Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Panglao Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Panglao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $804 in Panglao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,222 in Panglao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,490 in Baguio versus $1,640 in Panglao.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 2% less than in Panglao, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Panglao 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱217

$4.54 ₱276

-21.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.22 ₱802

$12.24 ₱743

8.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.65 ₱161

$4.56 ₱277

-41.89%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱143

$2.55 ₱155

-7.45%

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

$0.69 ₱41.93

$0.81 ₱49.25

-14.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.55

$0.26 ₱15.71

42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.55 ₱94.0

-7.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.93 ₱117

-1.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.74 ₱106

8.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱74.8

$1.04 ₱63.2

18.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.3

$1.03 ₱62.8

4.85%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱137

$1.91 ₱116

18.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱555

$9.57 ₱581

-4.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ₱237

$5.28 ₱320

-25.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 ₱531

$7.74 ₱470

13.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 ₱160

$2.17 ₱132

21.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱109

$1.47 ₱89.2

22.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱140

$2.09 ₱127

10.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.2

$1.98 ₱120

-41.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$2.57 ₱156

-28.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱139

$2.56 ₱155

-10.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱40.39

$1.00 ₱60.5

-33.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.15

$0.51 ₱31.02

49.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ₱203

$2.73 ₱166

22.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.91 ₱541

$5.34 ₱324

66.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱63.1

$0.89 ₱53.8

16.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱141

$1.75 ₱106

32.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.11

$0.28 ₱17.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱51.7

$0.89 ₱54.1

-4.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.32

$0.23 ₱13.90

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ₱143

$2.72 ₱165

-13.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.1

$1.04 ₱62.9

5.77%

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

$31.9K ₱1.9M

$30.0K ₱1.8M

6.47%

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

$20.5K ₱1.2M

$27.4K ₱1.7M

-25.35%

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

$146 ₱8,846

$96.3 ₱5,844

51.37%

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

$35.30 ₱2,143

$9.07 ₱551

289.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.09 ₱1,584

$26.96 ₱1,637

-3.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.90 ₱1,330

$14.83 ₱901

47.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ₱246

$4.35 ₱264

-6.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱353

$4.38 ₱266

32.88%

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

$154 ₱9,378

$229 ₱13.9K

-32.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,658 ₱282.9K

$3,923 ₱238.2K

18.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.66 ₱2,955

$46.19 ₱2,805

5.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.00 ₱1,700

$23.10 ₱1,403

21.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 ₱4,624

$74.5 ₱4,524

2.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.62 ₱2,831

$52.5 ₱3,187

-11.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ₱20.7K

$328 ₱19.9K

3.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,635

$284 ₱17.2K

-49.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$552 ₱33.5K

$698 ₱42.4K

-20.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.1K

$495 ₱30.1K

-46.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ₱145.1K

$964 ₱58.6K

147.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱56.7K

$861 ₱52.3K

8.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 ₱11.2K

$130 ₱7,887

41.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-43.75%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Last update for Panglao: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Baguio and $328 in Panglao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $12.00 in Panglao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $197 per month, with Panglao 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 Panglao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Panglao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baguio pays 42% 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 $328 in Panglao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Panglao pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $804 in Panglao – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 Panglao 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 2% less than in Panglao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.