Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Tagbilaran City Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Tagbilaran City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Baguio versus $716 in Tagbilaran City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,183 in Tagbilaran City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,649 in Tagbilaran City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 7% more expensive than in Tagbilaran City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Tagbilaran City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$4.52 ₱278

-22.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$21.67 ₱1,334

-38.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$3.34 ₱206

-20.06%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.62 ₱161

-10.31%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$0.79 ₱48.73

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$0.42 ₱26.02

-11.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$1.18 ₱72.5

22.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$2.16 ₱133

-10.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.78 ₱109

7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.09 ₱66.8

9.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$0.94 ₱58.0

12.77%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$1.92 ₱118

13.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$10.52 ₱648

-10.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$4.65 ₱287

-20.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$7.60 ₱468

13.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$3.58 ₱221

-24.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.32 ₱81.0

35.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$3.27 ₱201

-28.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$1.90 ₱117

-38.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.31 ₱142

-21.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$2.43 ₱149

-9.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$1.01 ₱61.9

-32.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$0.69 ₱42.60

13.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.78 ₱171

19.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

$6.34 ₱390

37.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.00 ₱61.7

6.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.12 ₱68.9

108.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.26

$0.28 ₱17.42

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.89 ₱54.8

3.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.25 ₱15.43

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.70 ₱166

-12.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$1.15 ₱71.0

-3.48%

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

$31.7K ₱1.9M

$28.2K ₱1.7M

12.22%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

-6.62%

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

$144 ₱8,877

$78.4 ₱4,827

83.92%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$26.08 ₱1,606

30.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$29.46 ₱1,814

-12.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$34.18 ₱2,104

-34.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.33 ₱267

-2.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$3.95 ₱243

46.58%

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

$151 ₱9,286

$228 ₱14.0K

-33.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$3,830 ₱235.8K

21.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,010

$45.82 ₱2,821

6.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$20.25 ₱1,247

36.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$73.7 ₱4,540

0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$55.1 ₱3,390

-17.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$214 ₱13.1K

63.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,936

$152 ₱9,360

-4.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$538 ₱33.1K

0.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$386 ₱23.8K

-31.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

$796 ₱49.0K

200.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

$484 ₱29.8K

91.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

$178 ₱10.9K

2.93%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Tagbilaran City: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $214 in Tagbilaran City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 3% 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: $13.00 in Baguio vs $22.00 in Tagbilaran City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $210 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 Tagbilaran City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tagbilaran City wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tagbilaran City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Baguio, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Baguio versus $214 in Tagbilaran City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $716 in Tagbilaran City – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tagbilaran City 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 Tagbilaran City 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 Tagbilaran City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.