Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Santiago City Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Santiago City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $763 in Baguio versus $870 in Santiago City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,175 in Baguio versus $1,357 in Santiago City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Baguio versus $1,844 in Santiago City.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 12% less than in Santiago City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 45% lower, Santiago City 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₱246

$6.39 ₱398

-38.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.48 ₱1,027

$39.81 ₱2,483

-58.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 ₱179

$4.56 ₱284

-36.84%

Cappuccino

$1.77 ₱110

$2.65 ₱165

-33.21%

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

$0.61 ₱37.75

$1.12 ₱70.0

-45.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.83

$0.49 ₱30.37

-34.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₱60.9

$2.34 ₱146

-58.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱97.5

$3.14 ₱196

-50.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱105

$1.83 ₱114

-7.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱72.2

$1.30 ₱81.1

-10.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.6

$1.06 ₱66.3

-3.77%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱129

$1.43 ₱89.3

44.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₱321

$7.27 ₱453

-29.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ₱212

$4.82 ₱301

-29.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 ₱504

$6.95 ₱433

16.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$2.33 ₱145

-0.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱97.6

$1.98 ₱123

-20.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱150

$3.29 ₱205

-26.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$2.30 ₱143

-53.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$3.48 ₱217

-49.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱110

$3.59 ₱224

-50.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱38.69

$1.07 ₱67.0

-42.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.07

$0.53 ₱32.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱179

$2.59 ₱162

10.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ₱562

$7.98 ₱498

13.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱59.8

$1.38 ₱85.9

-30.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.07 ₱129

1.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.63

$0.27 ₱16.91

-7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱810

$11.15 ₱695

16.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱52.2

$0.66 ₱41.45

27.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.61

$0.23 ₱14.37

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ₱123

$1.96 ₱122

0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.8

$1.24 ₱77.6

-7.26%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.3M

-2.61%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$19.8K ₱1.2M

-1.09%

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

$139 ₱8,662

$153 ₱9,540

-9.20%

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

$17.39 ₱1,085

$16.42 ₱1,024

5.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 ₱1,474

$31.65 ₱1,973

-25.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 ₱1,331

$32.63 ₱2,035

-34.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱324

$4.83 ₱301

7.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱318

$7.07 ₱441

-27.86%

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

$134 ₱8,351

$135 ₱8,394

-0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱658.6K

$7,574 ₱472.3K

39.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.47 ₱1,775

$32.56 ₱2,030

-12.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.81 ₱1,235

$19.82 ₱1,236

-0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 ₱4,415

$80.9 ₱5,044

-12.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₱3,529

$56.4 ₱3,516

0.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.6K

$266 ₱16.6K

54.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.3K

$175 ₱10.9K

12.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 ₱52.9K

$505 ₱31.5K

68.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₱29.0K

$354 ₱22.1K

31.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₱166.0K

$2,628 ₱163.9K

1.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 ₱56.1K

$1,058 ₱66.0K

-14.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.5

-10.00%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Last update for Santiago City: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $266 in Santiago City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Baguio vs $40.00 in Santiago City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $212 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 Santiago City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Santiago City. 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 $1,144 in Baguio and $1,304 in Santiago City 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: $411 in Baguio versus $266 in Santiago City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $763 per month in Baguio versus $870 in Santiago City – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 17% less than in Santiago City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 Santiago City 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 14% less than in Santiago City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.