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: $779 in Baguio versus $746 in Santa Rosa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,142 in Santa Rosa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,539 in Santa Rosa.

Living in Baguio is roughly 4% more expensive than Santa Rosa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Santa Rosa 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$2.78 ₱171

29.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$21.58 ₱1,331

-37.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.16 ₱195

-17.72%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$1.27 ₱78.2

84.25%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.37 ₱23.10

89.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.26 ₱15.94

53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.25 ₱77.2

16.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.41 ₱86.8

41.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.14 ₱132

-11.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.25 ₱76.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.11 ₱68.2

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$1.73 ₱106

27.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$6.87 ₱424

32.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$4.18 ₱258

-11.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$7.39 ₱456

13.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$4.32 ₱267

-39.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$0.88 ₱54.2

112.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.89 ₱178

-21.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.63 ₱100

-27.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.74 ₱169

-33.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$4.00 ₱246

-42.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$1.63 ₱100

-55.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$1.05 ₱65.0

-26.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$3.27 ₱202

2.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$9.09 ₱560

0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.53 ₱94.6

-29.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.02 ₱125

11.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.28 ₱17.40

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.77 ₱47.59

12.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.22 ₱13.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.10 ₱129

16.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.10 ₱67.6

0.91%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$25.9K ₱1.6M

24.41%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

-0.88%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$52.2 ₱3,219

179.17%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$32.54 ₱2,007

4.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$28.70 ₱1,770

-9.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$34.03 ₱2,099

-36.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.54 ₱280

-8.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$6.98 ₱430

-15.04%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$81.9 ₱5,049

87.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$2,737 ₱168.8K

69.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$32.23 ₱1,988

52.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$29.54 ₱1,822

-7.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$96.3 ₱5,938

-20.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$95.6 ₱5,899

-51.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$248 ₱15.3K

39.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$177 ₱10.9K

-19.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$398 ₱24.5K

36.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$280 ₱17.3K

-5.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,577 ₱159.0K

-6.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$153 ₱9,408

21.84%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $248 in Santa Rosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 22% 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 $22.00 in Santa Rosa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $221 per month, with Baguio cheaper across the board.

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 4% 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.

Baguio pays 22% more on average, 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: $346 in Baguio versus $248 in Santa Rosa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $746 in Santa Rosa – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 4% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.