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: $731 in Butuan versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Butuan versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,527 in Butuan versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Butuan costs roughly 7% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Butuan 45% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ₱272

$3.57 ₱220

23.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.09 ₱992

$13.38 ₱825

20.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.33 ₱144

$2.64 ₱162

-11.74%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₱100

$2.36 ₱145

-30.93%

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

$0.33 ₱20.25

$0.65 ₱40.14

-49.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱19.22

$0.38 ₱23.18

-18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.39 ₱85.5

-16.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.89 ₱117

-4.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₱102

$1.88 ₱116

-12.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₱63.8

$1.19 ₱73.4

-13.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.1

$1.12 ₱68.8

-11.61%

Eggs

$1.98 ₱122

$2.22 ₱137

-10.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.73 ₱353

$9.21 ₱568

-37.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ₱223

$3.74 ₱231

-3.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 ₱454

$8.33 ₱514

-11.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.1

$2.74 ₱169

-49.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 ₱33.96

$1.80 ₱111

-69.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 ₱53.8

$2.39 ₱147

-63.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ₱86.6

$1.20 ₱74.3

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.81 ₱112

21.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 ₱197

$2.29 ₱141

39.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$0.73 ₱45.12

89.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.27

$0.72 ₱44.25

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ₱150

$3.26 ₱201

-25.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.29 ₱511

$9.08 ₱560

-8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.55

$1.06 ₱65.5

-32.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₱53.5

$2.31 ₱143

-62.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.34

$0.26 ₱15.91

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱46.67

$0.92 ₱57.0

-17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.46

$0.24 ₱14.88

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.40 ₱148

-10.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.2

$1.12 ₱69.0

1.79%

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

$22.3K ₱1.4M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-29.80%

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

$20.9K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

2.62%

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

$106 ₱6,539

$147 ₱9,087

-28.05%

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

$33.91 ₱2,091

$35.37 ₱2,181

-4.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.49 ₱2,188

$26.43 ₱1,630

34.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.79 ₱2,084

$22.38 ₱1,380

50.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.32 ₱266

$4.18 ₱257

3.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 ₱270

$5.60 ₱346

-21.79%

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

$72.1 ₱4,443

$154 ₱9,495

-53.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,766 ₱108.9K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-62.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.95 ₱2,834

$47.79 ₱2,947

-3.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.10 ₱623

$27.10 ₱1,671

-62.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.9 ₱4,370

$76.1 ₱4,690

-6.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 ₱4,191

$45.80 ₱2,824

48.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.2K

$345 ₱21.3K

-23.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.8K

$145 ₱8,959

21.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₱36.5K

$549 ₱33.8K

7.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$261 ₱16.1K

52.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,749 ₱169.5K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

13.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,070 ₱66.0K

$933 ₱57.5K

14.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.56

4.5

112.44%

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

Last update for Butuan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Butuan and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Butuan vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $164 vs $205, with Butuan 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

Butuan vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Butuan wins on cost – living expenses run 8% 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 $1,097 in Butuan and $1,182 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Butuan versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $731 per month in Butuan versus $788 in Baguio – a 8% 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 8% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.