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: $823 in El Nido versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,306 in El Nido versus $1,141 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,788 in El Nido versus $1,494 in Baguio.

Living in El Nido is roughly 5% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: El Nido 39% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.17 ₱311

$3.60 ₱217

43.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.48 ₱1,834

$13.38 ₱805

127.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.26 ₱256

$2.64 ₱159

61.36%

Cappuccino

$3.98 ₱239

$2.46 ₱148

61.79%

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

$1.36 ₱82.0

$0.69 ₱41.33

97.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.00

$0.37 ₱22.57

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₱82.1

$1.45 ₱87.4

-6.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱125

$1.90 ₱114

9.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱110

$1.84 ₱111

-1.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱73.3

$1.20 ₱72.2

1.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 ₱104

$1.07 ₱64.3

61.68%

Eggs

$2.60 ₱156

$2.29 ₱138

13.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱491

$9.26 ₱557

-11.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 ₱199

$3.78 ₱227

-12.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.31 ₱500

$8.48 ₱510

-2.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 ₱181

$2.67 ₱161

12.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 ₱41.33

$1.83 ₱110

-62.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.27 ₱137

19.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 ₱127

$1.20 ₱72.3

75.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 ₱133

$1.89 ₱114

16.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 ₱127

$2.30 ₱138

-8.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱66.7

$0.72 ₱43.37

54.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱42.79

$0.72 ₱43.42

-1.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 ₱168

$3.36 ₱202

-16.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.10 ₱548

$9.31 ₱560

-2.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱70.1

$1.02 ₱61.4

13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₱124

$2.27 ₱136

-9.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₱22.04

$0.28 ₱16.87

32.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.52 ₱633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱46.89

$0.93 ₱56.1

-16.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.15

$0.24 ₱14.51

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱127

$2.43 ₱146

-13.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ₱62.5

$1.16 ₱69.8

-10.34%

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

$27.0K ₱1.6M

$31.8K ₱1.9M

-15.17%

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

$20.1K ₱1.2M

$20.8K ₱1.2M

-3.00%

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

$114 ₱6,885

$144 ₱8,680

-20.69%

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

$32.43 ₱1,952

$34.34 ₱2,066

-5.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 ₱1,911

$26.06 ₱1,568

21.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.21 ₱2,059

$21.83 ₱1,314

56.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.42 ₱266

$4.12 ₱248

7.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.88 ₱354

$5.80 ₱349

1.38%

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

$153 ₱9,236

$152 ₱9,134

1.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,376 ₱263.4K

$4,819 ₱290.0K

-9.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.35 ₱2,789

$49.25 ₱2,964

-5.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ₱1,586

$27.23 ₱1,639

-3.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 ₱4,551

$73.9 ₱4,444

2.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 ₱3,232

$46.95 ₱2,826

14.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱15.8K

$346 ₱20.8K

-23.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱10.8K

$142 ₱8,575

25.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 ₱34.9K

$548 ₱33.0K

5.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₱24.1K

$261 ₱15.7K

53.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,567 ₱154.5K

$2,505 ₱150.8K

2.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 ₱57.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$262 ₱15.7K

$192 ₱11.6K

36.30%

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 El Nido: April 22, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in El Nido and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

El Nido pays 36% 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: $30 in El Nido vs $13 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $205 per month, with Baguio 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

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

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

El Nido pays 36% more on average, 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: $263 in El Nido versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in El Nido. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $823 per month in El Nido versus $788 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 Baguio 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in El Nido. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.