ₱2,955

$48.25 ₱2,930

0.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.00 ₱1,700

$27.97 ₱1,698

0.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 ₱4,624

$76.8 ₱4,662

-0.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.62 ₱2,831

$46.47 ₱2,822

0.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ₱20.7K

$126 ₱7,670

169.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,635

$89.7 ₱5,449

58.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$552 ₱33.5K

$263 ₱16.0K

109.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.1K

$176 ₱10.7K

49.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ₱145.1K

$2,588 ₱157.1K

-7.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱56.7K

$1,005 ₱61.1K

-7.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 ₱11.2K

$137 ₱8,316

34.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Last update for Olongapo: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Baguio and $126 in Olongapo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 35% 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 $13.00 in Olongapo. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $182, with Olongapo cheaper for home cooking.

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 Olongapo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Olongapo wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Olongapo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baguio pays 35% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $340 in Baguio versus $126 in Olongapo. 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 $694 in Olongapo – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Olongapo runs roughly 71% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Olongapo 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 Olongapo 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 Olongapo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.