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: $763 in Baguio versus $769 in Tacloban.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,175 in Baguio versus $1,146 in Tacloban.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Baguio versus $1,522 in Tacloban.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 1% less than in Tacloban, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 45% lower, Tacloban 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₱248

$2.97 ₱186

33.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.48 ₱1,033

$15.94 ₱999

3.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 ₱180

$2.46 ₱154

17.07%

Cappuccino

$1.77 ₱111

$2.34 ₱147

-24.36%

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

$0.61 ₱37.95

$0.66 ₱41.12

-7.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.93

$0.35 ₱21.93

-8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₱61.2

$1.63 ₱102

-39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱98.1

$2.22 ₱139

-29.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱106

$1.98 ₱124

-14.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱72.6

$1.17 ₱73.5

-0.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$0.82 ₱51.7

24.39%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱130

$1.98 ₱124

4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₱323

$9.87 ₱619

-47.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ₱213

$4.41 ₱277

-22.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 ₱507

$7.10 ₱445

13.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$3.35 ₱210

-31.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱98.1

$1.09 ₱68.6

44.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.31 ₱145

4.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$1.48 ₱93.1

-27.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$2.37 ₱148

-25.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.93 ₱121

-8.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱38.90

$1.19 ₱74.4

-47.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.24

$0.67 ₱41.91

-20.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱180

$1.94 ₱122

47.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ₱565

$6.38 ₱400

41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.1

$1.09 ₱68.4

-11.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.75 ₱110

20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.71

$0.25 ₱15.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱814

$11.07 ₱694

17.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱52.4

$0.76 ₱47.55

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.69

$0.23 ₱14.47

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ₱123

$1.91 ₱120

3.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.04 ₱65.0

10.58%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-0.83%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

2.28%

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

$139 ₱8,708

$120 ₱7,494

16.20%

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

$17.39 ₱1,090

$15.19 ₱952

14.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 ₱1,482

$28.27 ₱1,773

-16.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 ₱1,338

$32.60 ₱2,044

-34.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱326

$4.71 ₱295

10.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱320

$5.52 ₱346

-7.61%

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

$134 ₱8,395

$134 ₱8,371

0.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱662.1K

$8,203 ₱514.3K

28.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.47 ₱1,785

$32.10 ₱2,013

-11.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.81 ₱1,242

$19.66 ₱1,232

0.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 ₱4,438

$75.7 ₱4,747

-6.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₱3,547

$55.2 ₱3,459

2.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.7K

$271 ₱17.0K

51.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.4K

$194 ₱12.1K

2.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 ₱53.2K

$506 ₱31.7K

67.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₱29.1K

$352 ₱22.0K

32.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₱166.9K

$2,646 ₱165.9K

0.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 ₱56.4K

$1,030 ₱64.6K

-12.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$349 ₱21.9K

-48.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.2

-6.25%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Last update for Tacloban: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $271 in Tacloban. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tacloban pays 94% 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: $16.00 in Baguio vs $16.00 in Tacloban for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $201 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 1% 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, salaries run 94% lower in Tacloban. 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: $411 in Baguio versus $271 in Tacloban. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $763 per month in Baguio versus $769 in Tacloban – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 17% less than in Tacloban. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 1% less than in Tacloban. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.