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: $788 in Baguio versus $660 in Santiago City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,043 in Santiago City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,426 in Santiago City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 19% more expensive than Santiago City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Santiago City 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$6.46 ₱399

-44.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$13.04 ₱804

2.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.57 ₱220

-26.05%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$0.93 ₱57.3

153.76%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.77 ₱47.33

-15.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.33 ₱20.42

15.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.09 ₱66.9

27.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.72 ₱106

9.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.58 ₱97.6

18.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.27 ₱78.5

-6.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.77 ₱47.71

45.45%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$1.52 ₱93.5

46.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$2.51 ₱155

266.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$3.28 ₱202

14.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$5.60 ₱345

48.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.65 ₱164

3.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.04 ₱63.9

73.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$0.70 ₱43.00

241.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.42 ₱87.8

-15.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$3.45 ₱213

-47.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$1.09 ₱67.4

110.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$0.82 ₱50.3

-10.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$1.00 ₱61.6

-28.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.28 ₱141

42.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$3.79 ₱233

139.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.08 ₱66.7

-1.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.73 ₱106

33.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.26 ₱15.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.83 ₱51.4

10.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.14 ₱8.42

71.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$3.51 ₱216

-31.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.09 ₱67.3

2.75%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$22.4K ₱1.4M

41.88%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

15.82%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$75.2 ₱4,637

95.94%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$26.73 ₱1,648

32.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$22.70 ₱1,400

16.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$33.61 ₱2,072

-33.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.55 ₱281

-8.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$5.40 ₱333

3.70%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$88.8 ₱5,472

73.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,353 ₱268.4K

8.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$42.33 ₱2,610

12.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$23.73 ₱1,464

14.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$53.3 ₱3,287

42.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$40.02 ₱2,468

14.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$262 ₱16.1K

31.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$178 ₱11.0K

-18.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$597 ₱36.8K

-8.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$400 ₱24.6K

-34.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$2,351 ₱145.0K

2.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$962 ₱59.3K

-2.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$218 ₱13.5K

-16.89%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Santiago City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $262 in Santiago City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santiago City pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $13.00 in Santiago City. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $152, 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 19% 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.

On paper, Santiago City earns 20% 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 $262 in Santiago City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $660 in Santiago City – a 19% 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 19% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.