Cost of Living Comparison Between Butuan and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Butuan and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $579 in Butuan versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $903 in Butuan versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,227 in Butuan versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in Butuan costs roughly 24% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Butuan 58% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.69 ₱292

$3.95 ₱246

18.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.84 ₱1,674

$16.48 ₱1,027

62.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.33 ₱145

$2.88 ₱179

-19.10%

Cappuccino

$2.12 ₱132

$1.77 ₱110

19.77%

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

$0.31 ₱19.11

$0.61 ₱37.75

-49.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₱14.27

$0.32 ₱19.83

-28.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 ₱97.1

$0.98 ₱60.9

59.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱145

$1.56 ₱97.5

49.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱122

$1.69 ₱105

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 ₱68.2

$1.16 ₱72.2

-6.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱58.5

$1.02 ₱63.6

-7.84%

Eggs

$1.93 ₱120

$2.07 ₱129

-6.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 ₱423

$5.15 ₱321

31.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₱268

$3.40 ₱212

26.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.69 ₱542

$8.09 ₱504

7.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 ₱162

$2.31 ₱144

12.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.2

$1.57 ₱97.6

-31.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 ₱142

$2.41 ₱150

-5.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.07 ₱66.6

12.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.76 ₱110

19.32%

Onion (1kg)

$3.61 ₱225

$1.77 ₱110

103.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₱74.1

$0.62 ₱38.69

91.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.22

$0.53 ₱33.07

24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ₱156

$2.87 ₱179

-12.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱492

$9.02 ₱562

-12.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₱77.3

$0.96 ₱59.8

29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 ₱95.7

$2.10 ₱131

-27.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱810

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.6

$0.84 ₱52.2

-1.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.69

$0.25 ₱15.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.97 ₱123

-1.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.8

$1.15 ₱71.8

-5.22%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

0.32%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-2.57%

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

$106 ₱6,632

$139 ₱8,662

-23.44%

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

$19.04 ₱1,187

$17.39 ₱1,085

9.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.42 ₱1,959

$23.64 ₱1,474

32.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.08 ₱1,501

$21.34 ₱1,331

12.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱324

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 ₱273

$5.10 ₱318

-14.31%

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

$108 ₱6,746

$134 ₱8,351

-19.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,486 ₱466.8K

$10.6K ₱658.6K

-29.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₱3,843

$28.47 ₱1,775

116.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.03 ₱1,686

$19.81 ₱1,235

36.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 ₱4,524

$70.8 ₱4,415

2.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.7 ₱3,784

$56.6 ₱3,529

7.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 ₱52.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₱29.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₱166.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 ₱56.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.31

6.75

23.11%

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

Last update for Butuan: September 7, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $27.00 in Butuan vs $16.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $178 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

Butuan vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Butuan wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Butuan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $869 in Butuan and $1,144 in Baguio 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.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $579 per month in Butuan versus $763 in Baguio – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Butuan 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, Butuan and Baguio 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 Butuan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.