Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Subic Bay Freeport Zone Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Baguio versus $738 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,285 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,832 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Living in Baguio is roughly 3% more expensive than in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$4.42 ₱272

-20.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱823

$16.02 ₱988

-16.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$3.60 ₱222

-25.83%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.44 ₱150

-3.69%

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

$0.69 ₱42.35

$0.82 ₱50.7

-15.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.05

$0.46 ₱28.30

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.5

$1.44 ₱88.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$2.37 ₱146

-18.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.83 ₱113

4.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.50 ₱92.8

-20.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$0.93 ₱57.6

13.98%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$1.97 ₱122

10.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱580

$7.91 ₱488

18.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱230

$5.05 ₱311

-26.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱531

$13.86 ₱855

-37.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.86 ₱176

-4.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.81 ₱112

-1.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$1.38 ₱84.9

70.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.2

$1.14 ₱70.2

2.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.75 ₱108

3.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.42 ₱87.8

54.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.67

$1.12 ₱68.9

-39.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.85

$0.88 ₱54.1

-11.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.47 ₱152

34.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱537

$8.15 ₱503

6.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$0.77 ₱47.68

37.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.22 ₱137

5.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.22 ₱13.56

27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱666

$17.91 ₱1,105

-39.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.8

$0.69 ₱42.80

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$0.27 ₱16.65

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.07 ₱128

13.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.16 ₱71.4

-4.31%

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

$31.7K ₱2.0M

$28.4K ₱1.8M

11.43%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

17.56%

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

$144 ₱8,892

$129 ₱7,930

12.13%

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

$34.02 ₱2,098

$10.97 ₱676

210.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,595

$18.69 ₱1,153

38.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,375

$31.70 ₱1,955

-29.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.50 ₱278

-6.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$7.38 ₱455

-21.54%

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

$151 ₱9,302

$154 ₱9,498

-2.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱286.1K

$4,271 ₱263.4K

8.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,016

$45.13 ₱2,783

8.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,700

$34.67 ₱2,138

-20.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,568

$69.8 ₱4,304

6.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,814

$114 ₱7,014

-59.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$141 ₱8,672

148.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,952

$87.0 ₱5,364

66.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.5K

$361 ₱22.3K

50.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$486 ₱30.0K

-45.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.5K

$2,119 ₱130.7K

12.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.1K

$870 ₱53.7K

6.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.17

-27.07%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $16.00 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $220 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $1,146 in Baguio and $1,107 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $738 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Subic Bay Freeport Zone runs roughly 66% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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.