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: $779 in Baguio versus $777 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in Baguio versus $1,188 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,600 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 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱222

$3.49 ₱214

4.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱822

$13.46 ₱824

-0.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱164

$2.72 ₱166

-1.10%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$1.05 ₱64.3

124.76%

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

$0.66 ₱40.38

$0.42 ₱25.89

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱22.96

$0.36 ₱22.12

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱84.9

$1.31 ₱80.3

6.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱118

$1.45 ₱88.7

33.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.90 ₱116

-4.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱73.8

$1.20 ₱73.6

0.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.8

$0.90 ₱55.1

18.89%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱139

$2.28 ₱140

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱559

$9.11 ₱558

0.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱237

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱518

$7.98 ₱489

6.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱168

$2.76 ₱169

-0.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱113

$1.78 ₱109

3.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱145

$2.35 ₱144

0.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.9

$1.16 ₱70.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.90 ₱116

-4.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$2.09 ₱128

8.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.91

$0.67 ₱41.28

1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.38

$0.64 ₱39.30

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$3.30 ₱202

1.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱562

$8.76 ₱537

4.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.1

$1.08 ₱66.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.50 ₱91.8

51.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.34

$0.26 ₱15.91

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱639

$21.66 ₱1,326

-51.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.6

$0.72 ₱44.22

19.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.38

$0.22 ₱13.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱149

$1.04 ₱63.6

134.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.4

$1.16 ₱71.0

-3.45%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$28.0K ₱1.7M

15.20%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$23.6K ₱1.4M

-12.79%

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

$149 ₱9,108

$106 ₱6,478

40.59%

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

$34.55 ₱2,115

$17.60 ₱1,077

96.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,613

$26.09 ₱1,597

1.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,337

$30.71 ₱1,880

-28.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱249

$4.49 ₱275

-9.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱359

$4.52 ₱277

29.87%

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

$149 ₱9,109

$61.2 ₱3,748

143.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱286.7K

$1,951 ₱119.4K

140.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,930

$34.76 ₱2,128

37.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,661

$16.18 ₱991

67.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,608

$53.5 ₱3,274

40.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,822

$46.40 ₱2,840

-0.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.6K

$357 ₱21.9K

-6.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,677

$243 ₱14.9K

-41.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱34.0K

$596 ₱36.5K

-6.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$478 ₱29.3K

-45.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.4K

$2,206 ₱135.0K

9.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱56.2K

$1,047 ₱64.1K

-12.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.5K

$345 ₱21.1K

-45.58%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $357 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 84% 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 $200, 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, salaries run 84% lower in San Fernando. 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: $336 in Baguio versus $357 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 108% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though San Fernando 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 – San Fernando wins on affordability, Baguio on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.