Cost of Living Comparison Between Malaybalay and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Malaybalay and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $740 in Malaybalay versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Malaybalay versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,537 in Malaybalay versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Malaybalay costs roughly 1% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.94 ₱309

$4.03 ₱252

22.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.64 ₱1,041

$16.79 ₱1,050

-0.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 ₱228

$2.77 ₱173

31.41%

Cappuccino

$2.24 ₱140

$1.79 ₱112

25.14%

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

$0.46 ₱28.66

$0.55 ₱34.69

-16.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱19.18

$0.35 ₱21.57

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.02 ₱63.9

12.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.64 ₱103

16.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.62 ₱101

25.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$1.12 ₱69.9

0.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 ₱53.8

$0.98 ₱61.3

-12.24%

Eggs

$1.88 ₱118

$2.11 ₱132

-10.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.62 ₱414

$5.00 ₱313

32.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 ₱270

$3.36 ₱210

28.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 ₱530

$8.12 ₱508

4.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.29 ₱143

17.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$1.62 ₱101

-30.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 ₱139

$2.33 ₱146

-4.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱72.6

$1.08 ₱67.3

7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 ₱130

$1.68 ₱105

23.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.61 ₱226

$1.71 ₱107

111.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 ₱76.5

$0.62 ₱39.00

96.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.35

$0.49 ₱30.59

34.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.51 ₱157

$2.99 ₱187

-16.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.02 ₱502

$8.98 ₱561

-10.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱81.6

$0.95 ₱59.6

37.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₱98.5

$2.11 ₱132

-25.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ₱18.35

$0.25 ₱15.64

16.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.77 ₱611

$12.67 ₱792

-22.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.76 ₱47.83

9.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.73

$0.25 ₱15.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.96 ₱122

-3.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱71.5

$1.20 ₱75.0

-5.00%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-1.34%

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

$18.6K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-4.93%

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

$110 ₱6,881

$144 ₱8,974

-23.32%

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

$19.06 ₱1,192

$17.30 ₱1,082

10.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.68 ₱1,981

$23.28 ₱1,456

36.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.91 ₱1,808

$21.30 ₱1,332

35.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.35 ₱335

$5.36 ₱335

-0.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 ₱293

$5.19 ₱325

-9.63%

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

$109 ₱6,823

$131 ₱8,191

-16.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,551 ₱472.2K

$10.6K ₱663.5K

-28.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.95 ₱1,998

$29.51 ₱1,845

8.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.00 ₱1,251

$19.29 ₱1,206

3.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 ₱4,542

$73.0 ₱4,568

-0.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.8 ₱3,929

$55.4 ₱3,466

13.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₱16.7K

$411 ₱25.7K

-35.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₱10.9K

$198 ₱12.4K

-11.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ₱27.0K

$851 ₱53.2K

-49.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱24.6K

$466 ₱29.1K

-15.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,800 ₱175.1K

$2,650 ₱165.7K

5.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,036 ₱64.8K

$919 ₱57.5K

12.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.31

6.75

23.11%

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

Last update for Malaybalay: August 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in Malaybalay and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Malaybalay vs $17.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $175, with Baguio cheaper for home cooking.

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

Malaybalay vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malaybalay wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Malaybalay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,110 in Malaybalay and $1,122 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: $267 in Malaybalay versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $740 per month in Malaybalay versus $748 in Baguio – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Malaybalay runs roughly 30% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Malaybalay 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, Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.