Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Zamboanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Zamboanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $731 in Zamboanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,099 in Zamboanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,467 in Zamboanga.

Living in Baguio is roughly 5% more expensive than in Zamboanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Zamboanga 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$1.32 ₱82.7

205.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,036

$16.92 ₱1,061

-2.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$3.51 ₱220

-21.08%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.08 ₱130

-11.54%

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

$0.60 ₱37.72

$0.87 ₱54.2

-31.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.82

$0.42 ₱26.50

-21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.2

$1.46 ₱91.6

-29.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.2

$1.99 ₱125

-21.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.73 ₱108

-4.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.1

$1.43 ₱89.5

-19.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$1.11 ₱69.7

-9.01%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.52 ₱95.0

32.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱312

$10.08 ₱632

-50.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$4.06 ₱254

-14.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$3.16 ₱198

146.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$3.07 ₱192

-24.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.7

$1.17 ₱73.2

30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱144

$3.69 ₱231

-37.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.14 ₱71.3

-8.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$1.18 ₱74.3

39.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$2.44 ₱153

-27.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.71

$0.83 ₱52.0

-19.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.87

$0.50 ₱31.55

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.79 ₱175

6.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱532

$4.11 ₱257

106.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.1

$1.31 ₱82.1

-26.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.96 ₱123

4.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.35

$0.22 ₱13.80

4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

$11.85 ₱743

8.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.77 ₱48.02

5.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.21 ₱13.16

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.67 ₱105

12.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$0.97 ₱60.9

23.71%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

4.10%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$18.5K ₱1.2M

2.91%

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

$138 ₱8,651

$122 ₱7,667

12.85%

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

$17.68 ₱1,108

$14.78 ₱926

19.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,470

$47.02 ₱2,947

-50.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,356

$36.01 ₱2,257

-39.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱330

$4.65 ₱291

13.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱321

$5.09 ₱319

0.79%

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

$131 ₱8,223

$131 ₱8,182

0.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.0K

$7,834 ₱490.9K

37.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,840

$32.17 ₱2,016

-8.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,197

$18.84 ₱1,181

1.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,565

$71.0 ₱4,448

2.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,507

$54.5 ₱3,417

2.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$263 ₱16.5K

52.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$174 ₱10.9K

15.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$340 ₱21.3K

150.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$354 ₱22.2K

30.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.1K

$2,560 ₱160.4K

1.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$1,002 ₱62.8K

-7.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

$188 ₱11.8K

-4.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $263 in Zamboanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zamboanga pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Zamboanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $181 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 Zamboanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Zamboanga. 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: $399 in Baguio versus $263 in Zamboanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $731 in Zamboanga – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Zamboanga runs roughly 8% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.