Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and San Fernando, Philippines

For one person, living is cheaper in Baguio: $734 a month against $807 in San Fernando, rent and utilities included – about $880 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Baguio, Philippines
San Fernando, Philippines
Baguio
🇵🇭 Philippines
$734
/mo nomad
San Fernando
🇵🇭 Philippines
$807
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baguio and in San Fernando

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baguio and in San Fernando actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Baguio versus $807 in San Fernando.

  • Baguio $734
  • San Fernando $807

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,206 in Baguio versus $1,271 in San Fernando.

  • Baguio $1,206
  • San Fernando $1,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Baguio versus $1,735 in San Fernando.

  • Baguio $1,677
  • San Fernando $1,735

Living in Baguio costs roughly 9% less than in San Fernando, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 46% lower, San Fernando 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baguio
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.10 ₱196
$3.07 ₱194
0.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.95 ₱1,517
$23.84 ₱1,511
0.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.71 ₱172
$2.82 ₱179
-3.90%
Cappuccino
$1.69 ₱107
$1.71 ₱109
-1.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.55
$0.64 ₱40.29
4.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₱24.46
$0.38 ₱24.15
2.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ₱72.2
$1.09 ₱69.1
4.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₱121
$1.95 ₱124
-2.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baguio
San Fernando
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 ₱113
$1.76 ₱111
1.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.88 ₱55.6
$0.87 ₱54.8
1.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 ₱61.2
$0.96 ₱60.8
1.04%
Eggs
$1.83 ₱116
$1.90 ₱120
-3.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.75 ₱301
$4.60 ₱292
3.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 ₱204
$3.31 ₱209
-2.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.01 ₱444
$7.04 ₱446
-0.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.58 ₱164
$2.58 ₱164
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 ₱135
$2.06 ₱130
3.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 ₱177
$2.75 ₱174
1.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 ₱58.0
$0.92 ₱58.0
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ₱88.1
$1.38 ₱87.7
0.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ₱86.7
$1.32 ₱83.5
3.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ₱41.32
$0.65 ₱40.95
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₱22.19
$0.35 ₱22.30
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 ₱178
$2.71 ₱172
3.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.99 ₱443
$6.96 ₱441
0.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₱48.75
$0.75 ₱47.57
2.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 ₱189
$2.95 ₱187
1.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Baguio
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.95
$0.25 ₱15.74
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.49 ₱918
$13.59 ₱861
6.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 ₱63.6
$1.00 ₱63.5
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.96
$0.20 ₱12.66
10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.86 ₱118
$1.94 ₱123
-4.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ₱82.5
$1.27 ₱80.5
2.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$21.0K ₱1.3M
-0.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
-0.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.4 ₱5,982
$96.3 ₱6,100
-1.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.64 ₱1,054
$17.18 ₱1,088
-3.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.88 ₱1,956
$30.29 ₱1,919
1.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.58 ₱1,748
$31.66 ₱2,006
-12.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.74 ₱490
$15.57 ₱986
-50.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.72 ₱299
$4.66 ₱295
1.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baguio
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,019 ₱64.6K
$267 ₱16.9K
281.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,258 ₱333.1K
$13.5K ₱852.9K
-60.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.98 ₱3,167
$49.06 ₱3,108
1.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.84 ₱2,397
$37.73 ₱2,390
0.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ₱4,551
$71.4 ₱4,526
0.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8 ₱5,054
$78.4 ₱4,965
1.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baguio
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 ₱24.5K
$402 ₱25.5K
-3.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 ₱12.4K
$266 ₱16.8K
-26.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,031 ₱65.3K
$724 ₱45.9K
42.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$513 ₱32.5K
$560 ₱35.5K
-8.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,025 ₱255.0K
$4,249 ₱269.2K
-5.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,526 ₱96.7K
$2,385 ₱151.1K
-36.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baguio
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$180 ₱11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
7
-

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

Last update for Baguio: November 2, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Baguio
$195
San Fernando
$266 36.2% $71
Groceries & Markets
Baguio
$168
San Fernando
$167 0.5% $0.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
$142
San Fernando
$144 1.3% $1.8
Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
$108
San Fernando
$106 1.2% $1.3
Eating Out
Baguio
$67
San Fernando
$67 0% $0
Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
$37
San Fernando
$41 10.7% $4
Getting Around
Baguio
$18
San Fernando
$17 5.8% $1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Baguio and $402 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24 in Baguio vs $24 in San Fernando. Groceries flip the comparison at $168 vs $167, with San Fernando cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Baguio
🇵🇭 San Fernando
🕒 Local time
08:09 8:09 AM
08:09 8:09 AM
Same time as Baguio
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
366,358
354,666
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 63.36 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 71.33 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Baguio San Fernando 150 km
From you
  • Baguio
  • San Fernando

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Baguio or San Fernando?
Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 9% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Baguio and in San Fernando?
You’d need roughly $1,102 in Baguio and $1,211 in San Fernando 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baguio compared to San Fernando?
Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Baguio versus $402 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Baguio compared to San Fernando?
All in, you’ll spend $734 per month in Baguio versus $807 in San Fernando – Baguio is about 9% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Baguio compared to San Fernando?
A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 6% less than in Baguio. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Baguio or San Fernando?
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.

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