😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $666 in Battambang versus $618 in General Santos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,050 in Battambang versus $1,007 in General Santos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,433 in Battambang versus $1,396 in General Santos.
🌍Living in Battambang is roughly 8% more expensive than in General Santos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Battambang52% lower, General Santos55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Battambang
General Santos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.43៛9,822
$3.42₱214
-28.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.87៛72.2K
$27.30₱1,707
-34.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.48៛26.2K
$2.76₱173
134.78%
Cappuccino
$1.36៛5,514
$2.61₱163
-47.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67៛2,726
$0.30₱18.85
123.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51៛2,066
$0.25₱15.70
104.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.87៛3,511
$1.58₱99.1
-44.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30៛9,298
$2.36₱147
-2.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Battambang
General Santos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19៛8,832
$2.01₱126
8.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01៛4,091
$1.13₱70.9
-10.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98៛3,947
$0.88₱54.9
11.36%
Eggs
$1.68៛6,796
$1.94₱121
-13.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.20៛61.4K
$6.62₱414
129.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.39៛9,678
$4.15₱260
-42.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.23៛37.3K
$8.73₱546
5.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82៛15.5K
$2.69₱168
42.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28៛5,182
$1.12₱70.0
14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.26៛17.2K
$2.33₱146
82.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13៛8,606
$1.21₱75.7
76.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61៛6,488
$2.08₱130
-22.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09៛4,424
$3.10₱194
-64.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72៛2,890
$1.20₱74.7
-40.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71៛2,880
$0.66₱41.43
7.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92៛7,742
$2.41₱151
-20.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.21៛45.3K
$8.05₱503
39.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.64៛2,597
$1.26₱78.8
-49.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02៛4,124
$1.60₱99.9
-36.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Battambang
General Santos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.41₱25.86
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.20₱513
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91៛3,687
$0.83₱52.1
9.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87៛3,506
$0.23₱14.37
278.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.88៛19.7K
$0.83₱52.0
487.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20៛4,866
$1.07₱66.7
12.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K៛140.5M
$20.8K₱1.3M
66.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K៛138.8M
$18.7K₱1.2M
83.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Battambang
General Santos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.2៛259.4K
$75.1₱4,696
-14.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.67៛10.8K
$6.50₱406
-58.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.06៛101.3K
$31.86₱1,992
-21.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Battambang
General Santos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.39៛90.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.04៛20.4K
$4.73₱296
6.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Battambang
General Santos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.0៛367.7K
$108₱6,772
-15.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,862៛15.6M
$7,671₱479.7K
-49.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Battambang
General Santos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.23៛81.8K
$62.3₱3,896
-67.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.71៛95.8K
$26.97₱1,686
-12.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.6៛362.0K
$71.2₱4,454
25.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.86៛181.3K
$61.1₱3,822
-26.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Battambang
General Santos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$227៛915.7K
$178₱11.1K
27.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$151៛610.3K
$112₱6,973
35.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$420៛1.7M
$367₱23.0K
14.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$327៛1.3M
$241₱15.1K
35.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Battambang
General Santos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$201៛812.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.25
8.31
-12.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Battambang: August 31, 2026
Last update for General Santos: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $227 in Battambang and $178 in General Santos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $18.00 in Battambang vs $27.00 in General Santos. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $196, with General Santos 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
Battambang vs General Santos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Battambang or General Santos?
General Santos wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Battambang. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making General Santos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Battambang and in General Santos?
You'd need roughly $999 in Battambang and $927 in General Santos to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Battambang compared to General Santos?
Rent for a central apartment: $227 in Battambang versus $178 in General Santos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Battambang and in General Santos?
Childcare runs $91.0 in Battambang versus $108 in General Santos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Battambang and in General Santos?
Dining out is cheaper in General Santos – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $18.00 in Battambang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Battambang or in General Santos?
Either city works on $800 a month, though General Santos gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Battambang or General Santos?
Both work as nomad bases, but General Santos delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $618 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes General Santos hard to pass up.
How safe is Battambang compared to General Santos?
Safety-wise, Battambang and General Santos are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find General Santos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Battambang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Battambang vs other spots: cost of living compared