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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in Iligan City versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,217 in Iligan City versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,643 in Iligan City versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Iligan City is roughly 2% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Iligan City 41% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 ₱212

$3.59 ₱222

-4.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.64 ₱1,088

$13.50 ₱833

30.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.60 ₱160

30.77%

Cappuccino

$2.38 ₱147

$2.34 ₱145

1.71%

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

$0.79 ₱48.47

$0.70 ₱43.29

12.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₱24.09

$0.40 ₱24.72

-2.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ₱81.0

$1.46 ₱89.9

-10.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₱134

$2.00 ₱123

8.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.89 ₱116

18.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱75.2

$1.25 ₱77.3

-2.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱60.9

$1.11 ₱68.6

-10.81%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱129

$2.20 ₱135

-5.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.88 ₱486

$9.08 ₱560

-13.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 ₱309

$3.70 ₱228

35.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$8.42 ₱519

-9.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ₱179

$2.63 ₱162

10.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₱93.5

$1.87 ₱115

-18.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.26 ₱140

20.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ₱96.6

$1.18 ₱72.6

33.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.82 ₱112

27.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 ₱155

$2.29 ₱141

9.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$0.72 ₱44.67

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.53

$0.77 ₱47.61

-6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 ₱177

$3.35 ₱206

-14.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.32 ₱513

$9.17 ₱566

-9.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.08 ₱66.4

11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱125

$2.26 ₱140

-10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.92

$0.26 ₱15.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.7

$0.87 ₱53.7

-5.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.89

$0.22 ₱13.54

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.45 ₱151

-10.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.6

$1.11 ₱68.3

-0.90%

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

$26.4K ₱1.6M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-18.24%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

1.01%

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

$112 ₱6,894

$146 ₱8,987

-23.29%

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

$32.67 ₱2,015

$34.10 ₱2,103

-4.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.33 ₱1,686

$25.99 ₱1,603

5.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.68 ₱2,078

$21.76 ₱1,342

54.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.39 ₱271

$4.16 ₱256

5.53%

Cinema Ticket

$5.97 ₱368

$5.93 ₱366

0.67%

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

$152 ₱9,386

$153 ₱9,455

-0.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,317 ₱266.2K

$4,642 ₱286.3K

-7.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.59 ₱2,812

$49.11 ₱3,029

-7.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.25 ₱1,619

$27.25 ₱1,681

-3.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 ₱4,594

$76.3 ₱4,706

-2.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.2 ₱3,343

$45.91 ₱2,832

18.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$346 ₱21.3K

-21.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₱11.0K

$142 ₱8,777

25.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 ₱35.8K

$544 ₱33.6K

6.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 ₱24.4K

$264 ₱16.3K

49.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,220 ₱137.0K

$2,423 ₱149.4K

-8.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$203 ₱12.5K

$186 ₱11.5K

9.26%

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 Iligan City: April 26, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Iligan City and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iligan City pays 9% 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: $18.00 in Iligan City vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 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

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

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Iligan City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Iligan City pays 9% 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: $270 in Iligan City versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Iligan City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $791 per month in Iligan City versus $779 in Baguio – a 2% 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, Iligan 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Iligan City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.