Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandaue and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandaue and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $905 in Mandaue versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,369 in Mandaue versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,833 in Mandaue versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Mandaue is roughly 18% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mandaue 32% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$3.51 ₱216

25.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.85 ₱1,468

$13.35 ₱822

78.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.37 ₱269

$2.67 ₱165

63.67%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₱157

$2.35 ₱145

8.51%

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

$0.78 ₱48.26

$0.69 ₱42.28

13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.31

$0.37 ₱23.01

16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.8

$1.44 ₱88.4

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.93 ₱119

11.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱130

$1.92 ₱118

10.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ₱49.37

$1.19 ₱73.3

-32.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱60.5

$1.06 ₱65.3

-7.55%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱139

$2.17 ₱134

4.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.94 ₱797

$9.41 ₱579

37.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 ₱319

$3.72 ₱229

39.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 ₱478

$8.61 ₱530

-9.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$2.72 ₱168

31.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱94.3

$1.79 ₱110

-14.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$2.35 ₱145

44.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱139

$1.17 ₱72.1

93.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 ₱157

$1.81 ₱112

40.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 ₱152

$2.20 ₱135

12.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₱57.7

$0.68 ₱41.60

38.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.55

$0.78 ₱47.77

1.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 ₱161

$3.33 ₱205

-21.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.24 ₱384

$8.71 ₱536

-28.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₱71.8

$1.06 ₱65.4

10.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₱145

$2.34 ₱144

0.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.98

$0.28 ₱17.27

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.4

$0.92 ₱56.7

-5.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.48

$0.22 ₱13.54

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 ₱162

$2.35 ₱145

11.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.2

$1.11 ₱68.1

-1.80%

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

$30.1K ₱1.9M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-4.99%

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

$27.4K ₱1.7M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

33.49%

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

$96.6 ₱5,944

$144 ₱8,878

-33.04%

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

$26.07 ₱1,605

$34.02 ₱2,094

-23.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.13 ₱1,855

$25.86 ₱1,592

16.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.75 ₱3,001

$22.30 ₱1,373

118.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.36 ₱268

$4.23 ₱261

3.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.11 ₱376

$5.79 ₱356

5.53%

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

$228 ₱14.1K

$151 ₱9,287

51.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,860 ₱237.6K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-16.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.98 ₱2,769

$48.90 ₱3,011

-8.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.33 ₱1,437

$27.56 ₱1,697

-15.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 ₱4,667

$74.1 ₱4,560

2.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.5 ₱3,416

$45.63 ₱2,809

21.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$349 ₱21.5K

-24.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.7K

$145 ₱8,937

97.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 ₱51.6K

$543 ₱33.4K

54.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$442 ₱27.2K

$265 ₱16.3K

67.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,718 ₱167.3K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

13.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$837 ₱51.5K

$925 ₱57.0K

-9.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$246 ₱15.1K

$183 ₱11.3K

34.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

77.78%

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

Last update for Mandaue: July 14, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Mandaue and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandaue pays 34% 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: $24.00 in Mandaue vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 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

Mandaue vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Mandaue. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 34% higher in Mandaue, 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: $263 in Mandaue versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Mandaue. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $905 per month in Mandaue versus $764 in Baguio – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio 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, Mandaue 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 18% less than in Mandaue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.