Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandaluyong and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandaluyong and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $855 in Mandaluyong versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,315 in Mandaluyong versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,775 in Mandaluyong versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Mandaluyong is roughly 10% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mandaluyong 36% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.37 ₱329

$3.59 ₱220

49.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.41 ₱1,065

$13.50 ₱826

28.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.33 ₱203

$2.60 ₱159

28.08%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₱145

$2.34 ₱143

1.28%

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

$0.90 ₱55.2

$0.70 ₱42.94

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.78

$0.40 ₱24.52

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.9

$1.46 ₱89.2

4.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ₱165

$2.00 ₱122

34.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ₱82.2

$1.25 ₱76.6

7.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.7

$1.11 ₱68.1

-4.50%

Eggs

$2.27 ₱139

$2.20 ₱134

3.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.99 ₱550

$9.08 ₱555

-0.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 ₱316

$3.70 ₱226

39.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.69 ₱532

$8.42 ₱515

3.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱214

$2.63 ₱161

33.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱111

$1.87 ₱114

-3.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.53 ₱216

$2.26 ₱138

56.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.18 ₱72.0

110.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱170

$1.82 ₱111

52.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 ₱191

$2.29 ₱140

36.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱40.69

$0.72 ₱44.31

-6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.81

$0.77 ₱47.22

-15.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₱198

$3.35 ₱205

-3.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 ₱541

$9.17 ₱561

-3.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₱93.1

$1.08 ₱65.8

40.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱129

$2.26 ₱138

-6.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₱22.39

$0.26 ₱15.77

42.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱646

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.0

$0.87 ₱53.3

6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.56

$0.22 ₱13.43

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.45 ₱150

-14.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.11 ₱67.8

3.60%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-16.97%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

1.16%

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

$136 ₱8,344

$146 ₱8,914

-6.39%

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

$35.15 ₱2,151

$34.10 ₱2,086

3.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.71 ₱1,634

$25.99 ₱1,590

2.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.51 ₱2,111

$21.76 ₱1,331

58.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.41 ₱270

$4.16 ₱254

6.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₱411

$5.93 ₱363

13.32%

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

$151 ₱9,256

$153 ₱9,378

-1.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,679 ₱286.3K

$4,642 ₱284.0K

0.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.36 ₱2,898

$49.11 ₱3,005

-3.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.30 ₱2,098

$27.25 ₱1,667

25.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ₱4,541

$76.3 ₱4,667

-2.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.64 ₱2,853

$45.91 ₱2,809

1.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$525 ₱32.1K

$346 ₱21.2K

51.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱11.0K

$142 ₱8,706

26.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 ₱36.3K

$544 ₱33.3K

9.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.8K

$264 ₱16.1K

47.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,980 ₱182.3K

$2,423 ₱148.2K

23.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ₱38.1K

$186 ₱11.4K

235.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Mandaluyong: April 26, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $525 in Mandaluyong and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandaluyong pays 235% 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: $17.00 in Mandaluyong vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $205 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

Mandaluyong vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Mandaluyong. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Mandaluyong pays 235% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $525 in Mandaluyong 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 Mandaluyong. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Mandaluyong versus $779 in Baguio – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $779 in Baguio versus $855 in Mandaluyong, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Baguio but tight or insufficient in Mandaluyong. The gap between the two cities makes Baguio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Mandaluyong 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Mandaluyong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.