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: $789 in Baguio versus $811 in Panglao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,214 in Baguio versus $1,160 in Panglao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,639 in Baguio versus $1,509 in Panglao.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 3% less than in Panglao, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Panglao 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.19 ₱255

$3.98 ₱242

5.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.51 ₱1,064

$24.53 ₱1,491

-28.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 ₱175

$4.08 ₱248

-29.41%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ₱111

$2.31 ₱140

-20.78%

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

$0.59 ₱35.58

$0.67 ₱40.51

-11.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.30

$0.52 ₱31.30

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₱64.3

$1.51 ₱91.7

-29.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₱101

$2.01 ₱122

-16.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ₱105

$1.65 ₱101

4.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱72.1

$1.22 ₱74.3

-2.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱60.9

$0.97 ₱58.7

3.09%

Eggs

$2.09 ₱127

$1.82 ₱111

14.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.16 ₱314

$8.93 ₱542

-42.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.51 ₱213

$4.60 ₱280

-23.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.10 ₱492

$7.63 ₱463

6.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 ₱140

$2.02 ₱123

13.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₱99.4

$1.49 ₱90.8

10.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱146

$1.92 ₱117

25.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱64.8

$1.54 ₱93.7

-30.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 ₱109

$2.43 ₱148

-26.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 ₱112

$2.04 ₱124

-9.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.32

$1.29 ₱78.2

-47.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.10

$0.48 ₱29.13

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 ₱186

$2.93 ₱178

4.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 ₱538

$6.04 ₱367

46.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₱61.4

$0.81 ₱49.33

24.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₱130

$1.67 ₱102

27.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.88

$0.30 ₱18.15

-13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.02 ₱791

$10.73 ₱652

21.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.0

$0.76 ₱46.36

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 ₱15.84

$0.21 ₱12.73

23.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱119

$1.93 ₱117

1.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱71.1

$0.99 ₱60.1

18.18%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$21.9K ₱1.3M

1.97%

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

$20.2K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

2.96%

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

$146 ₱8,875

$62.0 ₱3,765

135.73%

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

$17.91 ₱1,088

$6.75 ₱410

165.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.17 ₱1,469

$25.96 ₱1,577

-6.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.17 ₱1,347

$21.70 ₱1,319

2.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.35 ₱325

$4.52 ₱275

18.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.28 ₱321

$4.12 ₱250

28.16%

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

$134 ₱8,158

$138 ₱8,382

-2.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₱650.7K

$8,318 ₱505.4K

28.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.24 ₱1,777

$30.33 ₱1,843

-3.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.85 ₱1,206

$20.05 ₱1,218

-1.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 ₱4,242

$70.6 ₱4,287

-1.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 ₱3,432

$49.91 ₱3,033

13.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₱25.3K

$293 ₱17.8K

42.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ₱12.5K

$314 ₱19.1K

-34.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$854 ₱51.9K

$567 ₱34.5K

50.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ₱29.3K

$407 ₱24.7K

18.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,498 ₱151.8K

$974 ₱59.2K

156.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$943 ₱57.3K

$878 ₱53.3K

7.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 ₱11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.2

-6.25%

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

Last update for Baguio: August 3, 2026

Last update for Panglao: August 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $417 in Baguio and $293 in Panglao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Baguio vs $25.00 in Panglao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $189 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 Panglao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 3% 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.

You'd need roughly $1,183 in Baguio and $1,217 in Panglao 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: $417 in Baguio versus $293 in Panglao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $789 per month in Baguio versus $811 in Panglao – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 21% less than in Panglao. 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 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 3% less than in Panglao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.