Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Tacloban Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Tacloban

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $829 in Tacloban.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,141 in Baguio versus $1,185 in Tacloban.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,494 in Baguio versus $1,540 in Tacloban.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 5% less than in Tacloban, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Tacloban 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 ₱217

$4.47 ₱269

-19.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱805

$17.84 ₱1,074

-25.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱159

$2.68 ₱161

-1.49%

Cappuccino

$2.46 ₱148

$2.61 ₱157

-5.75%

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

$0.69 ₱41.33

$0.71 ₱43.01

-2.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.57

$0.39 ₱23.31

-5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ₱87.4

$1.53 ₱92.2

-5.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱114

$2.16 ₱130

-12.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 ₱111

$2.25 ₱136

-18.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₱72.2

$1.53 ₱92.0

-21.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱64.3

$1.00 ₱59.9

7.00%

Eggs

$2.29 ₱138

$2.30 ₱138

-0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 ₱557

$12.99 ₱782

-28.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₱227

$4.74 ₱285

-20.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 ₱510

$7.77 ₱468

9.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$3.64 ₱219

-26.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱110

$1.26 ₱76.0

45.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ₱137

$3.30 ₱198

-31.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱72.3

$1.82 ₱110

-34.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 ₱114

$2.64 ₱159

-28.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 ₱138

$2.52 ₱152

-8.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱43.37

$0.92 ₱55.3

-21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱43.42

$0.80 ₱47.87

-10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱202

$2.18 ₱131

54.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ₱560

$6.70 ₱403

38.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.4

$1.16 ₱69.7

-12.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱136

$2.35 ₱141

-3.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱16.87

$0.17 ₱10.29

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.52 ₱633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱56.1

$0.89 ₱53.6

4.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.51

$0.16 ₱9.35

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 ₱146

$2.60 ₱157

-6.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.8

$1.09 ₱65.6

6.42%

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

$31.8K ₱1.9M

$30.5K ₱1.8M

4.32%

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

$20.8K ₱1.2M

$27.8K ₱1.7M

-25.24%

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

$144 ₱8,680

$96.2 ₱5,786

50.02%

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

$34.34 ₱2,066

$34.23 ₱2,060

0.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.06 ₱1,568

$30.40 ₱1,829

-14.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.83 ₱1,314

$34.30 ₱2,064

-36.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.12 ₱248

$4.48 ₱270

-8.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.80 ₱349

$6.11 ₱368

-5.07%

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

$152 ₱9,134

$230 ₱13.9K

-34.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,819 ₱290.0K

$3,887 ₱233.9K

23.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ₱2,964

$45.72 ₱2,751

7.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.23 ₱1,639

$23.34 ₱1,405

16.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 ₱4,444

$76.6 ₱4,610

-3.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.95 ₱2,826

$55.6 ₱3,348

-15.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱20.8K

$248 ₱14.9K

39.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,575

$211 ₱12.7K

-32.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 ₱33.0K

$792 ₱47.7K

-30.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱15.7K

$238 ₱14.3K

9.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,505 ₱150.8K

$2,338 ₱140.7K

7.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 ₱57.4K

$2,125 ₱127.9K

-55.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 ₱11.6K

$363 ₱21.9K

-47.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-43.75%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 22, 2026

Last update for Tacloban: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $248 in Tacloban. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tacloban pays 89% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13 in Baguio vs $18 in Tacloban for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $235 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 Tacloban: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Tacloban. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Tacloban earns 89% 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: $346 in Baguio versus $248 in Tacloban. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Tacloban. 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 $829 in Tacloban – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio 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 Tacloban 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Tacloban. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.