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: $763 in Baguio versus $798 in Palawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,175 in Baguio versus $1,222 in Palawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Baguio versus $1,646 in Palawan.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 4% less than in Palawan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 45% lower, Palawan 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₱246

$3.46 ₱216

14.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.48 ₱1,027

$19.76 ₱1,232

-16.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 ₱179

$3.41 ₱213

-15.54%

Cappuccino

$1.77 ₱110

$2.57 ₱160

-31.13%

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

$0.61 ₱37.75

$0.78 ₱48.76

-21.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.83

$0.40 ₱24.68

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₱60.9

$1.29 ₱80.5

-24.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱97.5

$2.08 ₱130

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱105

$1.86 ₱116

-9.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱72.2

$1.23 ₱76.6

-5.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.6

$0.94 ₱58.9

8.51%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱129

$2.09 ₱130

-0.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₱321

$8.09 ₱505

-36.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ₱212

$4.30 ₱268

-20.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 ₱504

$7.92 ₱494

2.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$2.99 ₱186

-22.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱97.6

$1.57 ₱97.9

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱150

$2.63 ₱164

-8.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$1.56 ₱97.2

-31.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$2.25 ₱140

-21.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱110

$2.61 ₱163

-32.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱38.69

$1.11 ₱69.4

-44.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.07

$0.75 ₱47.07

-29.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱179

$2.80 ₱175

2.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ₱562

$6.71 ₱419

34.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱59.8

$1.14 ₱71.4

-15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.03 ₱127

3.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.63

$0.28 ₱17.51

-10.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱810

$11.34 ₱707

14.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱52.2

$0.76 ₱47.64

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.61

$0.22 ₱13.70

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ₱123

$2.12 ₱132

-7.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.8

$1.14 ₱71.3

0.88%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

-19.35%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

-5.17%

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

$139 ₱8,662

$113 ₱7,076

22.41%

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

$17.39 ₱1,085

$33.33 ₱2,079

-47.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 ₱1,474

$27.41 ₱1,709

-13.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 ₱1,331

$34.18 ₱2,131

-37.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱324

$4.51 ₱281

15.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱318

$5.78 ₱361

-11.76%

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

$134 ₱8,351

$151 ₱9,394

-11.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱658.6K

$4,317 ₱269.2K

144.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.47 ₱1,775

$46.70 ₱2,912

-39.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.81 ₱1,235

$26.76 ₱1,669

-25.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 ₱4,415

$75.9 ₱4,736

-6.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₱3,529

$53.0 ₱3,308

6.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.6K

$264 ₱16.5K

55.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.3K

$174 ₱10.9K

13.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 ₱52.9K

$576 ₱35.9K

47.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₱29.0K

$396 ₱24.7K

17.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₱166.0K

$2,362 ₱147.3K

12.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 ₱56.1K

$1,024 ₱63.9K

-12.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.67

1.20%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Last update for Palawan: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $264 in Palawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Baguio vs $20.00 in Palawan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $204 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 Palawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Palawan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,144 in Baguio and $1,198 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: $411 in Baguio versus $264 in Palawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $763 per month in Baguio versus $798 in Palawan – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 15% less than in Palawan. 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 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.

Expats usually find Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Palawan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.