Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotabato City and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotabato City and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $739 in Cotabato City versus $776 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Cotabato City versus $1,142 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,567 in Cotabato City versus $1,507 in Baguio.

Living in Cotabato City costs roughly 5% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cotabato City 45% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 ₱268

$3.63 ₱224

19.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.27 ₱1,498

$13.20 ₱815

83.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.51 ₱278

$2.70 ₱167

67.04%

Cappuccino

$2.12 ₱131

$2.47 ₱152

-14.17%

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

$0.81 ₱50.1

$0.69 ₱42.78

17.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.52

$0.40 ₱24.83

22.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ₱85.1

$1.38 ₱85.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱107

$1.94 ₱120

-10.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 ₱64.1

$1.83 ₱113

-43.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 ₱20.98

$1.20 ₱74.0

-71.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 ₱51.2

$1.06 ₱65.7

-21.70%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱129

$2.21 ₱136

-5.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 ₱378

$9.02 ₱557

-32.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 ₱207

$3.92 ₱242

-14.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 ₱441

$8.48 ₱523

-15.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 ₱86.4

$2.73 ₱169

-48.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.77 ₱109

-38.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.7

$2.39 ₱147

-54.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱71.7

$1.20 ₱74.1

-3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$1.92 ₱118

-36.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 ₱95.8

$2.28 ₱141

-32.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₱34.06

$0.71 ₱43.89

-22.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱36.99

$0.71 ₱44.00

-15.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.85 ₱52.7

$3.19 ₱197

-73.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 ₱492

$8.87 ₱547

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 ₱84.0

$1.04 ₱64.1

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₱95.2

$2.34 ₱144

-34.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.02

$0.26 ₱16.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.86 ₱53.1

8.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.50

$0.22 ₱13.51

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱135

$2.46 ₱152

-11.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.3

$1.12 ₱69.0

-2.68%

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

$22.5K ₱1.4M

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-30.77%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

1.49%

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

$102 ₱6,311

$145 ₱8,922

-29.27%

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

$34.33 ₱2,119

$34.50 ₱2,130

-0.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.81 ₱2,272

$26.42 ₱1,631

39.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.30 ₱2,117

$22.14 ₱1,366

54.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.52 ₱279

$4.05 ₱250

11.60%

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 ₱202

$5.61 ₱346

-41.53%

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

$121 ₱7,497

$150 ₱9,231

-18.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,319 ₱266.6K

$4,634 ₱286.1K

-6.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.25 ₱2,793

$48.95 ₱3,022

-7.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.55 ₱1,824

$27.80 ₱1,716

6.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,738

0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.5 ₱4,290

$46.78 ₱2,887

48.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.6K

$342 ₱21.1K

-21.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱11.1K

$145 ₱8,923

23.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 ₱35.6K

$539 ₱33.3K

7.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₱24.1K

$270 ₱16.7K

44.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,723 ₱168.1K

$2,477 ₱152.9K

9.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$888 ₱54.8K

$927 ₱57.2K

-4.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$187 ₱11.6K

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 Cotabato City: July 20, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Cotabato City and $342 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cotabato City vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $148 vs $205, with Cotabato 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

Cotabato City vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cotabato City wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cotabato City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,108 in Cotabato City and $1,165 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: $269 in Cotabato City versus $342 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $739 per month in Cotabato City versus $776 in Baguio – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Cotabato City 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, Cotabato 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.

Expats usually find Cotabato City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.