Cost of Living Comparison Between General Santos and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between General Santos and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $701 in General Santos versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,078 in General Santos versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,455 in General Santos versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in General Santos costs roughly 11% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: General Santos 48% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.45 ₱275

$3.57 ₱220

24.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.55 ₱650

$13.38 ₱825

-21.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.84 ₱175

$2.64 ₱162

7.58%

Cappuccino

$2.06 ₱127

$2.36 ₱145

-12.71%

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

$0.36 ₱21.95

$0.65 ₱40.14

-44.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₱18.33

$0.38 ₱23.18

-21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱69.5

$1.39 ₱85.5

-18.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₱56.2

$1.89 ₱117

-51.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 ₱86.2

$1.88 ₱116

-25.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 ₱57.3

$1.19 ₱73.4

-21.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 ₱52.3

$1.12 ₱68.8

-24.11%

Eggs

$2.06 ₱127

$2.22 ₱137

-7.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 ₱379

$9.21 ₱568

-33.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ₱185

$3.74 ₱231

-19.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.38 ₱394

$8.33 ₱514

-23.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 ₱183

$2.74 ₱169

8.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 ₱70.6

$1.80 ₱111

-36.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱142

$2.39 ₱147

-3.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 ₱26.29

$1.20 ₱74.3

-64.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$1.81 ₱112

-49.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.14 ₱193

$2.29 ₱141

37.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.73 ₱45.12

41.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱36.94

$0.72 ₱44.25

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 ₱134

$3.26 ₱201

-33.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.18 ₱504

$9.08 ₱560

-9.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₱67.0

$1.06 ₱65.5

2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₱92.6

$2.31 ₱143

-35.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₱20.82

$0.26 ₱15.91

30.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.93 ₱550

$10.85 ₱669

-17.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.6

$0.92 ₱57.0

-10.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.16 ₱9.83

$0.24 ₱14.88

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ₱81.0

$2.40 ₱148

-45.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.7

$1.12 ₱69.0

-1.79%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-35.26%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

0.82%

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

$74.6 ₱4,601

$147 ₱9,087

-49.37%

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

$34.23 ₱2,111

$35.37 ₱2,181

-3.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.19 ₱2,231

$26.43 ₱1,630

36.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.55 ₱2,069

$22.38 ₱1,380

49.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.75 ₱108

$4.18 ₱257

-58.13%

Cinema Ticket

$3.11 ₱192

$5.60 ₱346

-44.46%

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

$58.8 ₱3,628

$154 ₱9,495

-61.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,404 ₱86.5K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-70.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.99 ₱2,774

$47.79 ₱2,947

-5.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.05 ₱990

$27.10 ₱1,671

-40.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 ₱4,293

$76.1 ₱4,690

-8.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.7 ₱4,234

$45.80 ₱2,824

49.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.7K

$345 ₱21.3K

-21.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱11.0K

$145 ₱8,959

23.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 ₱36.0K

$549 ₱33.8K

6.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₱24.0K

$261 ₱16.1K

49.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

4.5

44.44%

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

Last update for General Santos: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in General Santos and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in General Santos vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $205 per month, with General Santos 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

General Santos vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

General Santos wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making General Santos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,052 in General Santos and $1,182 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: $271 in General Santos versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $701 per month in General Santos versus $788 in Baguio – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in General Santos runs roughly 22% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though General Santos 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, General Santos 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 General Santos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.