Cost of Living Comparison Between Iloilo and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Iloilo and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $663 in Iloilo versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,033 in Iloilo versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,404 in Iloilo versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Iloilo costs roughly 11% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Iloilo 52% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iloilo
Baguio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84 ₱177
$4.03 ₱251
-29.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.33 ₱1,206
$16.79 ₱1,047
15.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.27 ₱204
$2.77 ₱173
18.05%
Cappuccino
$1.97 ₱123
$1.79 ₱111
10.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₱40.35
$0.55 ₱34.62
18.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₱21.46
$0.35 ₱21.53
-2.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ₱68.2
$1.02 ₱63.7
6.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₱108
$1.64 ₱103
6.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iloilo
Baguio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 ₱102
$1.62 ₱101
0.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 ₱75.0
$1.12 ₱69.8
7.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 ₱55.7
$0.98 ₱61.2
-9.18%
Eggs
$2.04 ₱127
$2.11 ₱131
-3.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.86 ₱366
$5.00 ₱312
17.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 ₱256
$3.36 ₱210
22.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.32 ₱394
$8.12 ₱507
-22.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 ₱205
$2.29 ₱143
43.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ₱68.0
$1.62 ₱101
-32.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 ₱193
$2.33 ₱145
33.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ₱89.9
$1.08 ₱67.2
33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 ₱144
$1.68 ₱105
36.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 ₱175
$1.71 ₱107
64.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₱88.8
$0.62 ₱38.92
129.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₱51.0
$0.49 ₱30.52
67.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09 ₱193
$2.99 ₱186
3.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.56 ₱410
$8.98 ₱560
-26.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 ₱68.5
$0.95 ₱59.5
15.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱82.1
$2.11 ₱132
-37.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Iloilo
Baguio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₱15.04
$0.25 ₱15.61
-4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.60 ₱287
$12.67 ₱791
-63.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱45.94
$0.76 ₱47.73
-2.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₱20.85
$0.25 ₱15.68
32.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 ₱151
$1.96 ₱122
23.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₱68.4
$1.20 ₱74.8
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ₱1.3M
$21.4K ₱1.3M
-0.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K ₱1.2M
$19.6K ₱1.2M
-0.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iloilo
Baguio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 ₱3,932
$144 ₱8,956
-56.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 ₱599
$17.30 ₱1,079
-44.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.04 ₱1,687
$23.28 ₱1,453
16.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iloilo
Baguio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.36 ₱584
$21.30 ₱1,329
-56.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.36 ₱335
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.67 ₱292
$5.19 ₱324
-10.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iloilo
Baguio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$32.35 ₱2,019
$131 ₱8,174
-75.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$10.6K ₱662.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iloilo
Baguio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.00 ₱1,498
$29.51 ₱1,841
-18.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.31 ₱1,080
$19.29 ₱1,204
-10.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.0 ₱3,556
$73.0 ₱4,558
-21.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$24.08 ₱1,502
$55.4 ₱3,458
-56.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iloilo
Baguio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 ₱18.2K
$411 ₱25.6K
-29.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 ₱14.0K
$198 ₱12.3K
13.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 ₱80.7K
$851 ₱53.1K
51.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$434 ₱27.1K
$466 ₱29.1K
-6.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,759 ₱234.6K
$2,650 ₱165.4K
41.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,048 ₱65.4K
$919 ₱57.3K
14.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iloilo
Baguio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$205 ₱12.8K
$180 ₱11.2K
14.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.33
6.75
8.59%

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

Last update for Iloilo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $291 in Iloilo and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iloilo pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Iloilo vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $175 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
Iloilo vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Iloilo or Baguio?
Iloilo wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Iloilo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Iloilo or in Baguio?
Average pay runs 14% higher in Iloilo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Iloilo compared to Baguio?
Rent for a central apartment: $291 in Iloilo versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Iloilo compared to Baguio?
All in, you'll spend $663 per month in Iloilo versus $748 in Baguio – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Iloilo compared to Baguio?
A monthly transit pass in Iloilo runs roughly 175% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Iloilo or in Baguio?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Iloilo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Iloilo or Baguio?
Both work as nomad bases, but Iloilo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $663 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Iloilo hard to pass up.
How safe is Iloilo compared to Baguio?
Safety-wise, Iloilo 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Iloilo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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