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: $788 in Baguio versus $881 in Puerto Galera.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,347 in Puerto Galera.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,813 in Puerto Galera.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 10% less than in Puerto Galera, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Puerto Galera 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$4.91 ₱303

-27.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$21.69 ₱1,337

-38.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.16 ₱195

-16.46%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.85 ₱176

-17.19%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.92 ₱56.8

-29.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.38 ₱23.26

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.22 ₱75.3

13.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.59 ₱160

-27.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$2.14 ₱132

-12.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.21 ₱74.7

-1.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.06 ₱65.3

5.66%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$1.96 ₱121

13.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$7.04 ₱434

30.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.17 ₱257

-10.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.22 ₱445

15.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$4.47 ₱275

-38.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.52 ₱94.0

18.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.86 ₱177

-16.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.63 ₱100

-26.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.80 ₱173

-35.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$4.13 ₱255

-44.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.58 ₱97.6

-53.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$1.00 ₱61.9

-28.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$3.27 ₱201

-0.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.49 ₱462

21.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.60 ₱98.7

-33.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$2.01 ₱124

14.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.28 ₱17.44

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.77 ₱47.28

19.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.27 ₱16.77

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.17 ₱134

10.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.15 ₱70.6

-2.61%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.0K ₱1.6M

22.21%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

1.44%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$165 ₱10.1K

-10.44%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$33.34 ₱2,056

6.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$30.06 ₱1,854

-12.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$33.34 ₱2,056

-32.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.39 ₱271

-4.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$7.17 ₱442

-21.90%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$81.9 ₱5,048

88.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$2,775 ₱171.1K

69.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$31.89 ₱1,966

49.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$29.78 ₱1,836

-9.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$96.4 ₱5,942

-21.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$95.4 ₱5,883

-52.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$271 ₱16.7K

27.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$174 ₱10.7K

-16.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$587 ₱36.2K

-6.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$394 ₱24.3K

-33.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$2,176 ₱134.2K

11.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$896 ₱55.3K

4.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

8.13

-44.65%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Puerto Galera: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $271 in Puerto Galera. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $22.00 in Puerto Galera for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $222 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 12% 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 $1,182 in Baguio and $1,321 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: $345 in Baguio versus $271 in Puerto Galera. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Puerto Galera. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $881 in Puerto Galera – a 12% 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 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 12% less than in Puerto Galera. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.