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: $748 in Baguio versus $619 in Tagbilaran City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,182 in Baguio versus $999 in Tagbilaran City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,616 in Baguio versus $1,378 in Tagbilaran City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 21% more expensive than in Tagbilaran City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 46% lower, Tagbilaran City 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱252

$3.01 ₱188

33.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.79 ₱1,051

$17.53 ₱1,098

-4.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.80 ₱176

-1.07%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₱112

$2.57 ₱161

-30.35%

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

$0.55 ₱34.74

$0.92 ₱57.3

-40.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱21.61

$0.42 ₱26.33

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$0.82 ₱51.5

24.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱103

$2.21 ₱138

-25.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₱101

$1.56 ₱97.8

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$1.01 ₱63.3

10.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.89 ₱55.9

10.11%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱132

$1.80 ₱113

17.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.00 ₱313

$9.88 ₱619

-49.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 ₱210

$4.56 ₱286

-26.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 ₱508

$7.44 ₱466

9.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₱143

$2.82 ₱177

-18.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₱102

$1.35 ₱84.8

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱146

$2.31 ₱144

0.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.4

$1.56 ₱97.9

-30.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 ₱105

$2.45 ₱153

-31.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 ₱107

$1.90 ₱119

-10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱39.05

$0.65 ₱40.52

-4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.63

$0.50 ₱31.02

-2.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱187

$2.39 ₱150

25.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 ₱562

$6.23 ₱390

44.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₱59.7

$0.93 ₱58.5

2.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$1.07 ₱66.9

97.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.66

$0.50 ₱31.32

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱794

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.90

$0.75 ₱47.23

1.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.73

$0.21 ₱13.14

19.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱122

$4.38 ₱274

-55.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.1

$1.08 ₱67.6

11.11%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-2.01%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-0.45%

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

$144 ₱8,987

$79.3 ₱4,963

81.07%

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

$17.30 ₱1,083

$14.82 ₱928

16.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.28 ₱1,458

$25.23 ₱1,580

-7.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.30 ₱1,334

$11.18 ₱700

90.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.36 ₱336

$3.29 ₱206

62.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 ₱325

$3.56 ₱223

45.79%

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

$131 ₱8,203

$277 ₱17.3K

-52.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱664.4K

$8,083 ₱506.1K

31.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.51 ₱1,848

$38.16 ₱2,390

-22.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 ₱1,208

$17.97 ₱1,126

7.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ₱4,574

$65.8 ₱4,117

11.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 ₱3,471

$58.7 ₱3,679

-5.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.7K

$196 ₱12.3K

109.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.4K

$141 ₱8,808

40.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 ₱53.3K

$481 ₱30.1K

77.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₱29.2K

$341 ₱21.3K

36.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,650 ₱165.9K

$806 ₱50.5K

228.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱57.5K

$480 ₱30.1K

91.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 ₱11.2K

$176 ₱11.0K

2.08%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tagbilaran City: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $196 in Tagbilaran City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 2% 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: $17.00 in Baguio vs $18.00 in Tagbilaran City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $189 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 21% 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 2% 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: $411 in Baguio versus $196 in Tagbilaran City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $748 per month in Baguio versus $619 in Tagbilaran City – a 21% 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 21% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.