Cost of Living Comparison Between Island Garden City of Samal and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Island Garden City of Samal and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $719 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,097 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,476 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Island Garden City of Samal costs roughly 8% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Island Garden City of Samal 46% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.31 ₱80.2

$3.59 ₱220

-63.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.51 ₱765

$13.50 ₱826

-7.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.47 ₱274

$2.60 ₱159

71.92%

Cappuccino

$2.13 ₱131

$2.34 ₱143

-8.97%

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

$0.81 ₱49.69

$0.70 ₱42.94

15.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.45

$0.40 ₱24.52

32.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ₱88.8

$1.46 ₱89.2

-0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.00 ₱122

-9.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 ₱74.3

$1.89 ₱115

-35.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₱36.60

$1.25 ₱76.6

-52.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 ₱42.18

$1.11 ₱68.1

-37.84%

Eggs

$2.05 ₱126

$2.20 ₱134

-6.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.88 ₱360

$9.08 ₱555

-35.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 ₱199

$3.70 ₱226

-12.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.27 ₱323

$8.42 ₱515

-37.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 ₱177

$2.63 ₱161

9.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 ₱69.4

$1.87 ₱114

-39.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ₱140

$2.26 ₱138

1.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 ₱77.6

$1.18 ₱72.0

7.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₱141

$1.82 ₱111

26.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 ₱96.4

$2.29 ₱140

-31.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₱55.3

$0.72 ₱44.31

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.46

$0.77 ₱47.22

-35.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 ₱161

$3.35 ₱205

-21.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.18 ₱500

$9.17 ₱561

-10.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₱76.0

$1.08 ₱65.8

14.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₱74.5

$2.26 ₱138

-46.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.21

$0.26 ₱15.77

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱646

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱42.16

$0.87 ₱53.3

-20.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.09 ₱5.78

$0.22 ₱13.43

-59.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ₱132

$2.45 ₱150

-11.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.1

$1.11 ₱67.8

3.60%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-31.95%

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

1.30%

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

$100 ₱6,125

$146 ₱8,914

-31.28%

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

$34.22 ₱2,094

$34.10 ₱2,086

0.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.41 ₱2,227

$25.99 ₱1,590

40.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.49 ₱2,110

$21.76 ₱1,331

58.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.36 ₱267

$4.16 ₱254

4.81%

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 ₱268

$5.93 ₱363

-25.97%

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

$120 ₱7,321

$153 ₱9,378

-21.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,354 ₱266.4K

$4,642 ₱284.0K

-6.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.40 ₱2,839

$49.11 ₱3,005

-5.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.67 ₱1,815

$27.25 ₱1,667

8.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.4 ₱4,672

$76.3 ₱4,667

0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.2 ₱4,235

$45.91 ₱2,809

50.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.0K

$346 ₱21.2K

-24.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.8K

$142 ₱8,706

23.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₱36.4K

$544 ₱33.3K

9.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ₱24.6K

$264 ₱16.1K

52.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,083 ₱127.5K

$2,423 ₱148.2K

-14.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.56

4.5

112.44%

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

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: April 26, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Island Garden City of Samal and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Island Garden City of Samal vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $205 per month, with Island Garden City of Samal 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

Island Garden City of Samal vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Island Garden City of Samal wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Island Garden City of Samal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,078 in Island Garden City of Samal and $1,168 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: $262 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $719 per month in Island Garden City of Samal versus $779 in Baguio – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Island Garden City of Samal 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, Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.