Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and San Jose del Monte Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and San Jose del Monte

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $775 in San Jose del Monte.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,217 in San Jose del Monte.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,659 in San Jose del Monte.

Living in Baguio is roughly 2% more expensive than San Jose del Monte, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱221

$4.47 ₱276

-20.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$26.36 ₱1,627

-49.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱163

$3.62 ₱224

-27.07%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.66 ₱164

-11.28%

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

$0.65 ₱40.16

$0.87 ₱53.6

-25.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.19

$0.49 ₱30.22

-22.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.49 ₱92.1

-6.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.64 ₱163

-28.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.95 ₱121

-3.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.34 ₱82.5

-11.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$0.95 ₱58.6

17.89%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.07 ₱128

7.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$9.29 ₱574

-0.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$5.23 ₱323

-28.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$8.64 ₱533

-3.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$0.72 ₱44.64

280.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.74 ₱107

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$0.51 ₱31.47

368.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.45 ₱89.7

-17.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.18 ₱135

-16.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱142

$1.39 ₱85.7

64.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.15

$1.08 ₱66.7

-32.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.28

$0.65 ₱40.37

10.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$3.30 ₱203

-1.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱561

$8.74 ₱540

3.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.39 ₱85.6

-23.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$2.22 ₱137

4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.92

$0.26 ₱15.85

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.79 ₱48.59

16.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.89

$0.22 ₱13.51

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.14 ₱132

12.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.17 ₱72.2

-4.27%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

21.13%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$18.0K ₱1.1M

13.18%

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

$147 ₱9,093

$129 ₱7,961

14.22%

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

$35.37 ₱2,183

$21.51 ₱1,327

64.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,631

$26.89 ₱1,659

-1.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,381

$34.14 ₱2,106

-34.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱258

$4.40 ₱271

-5.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.77 ₱418

-17.28%

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

$154 ₱9,502

$153 ₱9,417

0.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.4K

$4,255 ₱262.6K

10.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,949

$46.67 ₱2,880

2.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,672

$33.89 ₱2,091

-20.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,693

$69.5 ₱4,291

9.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,826

$46.41 ₱2,864

-1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$266 ₱16.4K

29.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,965

$175 ₱10.8K

-16.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.9K

$577 ₱35.6K

-4.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$398 ₱24.6K

-34.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.2K

$2,384 ₱147.1K

1.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.6K

$1,056 ₱65.1K

-11.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.17

-27.07%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for San Jose del Monte: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $266 in San Jose del Monte. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $26.00 in San Jose del Monte. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $199, with San Jose del Monte 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 Jose del Monte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose del Monte wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Jose del Monte the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,182 in Baguio and $1,162 in San Jose del Monte 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 $266 in San Jose del Monte. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Baguio. 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 $775 in San Jose del Monte – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though San Jose del Monte 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 Jose del Monte 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 San Jose del Monte gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.