Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and San Juan Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and San Juan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $806 in San Juan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,302 in San Juan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,797 in San Juan.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 2% less than in San Juan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, San Juan 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$2.84 ₱175

25.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$8.61 ₱531

55.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.59 ₱222

-26.46%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.97 ₱183

-20.54%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.83 ₱50.9

-21.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.45 ₱27.49

-15.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.47 ₱90.8

-5.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.10 ₱130

-10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.73 ₱106

8.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.62 ₱100

-26.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.94 ₱57.9

19.15%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.01 ₱124

10.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$8.16 ₱503

12.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$5.25 ₱324

-28.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$10.80 ₱666

-22.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.31 ₱142

18.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.53 ₱94.1

17.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$3.17 ₱196

-24.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.15 ₱70.8

4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.75 ₱108

3.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$3.44 ₱212

-33.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.07 ₱66.1

-31.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.90 ₱55.4

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.87 ₱177

13.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.33 ₱452

23.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$0.74 ₱45.66

43.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.61 ₱99.4

43.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.16 ₱9.57

62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.68 ₱41.69

35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.24 ₱14.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.09 ₱129

14.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.11 ₱68.4

0.90%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

13.09%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$17.7K ₱1.1M

15.07%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$128 ₱7,916

14.79%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$32.96 ₱2,032

7.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$26.09 ₱1,609

1.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$72.0 ₱4,437

-68.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.37 ₱270

-4.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$4.07 ₱251

37.59%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$145 ₱8,965

5.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,240 ₱261.5K

11.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$45.32 ₱2,794

5.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$34.62 ₱2,134

-21.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$69.1 ₱4,260

10.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$117 ₱7,209

-60.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$269 ₱16.6K

28.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$107 ₱6,621

35.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$1,273 ₱78.5K

-56.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$391 ₱24.1K

-33.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$2,438 ₱150.4K

-0.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$1,112 ₱68.6K

-16.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$242 ₱14.9K

-24.91%

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 Juan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $269 in San Juan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Juan pays 33% 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 $9.00 in San Juan. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $216, with Baguio 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 Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in San Juan. 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 Juan earns 33% 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: $345 in Baguio versus $269 in San Juan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in San Juan. 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 $806 in San Juan – 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 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 Juan 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 2% less than in San Juan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.