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: $764 in Baguio versus $676 in Santiago City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,048 in Santiago City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,419 in Santiago City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 13% more expensive than in Santiago City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Santiago City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$6.68 ₱412

-47.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱823

$13.14 ₱810

1.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$3.56 ₱220

-25.00%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$0.87 ₱53.9

170.11%

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

$0.69 ₱42.35

$0.77 ₱47.38

-10.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.05

$0.33 ₱20.39

12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.5

$1.04 ₱64.1

38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.81 ₱112

6.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.62 ₱100

18.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.23 ₱75.7

-3.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$0.82 ₱50.7

29.27%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$1.52 ₱93.5

42.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱580

$2.50 ₱154

276.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱230

$3.10 ₱191

20.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱531

$5.34 ₱330

61.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.71 ₱167

0.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.02 ₱63.2

75.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$0.73 ₱45.22

221.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.2

$1.42 ₱87.7

-17.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$3.42 ₱211

-47.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.09 ₱67.4

101.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.67

$0.75 ₱46.16

-9.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.85

$0.93 ₱57.5

-16.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.23 ₱138

49.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱537

$7.95 ₱490

9.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.03 ₱63.8

2.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.70 ₱105

37.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.26 ₱15.86

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱666

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.8

$0.79 ₱48.56

16.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$0.13 ₱8.08

69.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$3.50 ₱216

-32.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.15 ₱71.0

-3.48%

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

$31.7K ₱2.0M

$22.2K ₱1.4M

42.36%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$17.2K ₱1.1M

19.52%

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

$144 ₱8,892

$75.8 ₱4,676

90.17%

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

$34.02 ₱2,098

$26.94 ₱1,662

26.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,595

$22.95 ₱1,416

12.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,375

$33.52 ₱2,067

-33.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.51 ₱278

-6.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$5.17 ₱319

11.99%

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

$151 ₱9,302

$88.9 ₱5,480

69.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱286.1K

$4,283 ₱264.1K

8.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,016

$41.93 ₱2,586

16.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,700

$23.78 ₱1,466

15.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,568

$53.1 ₱3,276

39.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,814

$39.75 ₱2,451

14.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$268 ₱16.5K

30.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,952

$173 ₱10.7K

-16.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.5K

$592 ₱36.5K

-8.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$397 ₱24.5K

-33.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.5K

$2,518 ₱155.3K

-5.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.1K

$867 ₱53.4K

6.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Last update for Santiago City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $268 in Santiago City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $13.00 in Santiago City. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $158, with Santiago City 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 Santiago City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago City wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santiago City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,146 in Baguio and $1,014 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: $349 in Baguio versus $268 in Santiago City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $676 in Santiago City – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Santiago City 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 Santiago City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.