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: $764 in Baguio versus $785 in San Jose del Monte.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,244 in San Jose del Monte.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,702 in San Jose del Monte.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 3% less than in San Jose del Monte, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, San Jose del Monte 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$4.56 ₱281

-23.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱823

$26.53 ₱1,636

-49.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$3.53 ₱218

-24.36%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.71 ₱167

-13.28%

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

$0.69 ₱42.35

$0.87 ₱53.6

-20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.05

$0.45 ₱27.77

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.5

$1.42 ₱87.7

1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$2.61 ₱161

-26.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.98 ₱122

-3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.35 ₱83.0

-11.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.01 ₱62.4

4.95%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$1.98 ₱122

9.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱580

$9.09 ₱561

3.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱230

$5.18 ₱320

-28.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱531

$8.72 ₱538

-1.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$0.68 ₱42.19

300.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.81 ₱112

-1.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$0.54 ₱33.40

335.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.2

$1.45 ₱89.4

-19.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.19 ₱135

-17.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.44 ₱88.5

52.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.67

$1.04 ₱63.9

-34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.85

$0.69 ₱42.35

13.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$3.34 ₱206

-0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱537

$8.85 ₱546

-1.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.33 ₱82.3

-20.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.19 ₱135

6.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.26 ₱15.87

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱666

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.8

$0.81 ₱50.2

13.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$0.22 ₱13.50

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.10 ₱129

11.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.12 ₱69.0

-0.89%

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

$31.7K ₱2.0M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

20.99%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

17.55%

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

$144 ₱8,892

$131 ₱8,107

9.68%

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

$34.02 ₱2,098

$21.61 ₱1,333

57.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,595

$26.31 ₱1,622

-1.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,375

$33.40 ₱2,060

-33.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.44 ₱274

-4.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$6.93 ₱427

-16.45%

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

$151 ₱9,302

$151 ₱9,338

-0.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱286.1K

$4,375 ₱269.8K

6.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,016

$46.13 ₱2,845

6.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,700

$33.94 ₱2,093

-18.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,568

$67.6 ₱4,171

9.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,814

$46.72 ₱2,881

-2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$266 ₱16.4K

31.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,952

$177 ₱10.9K

-17.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.5K

$584 ₱36.0K

-7.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$402 ₱24.8K

-34.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.5K

$2,456 ₱151.4K

-2.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.1K

$967 ₱59.7K

-4.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for San Jose del Monte: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 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 $27.00 in San Jose del Monte. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 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

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in San Jose del Monte. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,146 in Baguio and $1,178 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: $349 in Baguio versus $266 in San Jose del Monte. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Jose del Monte pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $785 in San Jose del Monte – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in San Jose del Monte. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.