Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Palawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Palawan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $777 in Palawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,216 in Palawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,655 in Palawan.

Monthly costs are close between Baguio and Palawan; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$3.64 ₱224

-1.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$19.42 ₱1,198

-30.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.27 ₱202

-20.49%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$2.64 ₱163

-11.36%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.82 ₱50.6

-14.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.40 ₱24.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.23 ₱76.1

18.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.15 ₱133

-6.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.92 ₱119

-1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.22 ₱75.3

2.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.97 ₱59.6

14.43%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$2.06 ₱127

6.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.82 ₱482

16.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$4.23 ₱261

-12.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$7.90 ₱487

6.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$2.98 ₱184

-11.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$1.50 ₱92.4

24.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.72 ₱168

-16.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.59 ₱98.1

-25.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.28 ₱141

-20.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.50 ₱154

-8.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$1.11 ₱68.7

-35.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.75 ₱46.56

2.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$2.92 ₱180

14.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$7.00 ₱432

31.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.17 ₱72.1

-7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$1.99 ₱122

13.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.28 ₱17.42

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.79 ₱48.48

10.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.24 ₱14.82

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.14 ₱132

14.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.15 ₱71.0

-3.48%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$26.8K ₱1.7M

20.31%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.1K ₱1.2M

2.08%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$115 ₱7,066

27.17%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$33.00 ₱2,036

3.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$27.96 ₱1,725

-7.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$34.00 ₱2,097

-36.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.38 ₱270

-5.02%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$5.92 ₱365

0.17%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$149 ₱9,178

3.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$4,320 ₱266.5K

7.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$45.87 ₱2,829

7.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$26.30 ₱1,622

3.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$76.6 ₱4,723

-0.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$53.5 ₱3,299

-14.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$265 ₱16.3K

30.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$180 ₱11.1K

-20.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$588 ₱36.3K

-7.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$387 ₱23.8K

-31.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,309 ₱142.4K

4.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

$823 ₱50.7K

15.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for Palawan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $265 in Palawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $19.00 in Palawan. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $204, with Palawan 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 Palawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $1,168 in Baguio and $1,166 in Palawan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $346 in Baguio versus $265 in Palawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Palawan – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $13.00 in Baguio. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Palawan 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 Palawan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Palawan wins on affordability, Baguio on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.