Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and San Fernando Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and San Fernando

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $791 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,179 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,490 in Baguio versus $1,568 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs are close between Baguio and San Fernando; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, San Fernando 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱217

$3.49 ₱212

2.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.22 ₱802

$13.13 ₱797

0.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.65 ₱161

$2.69 ₱163

-1.49%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱143

$1.08 ₱65.9

118.52%

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

$0.69 ₱41.93

$0.46 ₱27.97

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.55

$0.34 ₱20.45

8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.36 ₱82.7

5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.39 ₱84.7

36.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.92 ₱117

-1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱74.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.3

$0.90 ₱54.4

20.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱137

$2.19 ₱133

3.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱555

$9.24 ₱561

-1.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ₱237

$3.70 ₱225

5.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 ₱531

$7.67 ₱466

14.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 ₱160

$2.73 ₱166

-3.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱109

$1.73 ₱105

4.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱140

$2.35 ₱143

-1.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.2

$1.17 ₱71.2

-0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$1.88 ₱114

-2.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱139

$2.15 ₱130

6.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱40.39

$0.67 ₱40.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.15

$0.64 ₱38.83

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ₱203

Wine (Bottle)

$8.91 ₱541

$9.02 ₱548

-1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱63.1

$1.07 ₱65.1

-2.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱141

$1.42 ₱86.1

63.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.11

$0.26 ₱15.70

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

$20.97 ₱1,274

-49.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱51.7

$0.74 ₱44.90

14.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.32

$0.22 ₱13.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ₱143

$1.07 ₱65.2

120.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.1

$1.15 ₱70.1

-4.35%

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

$31.9K ₱1.9M

$28.6K ₱1.7M

11.50%

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

$20.5K ₱1.2M

$23.6K ₱1.4M

-13.30%

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

$146 ₱8,846

$107 ₱6,484

36.43%

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

$35.30 ₱2,143

$17.57 ₱1,067

100.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.09 ₱1,584

$26.07 ₱1,583

0.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.90 ₱1,330

$30.79 ₱1,870

-28.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ₱246

$4.36 ₱265

-7.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱353

$4.32 ₱262

34.72%

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

$154 ₱9,378

$61.9 ₱3,759

149.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,658 ₱282.9K

$1,953 ₱118.6K

138.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.66 ₱2,955

$35.19 ₱2,137

38.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.00 ₱1,700

$15.77 ₱957

77.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 ₱4,624

$52.9 ₱3,213

43.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.62 ₱2,831

$47.04 ₱2,856

-0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ₱20.7K

$353 ₱21.4K

-3.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,635

$236 ₱14.3K

-39.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$552 ₱33.5K

$596 ₱36.2K

-7.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.1K

$493 ₱29.9K

-46.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ₱145.1K

$2,342 ₱142.2K

2.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱56.7K

$1,144 ₱69.4K

-18.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 ₱11.2K

$342 ₱20.8K

-46.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.5

-18.18%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Baguio and $353 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 86% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $13.00 in San Fernando. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $199, with San Fernando 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 San Fernando: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, San Fernando earns 86% 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: $340 in Baguio versus $353 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 98% less than in San Fernando. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Shoppers in San Fernando pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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 San Fernando are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Baguio wins on affordability, San Fernando on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.