Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Polomolok Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Polomolok

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $656 in Polomolok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,043 in Polomolok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,431 in Polomolok.

Living in Baguio is roughly 20% more expensive than Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Polomolok 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$1.78 ₱110

100.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$13.54 ₱835

-1.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$2.26 ₱140

16.81%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.05 ₱127

15.12%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.46 ₱28.30

41.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.49 ₱30.10

-22.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.13 ₱69.4

23.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.62 ₱100.0

16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.74 ₱107

8.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$0.98 ₱60.6

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.74 ₱45.67

51.35%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.06 ₱127

7.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$5.89 ₱363

56.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$3.00 ₱185

24.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$6.06 ₱374

37.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.90 ₱179

-5.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$0.60 ₱36.95

200.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.29 ₱141

4.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$0.86 ₱53.3

39.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.36 ₱83.9

33.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$3.17 ₱195

-27.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$0.92 ₱56.9

-20.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.60 ₱36.89

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.60 ₱160

25.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.42 ₱458

22.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.05 ₱65.0

0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.55 ₱95.5

49.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.26 ₱16.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$14.20 ₱876

-23.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.90 ₱55.5

2.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.25 ₱15.48

-4.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.14 ₱132

12.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.02 ₱63.1

9.80%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

82.27%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

6.31%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$57.9 ₱3,571

154.48%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$12.51 ₱772

182.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$29.48 ₱1,818

-10.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$33.43 ₱2,061

-33.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.52 ₱279

-7.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$4.39 ₱271

27.56%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$117 ₱7,214

31.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$1,479 ₱91.2K

218.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$46.28 ₱2,854

3.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$27.00 ₱1,665

0.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$70.5 ₱4,350

7.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$69.7 ₱4,298

-34.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$268 ₱16.5K

28.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$176 ₱10.9K

-17.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$593 ₱36.6K

-7.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$390 ₱24.0K

-33.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$2,419 ₱149.1K

-0.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$971 ₱59.9K

-3.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$241 ₱14.9K

-24.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-25.00%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $268 in Polomolok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Polomolok pays 33% 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 $14.00 in Polomolok. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $165, with Polomolok 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 Polomolok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Polomolok wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Polomolok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Polomolok earns 33% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $345 in Baguio versus $268 in Polomolok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $656 in Polomolok – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Polomolok runs roughly 31% 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 Polomolok 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 Polomolok 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 Polomolok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.