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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $846 in San Pablo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,261 in San Pablo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,675 in San Pablo.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 7% less than in San Pablo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, San Pablo 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱221

$4.92 ₱304

-27.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$14.03 ₱866

-4.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱163

$3.15 ₱194

-16.19%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.86 ₱176

-17.48%

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

$0.65 ₱40.16

$0.46 ₱28.20

41.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.19

$0.28 ₱17.31

35.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$0.69 ₱42.72

101.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.09 ₱129

-9.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.73 ₱107

8.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$0.89 ₱54.9

33.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$0.68 ₱41.86

64.71%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.02 ₱124

9.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$5.12 ₱316

79.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$3.81 ₱235

-1.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.28 ₱449

14.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$4.36 ₱269

-37.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.03 ₱63.7

74.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.24 ₱139

6.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.72 ₱106

-30.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.45 ₱89.3

24.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱142

$1.03 ₱63.6

122.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.15

$0.88 ₱54.2

-17.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.28

$0.64 ₱39.67

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.55 ₱158

27.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱561

$6.60 ₱407

37.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.18 ₱72.9

-10.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$2.02 ₱125

14.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.92

$0.28 ₱17.37

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.77 ₱47.73

19.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.10 ₱130

14.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.09 ₱67.3

2.75%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$25.9K ₱1.6M

22.59%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-0.98%

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

$147 ₱9,093

$162 ₱9,967

-8.77%

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

$35.37 ₱2,183

$33.55 ₱2,070

5.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,631

$30.44 ₱1,878

-13.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,381

$34.19 ₱2,110

-34.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱258

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$7.18 ₱443

-22.01%

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

$154 ₱9,502

$82.4 ₱5,087

86.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.4K

$2,784 ₱171.8K

69.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,949

$17.32 ₱1,069

175.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,672

$29.70 ₱1,832

-8.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,693

$97.3 ₱6,004

-21.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,826

$92.9 ₱5,732

-50.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$126 ₱7,774

174.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,965

$180 ₱11.1K

-19.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.9K

$577 ₱35.6K

-4.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$397 ₱24.5K

-34.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$290 ₱17.9K

-37.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

8.13

-44.65%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for San Pablo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $126 in San Pablo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Pablo pays 60% 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 $14.00 in San Pablo. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $180, with San Pablo 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 Pablo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in San Pablo. 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 Pablo earns 60% 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 $126 in San Pablo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Pablo pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $846 in San Pablo – a 7% 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 Pablo 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 7% less than in San Pablo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.