Cost of Living Comparison Between Cagayan de Oro City and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Cagayan de Oro City and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $758 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,126 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,494 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Cagayan de Oro City is roughly 1% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cagayan de Oro City 45% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.54 ₱221
$4.03 ₱251
-12.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.65 ₱789
$16.79 ₱1,047
-24.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.05 ₱190
$2.77 ₱173
10.11%
Cappuccino
$2.31 ₱144
$1.79 ₱111
29.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₱44.38
$0.55 ₱34.62
29.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 ₱53.7
$0.35 ₱21.53
145.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ₱89.5
$1.02 ₱63.7
40.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₱122
$1.64 ₱103
18.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ₱96.3
$1.62 ₱101
-4.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 ₱52.1
$1.12 ₱69.8
-25.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 ₱60.7
$0.98 ₱61.2
-1.02%
Eggs
$2.13 ₱133
$2.11 ₱131
0.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.69 ₱542
$5.00 ₱312
73.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 ₱208
$3.36 ₱210
-0.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.05 ₱377
$8.12 ₱507
-25.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ₱129
$2.29 ₱143
-9.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 ₱67.4
$1.62 ₱101
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.94 ₱184
$2.33 ₱145
26.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 ₱73.8
$1.08 ₱67.2
9.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 ₱139
$1.68 ₱105
32.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.65 ₱165
$1.71 ₱107
54.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 ₱48.77
$0.62 ₱38.92
25.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.59
$0.49 ₱30.52
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ₱170
$2.99 ₱186
-9.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.99 ₱249
$8.98 ₱560
-55.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₱103
$0.95 ₱59.5
73.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 ₱120
$2.11 ₱132
-8.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ₱25.97
$0.25 ₱15.61
68.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.71 ₱606
$12.67 ₱791
-23.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 ₱41.59
$0.76 ₱47.73
-11.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.40
$0.25 ₱15.68
-8.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 ₱152
$1.96 ₱122
24.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 ₱65.3
$1.20 ₱74.8
-12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ₱1.3M
$21.4K ₱1.3M
-1.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K ₱1.2M
$19.6K ₱1.2M
1.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 ₱8,431
$144 ₱8,956
-5.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.36 ₱1,395
$17.30 ₱1,079
29.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.65 ₱1,913
$23.28 ₱1,453
31.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.16 ₱1,258
$21.30 ₱1,329
-5.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.75 ₱171
$5.36 ₱335
-48.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.41 ₱275
$5.19 ₱324
-15.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$67.0 ₱4,179
$131 ₱8,174
-48.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,215 ₱138.2K
$10.6K ₱662.1K
-79.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.42 ₱2,023
$29.51 ₱1,841
9.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.40 ₱836
$19.29 ₱1,204
-30.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.0 ₱3,242
$73.0 ₱4,558
-28.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.35 ₱2,455
$55.4 ₱3,458
-29.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$380 ₱23.7K
$411 ₱25.6K
-7.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$226 ₱14.1K
$198 ₱12.3K
14.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$707 ₱44.1K
$851 ₱53.1K
-17.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 ₱28.2K
$466 ₱29.1K
-2.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,590 ₱99.2K
$2,650 ₱165.4K
-39.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$950 ₱59.3K
$919 ₱57.3K
3.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$309 ₱19.3K
$180 ₱11.2K
72.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
6.75
-

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

Last update for Cagayan de Oro City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Cagayan de Oro City and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cagayan de Oro City pays 72% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Cagayan de Oro City vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $175 per month, with Cagayan de Oro City 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
Cagayan de Oro City vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cagayan de Oro City or Baguio?
Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cagayan de Oro City or in Baguio?
Average pay runs 72% higher in Cagayan de Oro City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cagayan de Oro City compared to Baguio?
Rent for a central apartment: $380 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Cagayan de Oro City compared to Baguio?
All in, you'll spend $758 per month in Cagayan de Oro City versus $748 in Baguio – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Cagayan de Oro City compared to Baguio?
A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 30% less than in Cagayan de Oro City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Cagayan de Oro City or in Baguio?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio 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, Cagayan de Oro City or Baguio?
Both work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $748 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.
How safe is Cagayan de Oro City compared to Baguio?
Safety-wise, Cagayan de Oro City 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Cagayan de Oro City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cagayan de Oro City vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities