Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Santa Rosa Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Santa Rosa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $623 in Santa Rosa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $881 in Santa Rosa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,139 in Santa Rosa.

Living in Baguio is roughly 23% more expensive than in Santa Rosa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Santa Rosa 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$2.40 ₱151

67.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,039

$16.91 ₱1,062

-2.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.78 ₱174

-0.36%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$1.08 ₱68.0

70.37%

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

$0.60 ₱37.82

$0.34 ₱21.19

76.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.87

$0.23 ₱14.43

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.4

$0.96 ₱60.6

7.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.5

$1.30 ₱81.4

20.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱105

$1.66 ₱104

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.3

$1.16 ₱72.9

-0.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.4

$1.01 ₱63.3

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.57 ₱98.8

28.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$5.23 ₱329

-4.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$3.42 ₱215

1.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱490

$8.01 ₱503

-2.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.29 ₱144

0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱96.0

$0.76 ₱47.45

101.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.29 ₱144

0.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.3

$1.03 ₱64.5

0.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.70 ₱107

4.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.82

$0.66 ₱41.55

1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.95

$0.49 ₱31.00

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.87 ₱180

3.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱534

$8.99 ₱565

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.3

$0.92 ₱57.6

4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$2.00 ₱125

2.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.28 ₱17.46

-17.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱805

$12.17 ₱765

5.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.0

$0.81 ₱50.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.23 ₱14.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.96 ₱123

-4.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.2

$1.03 ₱65.0

16.50%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.4M

-0.15%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

-2.52%

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

$138 ₱8,673

$63.2 ₱3,970

118.48%

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

$17.68 ₱1,111

$6.28 ₱395

181.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,473

$22.95 ₱1,442

2.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,359

$32.36 ₱2,033

-33.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

$5.16 ₱324

2.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$5.10 ₱321

0.59%

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

$131 ₱8,244

$135 ₱8,466

-2.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱675.8K

$5,487 ₱344.7K

96.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,845

$28.46 ₱1,788

3.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,200

$19.68 ₱1,236

-2.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,577

$72.3 ₱4,543

0.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,516

$55.1 ₱3,463

1.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.1K

$271 ₱17.1K

47.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.6K

$172 ₱10.8K

16.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.6K

$505 ₱31.7K

68.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.1K

$174 ₱10.9K

166.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.5K

$2,830 ₱177.8K

-8.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.3K

$1,033 ₱64.9K

-10.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$144 ₱9,033

24.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $271 in Santa Rosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 25% 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: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Santa Rosa. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $169, with Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Rosa wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Rosa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Baguio, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $399 in Baguio versus $271 in Santa Rosa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $623 in Santa Rosa – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Santa Rosa runs roughly 5% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.