🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $760 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $764 in Baguio.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,122 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,128 in Baguio.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,484 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,491 in Baguio.
🌍Living in Cagayan de Oro City costs roughly 1% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cagayan de Oro City43% lower, Baguio43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.88₱239
$3.51₱216
10.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.45₱890
$13.35₱822
8.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.38₱208
$2.67₱165
26.59%
Cappuccino
$2.52₱155
$2.35₱145
7.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98₱60.1
$0.69₱42.28
42.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₱21.87
$0.37₱23.01
-2.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46₱90.0
$1.44₱88.4
1.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39₱147
$1.93₱119
23.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65₱102
$1.92₱118
-14.06%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91₱55.8
$1.19₱73.3
-23.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92₱56.6
$1.06₱65.3
-13.21%
Eggs
$2.40₱147
$2.17₱134
10.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.11₱376
$9.41₱579
-35.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.64₱224
$3.72₱229
-2.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.64₱409
$8.61₱530
-22.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33₱143
$2.72₱168
-14.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13₱69.9
$1.79₱110
-36.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.37₱146
$2.35₱145
0.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.28₱78.6
$1.17₱72.1
9.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26₱139
$1.81₱112
24.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81₱173
$2.20₱135
27.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91₱55.8
$0.68₱41.60
33.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47₱28.72
$0.78₱47.77
-39.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49₱153
$3.33₱205
-25.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.99₱246
$8.71₱536
-54.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42₱87.3
$1.06₱65.4
33.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55₱95.6
$2.34₱144
-33.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.41₱25.24
$0.28₱17.27
46.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.46₱521
$10.81₱665
-21.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70₱42.93
$0.92₱56.7
-23.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.54
$0.22₱13.54
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.07₱127
$2.35₱145
-11.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₱70.4
$1.11₱68.1
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K₱1.3M
$31.7K₱1.9M
-35.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K₱1.2M
$20.5K₱1.3M
-5.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106₱6,542
$144₱8,878
-26.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.96₱2,460
$34.02₱2,094
17.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.15₱2,041
$25.86₱1,592
28.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.81₱1,343
$22.30₱1,373
-2.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.32₱204
$4.23₱261
-21.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56₱281
$5.79₱356
-21.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186₱11.5K
$151₱9,287
23.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,518₱155.1K
$4,640₱285.6K
-45.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.44₱2,182
$48.90₱3,011
-27.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.29₱880
$27.56₱1,697
-48.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.6₱3,482
$74.1₱4,560
-23.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.47₱2,676
$45.63₱2,809
-4.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$356₱21.9K
$349₱21.5K
1.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214₱13.2K
$145₱8,937
47.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579₱35.6K
$543₱33.4K
6.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374₱23.0K
$265₱16.3K
41.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,611₱99.2K
$2,392₱147.2K
-32.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$989₱60.9K
$925₱57.0K
6.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cagayan de Oro City
Baguio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$313₱19.3K
$183₱11.3K
71.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
4.5
48.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cagayan de Oro City: July 12, 2026
Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Cagayan de Oro City and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cagayan de Oro City pays 71% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Cagayan de Oro City vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $169 vs $206, with Cagayan de Oro City 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
Cagayan de Oro City vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cagayan de Oro City or Baguio?
Cagayan de Oro City wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cagayan de Oro City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cagayan de Oro City or in Baguio?
Average pay runs 71% 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: $356 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $349 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 $760 per month in Cagayan de Oro City versus $764 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 Cagayan de Oro City runs roughly 28% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Cagayan de Oro City or in Baguio?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cagayan de Oro City 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 Cagayan de Oro City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $760 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cagayan de Oro City 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 Cagayan de Oro City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Baguio. 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