Cost of Living Comparison Between Imus and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Imus and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $743 in Imus versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,120 in Imus versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,498 in Imus versus $1,491 in Baguio.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Imus 44% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.31 ₱265

$3.51 ₱216

22.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.55 ₱1,326

$13.35 ₱822

61.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.08 ₱189

$2.67 ₱165

15.36%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₱184

$2.35 ₱145

27.23%

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

$0.82 ₱50.5

$0.69 ₱42.28

18.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.19

$0.37 ₱23.01

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ₱75.3

$1.44 ₱88.4

-15.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₱165

$1.93 ₱119

38.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.92 ₱118

11.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱74.8

$1.19 ₱73.3

2.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱60.5

$1.06 ₱65.3

-7.55%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱123

$2.17 ₱134

-7.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.06 ₱435

$9.41 ₱579

-24.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.72 ₱229

17.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 ₱441

$8.61 ₱530

-16.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 ₱145

$2.72 ₱168

-13.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ₱98.3

$1.79 ₱110

-10.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 ₱180

$2.35 ₱145

24.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 ₱104

$1.17 ₱72.1

43.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 ₱106

$1.81 ₱112

-4.97%

Onion (1kg)

$3.44 ₱211

$2.20 ₱135

56.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₱97.0

$0.68 ₱41.60

130.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₱53.6

$0.78 ₱47.77

11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₱200

$3.33 ₱205

-2.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.78 ₱541

$8.71 ₱536

0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₱82.1

$1.06 ₱65.4

25.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱125

$2.34 ₱144

-13.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 ₱25.77

$0.28 ₱17.27

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.91

$0.92 ₱56.7

-15.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.52

$0.22 ₱13.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ₱133

$2.35 ₱145

-7.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.5

$1.11 ₱68.1

4.50%

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

$25.2K ₱1.6M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-20.33%

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

$17.6K ₱1.1M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-14.00%

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

$128 ₱7,860

$144 ₱8,878

-11.46%

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

$32.59 ₱2,006

$34.02 ₱2,094

-4.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.47 ₱1,630

$25.86 ₱1,592

2.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.25 ₱2,108

$22.30 ₱1,373

53.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.56 ₱281

$4.23 ₱261

7.80%

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 ₱433

$5.79 ₱356

21.42%

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

$82.8 ₱5,095

$151 ₱9,287

-45.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,340 ₱267.2K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-6.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.19 ₱1,982

$48.90 ₱3,011

-34.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.90 ₱1,841

$27.56 ₱1,697

8.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ₱4,259

$74.1 ₱4,560

-6.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 ₱5,858

$45.63 ₱2,809

108.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$135 ₱8,336

$349 ₱21.5K

-61.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 ₱6,690

$145 ₱8,937

-25.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 ₱13.9K

$543 ₱33.4K

-58.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 ₱11.4K

$265 ₱16.3K

-30.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,146 ₱132.1K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

-10.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$895 ₱55.1K

$925 ₱57.0K

-3.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 ₱10.8K

$183 ₱11.3K

-3.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

4.5

37.11%

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

Last update for Imus: July 12, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $135 in Imus and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 4% 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: $22.00 in Imus vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $206 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

Imus vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Baguio. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $135 in Imus versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $743 per month in Imus versus $764 in Baguio – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Imus 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, Imus 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 Imus 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.