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: $836 in Mandaluyong versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,290 in Mandaluyong versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,745 in Mandaluyong versus $1,490 in Baguio.

Living in Mandaluyong is roughly 6% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mandaluyong 38% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 ₱324

$3.57 ₱217

49.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.92 ₱1,088

$13.22 ₱802

35.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.37 ₱205

$2.65 ₱161

27.17%

Cappuccino

$2.45 ₱149

$2.36 ₱143

3.81%

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

$0.98 ₱59.8

$0.69 ₱41.93

42.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.85

$0.37 ₱22.55

37.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱92.3

$1.44 ₱87.5

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₱164

$1.90 ₱115

42.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.89 ₱115

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱84.6

$1.23 ₱74.8

13.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.5

$1.08 ₱65.3

-1.85%

Eggs

$2.27 ₱138

$2.26 ₱137

0.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱555

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.31 ₱323

$3.91 ₱237

35.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 ₱515

$8.75 ₱531

-3.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.64 ₱160

29.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₱113

$1.80 ₱109

3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.49 ₱212

$2.31 ₱140

51.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱147

$1.16 ₱70.2

107.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱171

$1.84 ₱112

52.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱191

$2.29 ₱139

37.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱43.97

$0.67 ₱40.39

7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.32

$0.76 ₱46.15

-7.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.21 ₱195

$3.34 ₱203

-3.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 ₱545

$8.91 ₱541

0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.1

$1.04 ₱63.1

39.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₱135

$2.32 ₱141

-4.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₱22.18

$0.28 ₱17.11

32.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱52.8

$0.85 ₱51.7

2.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.01

$0.22 ₱13.32

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱132

$2.36 ₱143

-7.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.9

$1.10 ₱67.1

4.55%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-17.01%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

1.11%

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

$139 ₱8,434

$146 ₱8,846

-4.66%

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

$34.62 ₱2,102

$35.30 ₱2,143

-1.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 ₱1,617

$26.09 ₱1,584

2.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.03 ₱2,067

$21.90 ₱1,330

55.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.54 ₱275

$4.05 ₱246

12.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ₱407

$5.82 ₱353

15.29%

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

$154 ₱9,341

$154 ₱9,378

-0.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,819 ₱292.6K

$4,658 ₱282.9K

3.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.38 ₱2,816

$48.66 ₱2,955

-4.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.59 ₱2,100

$28.00 ₱1,700

23.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,658

$76.2 ₱4,624

0.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.84 ₱2,784

$46.62 ₱2,831

-1.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₱32.6K

$340 ₱20.7K

57.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₱10.8K

$142 ₱8,635

25.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 ₱35.0K

$552 ₱33.5K

4.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 ₱23.5K

$264 ₱16.1K

46.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,928 ₱177.8K

$2,390 ₱145.1K

22.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱56.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 ₱37.3K

$184 ₱11.2K

233.38%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $536 in Mandaluyong and $340 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandaluyong pays 233% 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: $18.00 in Mandaluyong vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $206 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 6% 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 233% 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: $536 in Mandaluyong versus $340 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 $836 per month in Mandaluyong versus $788 in Baguio – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $788 in Baguio versus $836 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 6% less than in Mandaluyong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.