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: $764 in Baguio versus $751 in Zamboanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,086 in Zamboanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,421 in Zamboanga.

Living in Baguio is roughly 2% more expensive than in Zamboanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Zamboanga 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$1.50 ₱92.3

134.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱823

$10.04 ₱619

32.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$2.72 ₱167

-1.84%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$1.74 ₱107

35.06%

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

$0.69 ₱42.35

$0.91 ₱55.9

-24.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.05

$0.42 ₱25.65

-11.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.5

$1.27 ₱78.2

13.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.66 ₱102

16.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.94 ₱120

-1.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.58 ₱97.5

-24.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.29 ₱79.8

-17.83%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$1.70 ₱105

27.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱580

$11.30 ₱697

-16.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱230

$4.49 ₱277

-17.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱531

$3.53 ₱218

143.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$3.50 ₱216

-22.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.36 ₱83.8

31.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$4.14 ₱255

-43.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.2

$2.61 ₱161

-55.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.39 ₱85.5

30.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱136

$2.77 ₱171

-20.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.67

$0.92 ₱56.6

-26.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.85

$0.53 ₱32.71

47.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$3.11 ₱192

7.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱537

$4.34 ₱267

100.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.41 ₱87.3

-24.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.28 ₱141

2.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.22 ₱13.53

27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱666

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.8

$0.85 ₱52.2

8.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$0.22 ₱13.50

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.19 ₱135

7.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.21 ₱74.9

-8.26%

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

$31.7K ₱2.0M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

20.42%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

0.59%

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

$144 ₱8,892

$165 ₱10.2K

-12.51%

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

$34.02 ₱2,098

$47.18 ₱2,909

-27.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,595

$52.6 ₱3,245

-50.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,375

$40.51 ₱2,498

-44.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.45 ₱274

-4.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$7.00 ₱432

-17.29%

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

$151 ₱9,302

$52.8 ₱3,257

185.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱286.1K

$1,218 ₱75.1K

281.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,016

$24.98 ₱1,540

95.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,700

$26.13 ₱1,611

5.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,568

$88.1 ₱5,436

-15.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,814

$61.7 ₱3,806

-26.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$140 ₱8,603

150.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,952

$70.4 ₱4,339

106.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.5K

$378 ₱23.3K

43.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$142 ₱8,736

87.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.5K

$2,755 ₱169.9K

-13.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.1K

$941 ₱58.1K

-1.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

$194 ₱11.9K

-5.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-62.50%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $140 in Zamboanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zamboanga pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $10.00 in Zamboanga. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $209, with Baguio cheaper for home cooking.

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 2% 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 6% 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: $349 in Baguio versus $140 in Zamboanga. 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 $751 in Zamboanga – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 2% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.