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: $764 in Baguio versus $667 in Polomolok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,034 in Polomolok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,401 in Polomolok.

Living in Baguio is roughly 15% more expensive than in Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Polomolok 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$1.76 ₱108

99.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$13.27 ₱817

0.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$2.33 ₱144

14.59%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.15 ₱132

9.30%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$0.45 ₱27.79

53.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$0.52 ₱32.10

-28.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$1.18 ₱72.7

22.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.57 ₱96.6

22.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.68 ₱104

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$0.93 ₱57.3

27.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$0.73 ₱45.16

45.21%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$1.98 ₱122

9.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$6.13 ₱377

53.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$3.03 ₱187

22.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$6.26 ₱385

37.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.81 ₱173

-3.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$0.60 ₱36.95

198.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.39 ₱147

-1.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$0.88 ₱54.0

32.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.34 ₱82.7

35.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$3.11 ₱191

-29.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$0.92 ₱56.8

-26.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$0.56 ₱34.32

39.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.58 ₱159

29.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

$7.47 ₱460

16.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.10 ₱67.6

-3.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.49 ₱91.6

57.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

$13.98 ₱861

-22.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.93 ₱57.3

-1.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.23 ₱14.11

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.15 ₱132

9.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$0.96 ₱59.2

15.63%

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

$31.7K ₱1.9M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

77.60%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

6.56%

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

$144 ₱8,877

$58.6 ₱3,609

145.97%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$12.59 ₱775

170.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$28.91 ₱1,780

-10.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$33.91 ₱2,087

-34.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.45 ₱274

-4.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$4.30 ₱265

34.65%

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

$151 ₱9,286

$118 ₱7,272

27.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$1,485 ₱91.4K

212.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,010

$45.59 ₱2,807

7.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$26.46 ₱1,629

4.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$72.1 ₱4,437

2.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$68.2 ₱4,198

-33.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$270 ₱16.6K

29.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,936

$178 ₱11.0K

-18.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$592 ₱36.4K

-8.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$402 ₱24.7K

-34.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

$2,379 ₱146.5K

0.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

$985 ₱60.7K

-6.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

$246 ₱15.2K

-25.68%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $270 in Polomolok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Polomolok pays 35% 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 $13.00 in Polomolok. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 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 15% 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, salaries run 35% lower in Polomolok. 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: $349 in Baguio versus $270 in Polomolok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $667 in Polomolok – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Polomolok runs roughly 29% 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 15% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.