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 $788 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,177 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,566 in San Fernando.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 1% less than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, San Fernando 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$3.65 ₱225

-1.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$13.42 ₱828

0.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$2.73 ₱168

-4.76%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$1.09 ₱67.1

114.68%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.45 ₱27.77

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.37 ₱22.58

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.35 ₱83.0

8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.39 ₱86.0

43.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.82 ₱113

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.23 ₱76.1

1.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.97 ₱59.9

14.43%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$2.26 ₱139

-2.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$8.92 ₱550

1.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$3.86 ₱238

-4.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$7.70 ₱475

9.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$2.62 ₱162

0.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$1.82 ₱112

2.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.30 ₱142

-1.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.21 ₱74.8

-2.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.84 ₱113

-1.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.15 ₱133

6.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$0.67 ₱41.21

7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.61 ₱37.35

26.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$3.31 ₱204

1.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$8.38 ₱517

9.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$1.50 ₱92.4

50.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.26 ₱16.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

$20.91 ₱1,290

-49.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.73 ₱45.20

19.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.22 ₱13.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$1.08 ₱66.8

126.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.15 ₱71.0

-3.48%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$28.5K ₱1.8M

13.00%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$23.5K ₱1.4M

-12.66%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$107 ₱6,603

36.09%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$17.45 ₱1,076

95.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$26.29 ₱1,621

-1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$30.92 ₱1,907

-29.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.35 ₱269

-4.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$4.41 ₱272

34.47%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$60.9 ₱3,753

151.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$1,948 ₱120.2K

138.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$34.49 ₱2,127

42.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$15.97 ₱985

70.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$52.3 ₱3,223

46.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$47.28 ₱2,916

-2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$354 ₱21.8K

-2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$243 ₱15.0K

-41.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$590 ₱36.4K

-7.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$479 ₱29.6K

-44.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,226 ₱137.3K

8.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$334 ₱20.6K

-44.31%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $354 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $13.00 in San Fernando. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $197, 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

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in San Fernando. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, San Fernando earns 80% 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: $346 in Baguio versus $354 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $788 in San Fernando – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in San Fernando. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.