Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Surigao

For one person, living costs are similar in Baguio and in Surigao: $734 and $733 a month, rent and utilities included.

Baguio, Philippines
Surigao, Philippines
Baguio
🇵🇭 Philippines
$734
/mo nomad
Surigao
🇵🇭 Philippines
$733
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baguio and in Surigao

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baguio and in Surigao actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Baguio versus $733 in Surigao.

  • Baguio $734
  • Surigao $733

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,206 in Baguio versus $1,113 in Surigao.

  • Baguio $1,206
  • Surigao $1,113

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Baguio versus $1,492 in Surigao.

  • Baguio $1,677
  • Surigao $1,492

Monthly costs are close between Baguio and Surigao; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 46% lower, Surigao 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baguio
Surigao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.10 ₱197
$3.95 ₱251
-21.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.95 ₱1,520
$16.72 ₱1,062
43.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.71 ₱172
$2.82 ₱179
-3.90%
Cappuccino
$1.69 ₱107
$2.13 ₱135
-20.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.64
$0.67 ₱42.83
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₱24.51
$0.31 ₱19.60
25.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ₱72.3
$1.16 ₱73.5
-1.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₱121
$2.01 ₱128
-4.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baguio
Surigao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 ₱113
$1.60 ₱102
11.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.88 ₱55.7
$1.14 ₱72.4
-22.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 ₱61.3
$0.97 ₱61.3
-
Eggs
$1.83 ₱116
$1.85 ₱118
-1.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.75 ₱302
$5.62 ₱357
-15.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 ₱205
$4.15 ₱264
-22.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.01 ₱445
$6.87 ₱436
2.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.58 ₱164
$2.42 ₱154
6.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 ₱135
$1.58 ₱100
34.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 ₱177
$2.32 ₱147
20.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 ₱58.1
$1.13 ₱71.7
-18.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ₱88.3
$2.12 ₱135
-34.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ₱86.8
$2.26 ₱143
-39.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ₱41.40
$1.09 ₱69.4
-40.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₱22.24
$0.57 ₱36.48
-38.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 ₱178
$2.95 ₱187
-4.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.99 ₱444
$7.34 ₱466
-4.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₱48.85
$0.91 ₱57.6
-15.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 ₱189
$1.92 ₱122
55.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Baguio
Surigao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.98
$0.22 ₱13.94
13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.49 ₱920
$12.28 ₱780
18.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 ₱63.8
$0.76 ₱48.05
31.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.98
$0.22 ₱13.99
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.86 ₱118
$1.90 ₱120
-2.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ₱82.7
$1.22 ₱77.6
6.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$21.3K ₱1.4M
-2.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$19.3K ₱1.2M
-1.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
Surigao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.4 ₱5,994
$120 ₱7,606
-21.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.64 ₱1,056
$15.80 ₱1,003
5.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.88 ₱1,960
$34.90 ₱2,216
-11.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
Surigao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.58 ₱1,751
$31.82 ₱2,020
-13.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.74 ₱491
$5.07 ₱322
52.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.72 ₱299
$5.06 ₱321
-6.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baguio
Surigao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,019 ₱64.7K
$128 ₱8,117
696.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,258 ₱333.8K
$7,715 ₱489.8K
-31.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
Surigao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.98 ₱3,173
$32.90 ₱2,089
51.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.84 ₱2,402
$19.32 ₱1,227
95.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ₱4,560
$71.4 ₱4,535
0.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8 ₱5,064
$53.7 ₱3,409
48.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baguio
Surigao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 ₱24.6K
$250 ₱15.9K
54.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 ₱12.4K
$168 ₱10.7K
16.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,031 ₱65.5K
$485 ₱30.8K
112.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$513 ₱32.5K
$348 ₱22.1K
47.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,025 ₱255.5K
$2,651 ₱168.3K
51.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,526 ₱96.9K
$1,124 ₱71.3K
35.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baguio
Surigao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$180 ₱11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
6.92
1.16%

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

Last update for Baguio: November 2, 2026

Last update for Surigao: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Baguio
$195
Surigao
$168 13.9% $27
Groceries & Markets
Baguio
$168
Surigao
$179 6.3% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
$142
Surigao
$171 20.1% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
$108
Surigao
$80 25.9% $28
Eating Out
Baguio
$67
Surigao
$79 18.6% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
$37
Surigao
$42 13.3% $4.9
Getting Around
Baguio
$18
Surigao
$15 14.7% $2.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Baguio and $250 in Surigao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24 in Baguio vs $17 in Surigao. Groceries flip the comparison at $168 vs $179, with Baguio cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Baguio
🇵🇭 Surigao
🕒 Local time
12:03 12:03 PM
12:03 12:03 PM
Same time as Baguio
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
366,358
171,107
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 63.49 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 71 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Baguio Surigao 910 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Baguio
  • Surigao

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Surigao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Baguio and in Surigao?
You’d need roughly $1,102 in Baguio and $1,100 in Surigao 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baguio compared to Surigao?
Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Baguio versus $250 in Surigao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Baguio compared to Surigao?
A monthly transit pass in Surigao runs roughly 15% less than in Baguio. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Are groceries more expensive in Baguio or in Surigao?
Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Baguio or in Surigao?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Surigao gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Baguio or Surigao?
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.
How safe is Baguio compared to Surigao?
Safety-wise, Baguio and Surigao are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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