Cost of Living Comparison Between Mambajao and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Mambajao and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $505 in Mambajao versus $766 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $801 in Mambajao versus $1,168 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Mambajao versus $1,570 in Baguio.

Living in Mambajao costs roughly 34% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mambajao 63% lower, Baguio 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.33 ₱83.3

$4.03 ₱253

-67.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.14 ₱1,014

$16.53 ₱1,039

-2.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.27 ₱205

$2.77 ₱174

18.05%

Cappuccino

$2.26 ₱142

$1.84 ₱116

22.83%

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

$0.42 ₱26.34

$0.60 ₱37.82

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₱16.82

$0.33 ₱20.87

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ₱63.4

$1.03 ₱64.4

-1.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₱70.5

$1.57 ₱98.5

-28.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 ₱52.6

$1.66 ₱105

-49.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 ₱36.75

$1.15 ₱72.3

-49.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 ₱44.69

$1.01 ₱63.4

-29.70%

Eggs

$1.25 ₱78.8

$2.02 ₱127

-38.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 ₱356

$4.99 ₱313

13.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 ₱263

$3.47 ₱218

20.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.54 ₱348

$7.80 ₱490

-28.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 ₱147

$2.31 ₱145

1.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₱103

$1.53 ₱96.0

7.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱150

$2.30 ₱145

3.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.5

$1.04 ₱65.3

-0.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ₱77.8

$1.65 ₱104

-24.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 ₱122

$1.77 ₱111

9.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ₱46.96

$0.67 ₱41.82

11.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱35.36

$0.52 ₱32.95

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 ₱167

$2.98 ₱187

-10.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.11 ₱510

$8.49 ₱534

-4.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱62.1

$0.96 ₱60.3

3.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱74.3

$2.04 ₱128

-42.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₱13.08

$0.23 ₱14.39

-8.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱682

$12.81 ₱805

-15.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 ₱44.74

$0.81 ₱51.0

-12.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.91

$0.23 ₱14.39

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 ₱109

$1.88 ₱118

-7.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₱76.2

$1.20 ₱75.2

0.83%

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

$24.1K ₱1.5M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

12.32%

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

$20.0K ₱1.3M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

5.18%

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

$63.2 ₱3,972

$138 ₱8,673

-54.21%

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

$15.57 ₱979

$17.68 ₱1,111

-11.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.17 ₱1,267

$23.45 ₱1,473

-13.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.25 ₱1,712

$21.64 ₱1,359

25.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.54 ₱285

$5.27 ₱331

-13.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.57 ₱287

$5.13 ₱322

-10.92%

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

$144 ₱9,078

$131 ₱8,244

10.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,573 ₱475.8K

$10.8K ₱675.8K

-29.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.35 ₱2,033

$29.37 ₱1,845

10.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.79 ₱1,369

$19.10 ₱1,200

14.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.3 ₱4,225

$72.9 ₱4,577

-7.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.23 ₱3,093

$56.0 ₱3,516

-12.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$99.1 ₱6,228

$399 ₱25.1K

-75.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,520

$200 ₱12.6K

-71.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 ₱14.9K

$853 ₱53.6K

-72.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 ₱9,806

$463 ₱29.1K

-66.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,958 ₱185.8K

$2,603 ₱163.5K

13.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$927 ₱58.2K

$928 ₱58.3K

-0.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$151 ₱9,461

$179 ₱11.3K

-16.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Mambajao: September 12, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $99.1 in Mambajao and $399 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 19% 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: $16.00 in Mambajao vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $154 vs $174 per month, with Mambajao 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

Mambajao vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mambajao wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mambajao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 19% 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: $99.1 in Mambajao versus $399 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $505 per month in Mambajao versus $766 in Baguio – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mambajao runs roughly 18% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mambajao 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, Mambajao 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 Mambajao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.