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: $755 in Baguio versus $706 in Olongapo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,183 in Baguio versus $1,065 in Olongapo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,611 in Baguio versus $1,424 in Olongapo.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Olongapo 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 ₱249

$4.01 ₱252

-1.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.85 ₱1,057

$17.08 ₱1,071

-1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.76 ₱173

$2.86 ₱179

-3.50%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱115

$1.85 ₱116

-0.54%

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

$0.60 ₱37.75

$0.60 ₱37.78

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₱21.40

$0.31 ₱19.67

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ₱63.6

$1.01 ₱63.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱103

$1.48 ₱92.8

10.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱106

$1.70 ₱106

-0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ₱70.9

$0.39 ₱24.28

189.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.5

$0.82 ₱51.2

25.61%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱126

$1.96 ₱123

3.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.96 ₱311

$5.21 ₱327

-4.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 ₱211

$2.54 ₱159

32.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.68 ₱482

$8.10 ₱508

-5.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.21 ₱139

4.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ₱100

$0.92 ₱57.6

73.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱146

$2.42 ₱152

-3.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.5

$1.09 ₱68.4

-0.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 ₱104

$1.73 ₱109

-3.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 ₱108

$1.80 ₱113

-4.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.91

$0.62 ₱39.14

8.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.15

$0.41 ₱25.90

29.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.99 ₱188

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.72 ₱547

$8.92 ₱559

-2.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₱61.1

$0.96 ₱60.0

1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$2.10 ₱132

-0.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.73

$0.27 ₱17.02

-7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.66 ₱794

$11.04 ₱693

14.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.0

$0.77 ₱48.30

7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.78

$0.23 ₱14.40

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.97 ₱124

-4.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.7

$1.10 ₱68.8

13.64%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-1.37%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

0.95%

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

$142 ₱8,910

$129 ₱8,088

10.17%

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

$17.90 ₱1,122

$17.64 ₱1,106

1.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 ₱1,491

$23.07 ₱1,447

3.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.07 ₱1,322

$33.14 ₱2,079

-36.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.18 ₱325

$4.63 ₱290

11.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.15 ₱323

$4.31 ₱270

19.49%

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

$132 ₱8,307

$78.8 ₱4,945

67.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱675.4K

$10.8K ₱676.9K

-0.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.14 ₱1,827

$28.91 ₱1,813

0.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.94 ₱1,251

$19.33 ₱1,213

3.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ₱4,578

$73.1 ₱4,588

-0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.5 ₱3,480

$56.3 ₱3,528

-1.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱25.3K

$272 ₱17.1K

47.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 ₱12.2K

$180 ₱11.3K

8.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$824 ₱51.7K

$266 ₱16.7K

209.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 ₱28.9K

$362 ₱22.7K

27.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,677 ₱167.9K

$2,469 ₱154.9K

8.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$1,010 ₱63.3K

-8.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 ₱11.6K

$137 ₱8,578

35.01%

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: October 3, 2026

Last update for Olongapo: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $403 in Baguio and $272 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: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Olongapo. Groceries flip the comparison at $175 vs $159, 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 7% 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.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Baguio, 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: $403 in Baguio versus $272 in Olongapo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $755 per month in Baguio versus $706 in Olongapo – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Olongapo runs roughly 15% 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 7% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.