Cost of Living Comparison Between El Nido and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between El Nido and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $742 in El Nido versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,159 in El Nido versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in El Nido versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in El Nido costs roughly 3% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: El Nido 46% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 ₱301

$3.95 ₱248

21.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.51 ₱1,850

$16.48 ₱1,033

79.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.75 ₱235

$2.88 ₱180

30.21%

Cappuccino

$2.14 ₱134

$1.77 ₱111

20.90%

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

$1.21 ₱75.9

$0.61 ₱37.95

98.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.76

$0.32 ₱19.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 ₱73.2

$0.98 ₱61.2

19.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.56 ₱98.1

30.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 ₱92.0

$1.69 ₱106

-13.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱76.0

$1.16 ₱72.6

4.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 ₱80.6

$1.02 ₱63.9

26.47%

Eggs

$1.90 ₱119

$2.07 ₱130

-8.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.82 ₱365

$5.15 ₱323

13.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 ₱248

$3.40 ₱213

16.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.23 ₱453

$8.09 ₱507

-10.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 ₱153

$2.31 ₱145

5.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.57 ₱98.1

5.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 ₱133

$2.41 ₱151

-12.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$1.07 ₱66.9

5.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.76 ₱110

15.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 ₱122

$1.77 ₱111

9.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₱49.06

$0.62 ₱38.90

25.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.45

$0.53 ₱33.24

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 ₱175

$2.87 ₱180

-2.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.04 ₱441

$9.02 ₱565

-21.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₱56.5

$0.96 ₱60.1

-6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₱120

$2.10 ₱131

-8.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱17.04

$0.25 ₱15.71

8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 ₱727

$12.99 ₱814

-10.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱51.4

$0.84 ₱52.4

-2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.56

$0.25 ₱15.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.97 ₱123

6.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.15 ₱72.2

7.83%

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

$24.5K ₱1.5M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

16.56%

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

$17.2K ₱1.1M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-12.27%

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

$139 ₱8,720

$139 ₱8,708

0.14%

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

$14.38 ₱901

$17.39 ₱1,090

-17.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.35 ₱1,527

$23.64 ₱1,482

3.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.35 ₱1,903

$21.34 ₱1,338

42.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.31 ₱333

$5.20 ₱326

2.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ₱353

$5.10 ₱320

10.59%

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

$142 ₱8,882

$134 ₱8,395

5.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,588 ₱538.4K

$10.6K ₱662.1K

-18.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.53 ₱1,789

$28.47 ₱1,785

0.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.84 ₱1,306

$19.81 ₱1,242

5.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.3 ₱4,031

$70.8 ₱4,438

-9.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 ₱3,186

$56.6 ₱3,547

-10.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ₱16.6K

$411 ₱25.7K

-35.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₱9,869

$198 ₱12.4K

-20.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₱28.8K

$849 ₱53.2K

-45.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 ₱24.2K

$465 ₱29.1K

-16.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱151.9K

$2,662 ₱166.9K

-9.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$985 ₱61.8K

$900 ₱56.4K

9.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$253 ₱15.8K

$179 ₱11.3K

40.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for El Nido: September 5, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $266 in El Nido and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

El Nido pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30.00 in El Nido vs $16.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $176 vs $178, with El Nido 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

El Nido vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Nido wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Nido the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 41% higher in El Nido, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $266 in El Nido versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $742 per month in El Nido versus $763 in Baguio – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in El Nido runs roughly 12% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though El Nido 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, El Nido 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 El Nido gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.