Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Siargao Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Siargao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $762 in Siargao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,194 in Siargao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,627 in Siargao.

Living in Baguio is roughly 3% more expensive than Siargao, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Siargao 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$3.61 ₱223

-1.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$19.19 ₱1,183

-30.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.44 ₱212

-23.26%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.62 ₱161

-9.92%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.77 ₱47.48

-15.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.37 ₱22.55

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.24 ₱76.2

12.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.15 ₱133

-12.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.91 ₱118

-1.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.26 ₱77.7

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.00 ₱61.9

12.00%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.03 ₱125

9.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$7.99 ₱492

15.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.30 ₱265

-13.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.82 ₱482

6.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.98 ₱184

-8.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.55 ₱95.8

16.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.69 ₱166

-11.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.61 ₱99.1

-25.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.20 ₱135

-17.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.54 ₱157

-9.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.07 ₱66.0

-31.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.75 ₱46.35

-4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.81 ₱173

16.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$6.83 ₱421

32.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.17 ₱72.0

-9.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.99 ₱122

16.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.28 ₱17.35

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.83 ₱51.0

10.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.24 ₱14.85

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.07 ₱127

15.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.09 ₱67.0

2.75%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

21.27%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

-0.49%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$114 ₱7,015

29.54%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$32.85 ₱2,026

7.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$27.70 ₱1,708

-4.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$34.41 ₱2,122

-34.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.36 ₱269

-4.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.12 ₱377

-8.50%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$154 ₱9,471

0.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,272 ₱263.4K

10.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$45.30 ₱2,793

5.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$26.82 ₱1,654

1.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$76.8 ₱4,735

-0.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$52.2 ₱3,218

-12.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$260 ₱16.1K

32.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$175 ₱10.8K

-16.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$577 ₱35.6K

-4.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$400 ₱24.7K

-34.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$2,316 ₱142.8K

4.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$959 ₱59.1K

-2.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

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 Siargao: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $260 in Siargao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $19.00 in Siargao. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $204, with Siargao 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 Siargao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Siargao wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Siargao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,182 in Baguio and $1,142 in Siargao 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: $345 in Baguio versus $260 in Siargao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% 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 $762 in Siargao – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Siargao 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 Siargao 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 Siargao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.