Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Puerto Galera Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Puerto Galera

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $763 in Baguio versus $831 in Puerto Galera.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,175 in Baguio versus $1,241 in Puerto Galera.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Baguio versus $1,651 in Puerto Galera.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 8% less than in Puerto Galera, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 45% lower, Puerto Galera 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₱248

$4.53 ₱284

-12.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.48 ₱1,033

$19.42 ₱1,217

-15.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 ₱180

$2.83 ₱178

1.77%

Cappuccino

$1.77 ₱111

$2.68 ₱168

-33.96%

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

$0.61 ₱37.95

$0.69 ₱43.02

-11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.93

$0.27 ₱16.91

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₱61.2

$1.40 ₱87.7

-30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱98.1

$2.88 ₱181

-45.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱106

$1.73 ₱108

-2.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱72.6

$1.19 ₱74.6

-2.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$0.85 ₱53.4

20.00%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱130

$1.74 ₱109

18.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₱323

$6.62 ₱415

-22.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ₱213

$4.12 ₱258

-17.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 ₱507

$7.02 ₱440

15.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$3.89 ₱244

-40.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱98.1

$1.38 ₱86.7

13.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$3.50 ₱219

-31.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$1.13 ₱70.9

-5.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$2.27 ₱142

-22.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$3.32 ₱208

-46.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱38.90

$1.38 ₱86.5

-55.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.24

$0.97 ₱60.5

-45.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱180

$2.78 ₱174

3.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ₱565

$7.39 ₱463

22.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.1

$1.31 ₱82.1

-26.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.85 ₱116

13.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.71

$0.27 ₱16.94

-7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱814

$11.11 ₱696

16.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱52.4

$0.77 ₱48.13

9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.69

$0.23 ₱14.43

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ₱123

$2.52 ₱158

-21.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.19 ₱74.6

-3.36%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-0.96%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

3.41%

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

$139 ₱8,708

$169 ₱10.6K

-17.97%

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

$17.39 ₱1,090

$14.81 ₱928

17.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 ₱1,482

$24.80 ₱1,555

-4.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 ₱1,338

$32.14 ₱2,015

-33.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱326

$4.94 ₱310

5.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱320

$7.11 ₱446

-28.27%

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

$134 ₱8,395

$72.8 ₱4,562

84.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱662.1K

$2,530 ₱158.6K

317.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.47 ₱1,785

$35.70 ₱2,238

-20.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.81 ₱1,242

$23.23 ₱1,456

-14.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 ₱4,438

$78.6 ₱4,927

-9.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₱3,547

$77.0 ₱4,829

-26.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.7K

$267 ₱16.7K

53.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.4K

$175 ₱11.0K

12.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 ₱53.2K

$510 ₱32.0K

66.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₱29.1K

$346 ₱21.7K

34.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₱166.9K

$2,618 ₱164.1K

1.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 ₱56.4K

$1,026 ₱64.3K

-12.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

-3.57%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Last update for Puerto Galera: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $267 in Puerto Galera. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Baguio vs $19.00 in Puerto Galera 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 Puerto Galera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Puerto Galera. 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 $1,246 in Puerto Galera 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 $267 in Puerto Galera. 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 $831 in Puerto Galera – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 17% less than in Puerto Galera. 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 Puerto Galera 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 9% less than in Puerto Galera. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.