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: $621 in Mambajao versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $996 in Mambajao versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,371 in Mambajao versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Mambajao costs roughly 20% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mambajao 54% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 ₱93.2

$3.59 ₱220

-57.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.72 ₱1,635

$13.50 ₱826

97.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 ₱267

$2.60 ₱159

67.69%

Cappuccino

$3.16 ₱194

$2.34 ₱143

35.04%

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

$1.39 ₱85.0

$0.70 ₱42.94

98.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.29

$0.40 ₱24.52

92.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₱69.7

$1.46 ₱89.2

-21.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 ₱161

$2.00 ₱122

32.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₱80.9

$1.89 ₱115

-30.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ₱60.2

$1.25 ₱76.6

-21.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₱50.3

$1.11 ₱68.1

-26.13%

Eggs

$1.35 ₱82.8

$2.20 ₱134

-38.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 ₱496

$9.08 ₱555

-10.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.25 ₱260

$3.70 ₱226

14.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.32 ₱386

$8.42 ₱515

-24.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ₱181

$2.63 ₱161

12.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₱80.0

$1.87 ₱114

-29.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.26 ₱138

20.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₱99.5

$1.18 ₱72.0

38.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱144

$1.82 ₱111

29.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 ₱161

$2.29 ₱140

14.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 ₱64.9

$0.72 ₱44.31

47.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱43.93

$0.77 ₱47.22

-6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₱179

$3.35 ₱205

-12.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.13 ₱253

$9.17 ₱561

-54.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₱66.7

$1.08 ₱65.8

0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₱78.8

$2.26 ₱138

-42.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.46

$0.26 ₱15.77

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱646

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.4

$0.87 ₱53.3

-5.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.69

$0.22 ₱13.43

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.45 ₱150

-12.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₱86.3

$1.11 ₱67.8

27.03%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-18.42%

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

$20.1K ₱1.2M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-1.94%

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

$85.8 ₱5,251

$146 ₱8,914

-41.08%

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

$32.42 ₱1,983

$34.10 ₱2,086

-4.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.22 ₱1,359

$25.99 ₱1,590

-14.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.68 ₱2,061

$21.76 ₱1,331

54.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.32 ₱264

$4.16 ₱254

3.85%

Cinema Ticket

$6.02 ₱368

$5.93 ₱363

1.52%

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

$152 ₱9,297

$153 ₱9,378

-0.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,241 ₱259.5K

$4,642 ₱284.0K

-8.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.26 ₱2,769

$49.11 ₱3,005

-7.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.00 ₱1,652

$27.25 ₱1,667

-0.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 ₱4,597

$76.3 ₱4,667

-1.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 ₱3,290

$45.91 ₱2,809

17.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$135 ₱8,252

$346 ₱21.2K

-60.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.7 ₱5,183

$142 ₱8,706

-40.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 ₱18.0K

$544 ₱33.3K

-46.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 ₱11.9K

$264 ₱16.1K

-26.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,622 ₱160.4K

$2,423 ₱148.2K

8.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$157 ₱9,578

$186 ₱11.4K

-15.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Mambajao: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $135 in Mambajao and $346 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: $27.00 in Mambajao vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $205, with Mambajao 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

Mambajao vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mambajao wins on cost – living expenses run 25% 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, Baguio earns 19% less. 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 Mambajao versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $621 per month in Mambajao versus $779 in Baguio – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 25% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.