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: $934 in Mandaue versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,374 in Mandaue versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,814 in Mandaue versus $1,520 in Baguio.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Mandaue 30% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 ₱279

$3.57 ₱220

26.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.25 ₱1,495

$13.38 ₱825

81.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 ₱267

$2.64 ₱162

64.02%

Cappuccino

$2.64 ₱163

$2.36 ₱145

11.86%

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

$0.81 ₱49.70

$0.65 ₱40.14

24.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.81

$0.38 ₱23.18

18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 ₱96.6

$1.39 ₱85.5

12.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱128

$1.89 ₱117

10.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 ₱128

$1.88 ₱116

10.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ₱46.14

$1.19 ₱73.4

-36.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱59.9

$1.12 ₱68.8

-13.39%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱138

$2.22 ₱137

0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.75 ₱786

$9.21 ₱568

38.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.17 ₱319

$3.74 ₱231

38.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 ₱464

$8.33 ₱514

-9.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.74 ₱169

30.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₱92.7

$1.80 ₱111

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.39 ₱147

36.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱139

$1.20 ₱74.3

88.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 ₱158

$1.81 ₱112

41.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₱156

$2.29 ₱141

10.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ₱60.3

$0.73 ₱45.12

34.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.69

$0.72 ₱44.25

9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.68 ₱165

$3.26 ₱201

-17.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.34 ₱391

$9.08 ₱560

-30.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱70.9

$1.06 ₱65.5

8.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.31 ₱143

1.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.01

$0.26 ₱15.91

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.7

$0.92 ₱57.0

-8.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.51

$0.24 ₱14.88

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 ₱163

$2.40 ₱148

10.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.2

$1.12 ₱69.0

-2.68%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-6.89%

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

$27.5K ₱1.7M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

35.12%

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

$95.5 ₱5,886

$147 ₱9,087

-35.22%

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

$26.50 ₱1,634

$35.37 ₱2,181

-25.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.84 ₱1,840

$26.43 ₱1,630

12.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.94 ₱2,956

$22.38 ₱1,380

114.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.47 ₱276

$4.18 ₱257

6.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.91 ₱364

$5.60 ₱346

5.54%

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

$230 ₱14.2K

$154 ₱9,495

49.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,847 ₱237.2K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-18.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.31 ₱2,856

$47.79 ₱2,947

-3.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.90 ₱1,412

$27.10 ₱1,671

-15.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ₱4,759

$76.1 ₱4,690

1.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.8 ₱3,438

$45.80 ₱2,824

21.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ₱16.4K

$345 ₱21.3K

-22.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 ₱17.5K

$145 ₱8,959

95.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$854 ₱52.7K

$549 ₱33.8K

55.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 ₱26.9K

$261 ₱16.1K

66.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,353 ₱145.1K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

-2.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$958 ₱59.1K

$933 ₱57.5K

2.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$242 ₱14.9K

$181 ₱11.2K

33.30%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $266 in Mandaue and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandaue pays 33% 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 $228 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

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.

Mandaue pays 33% 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: $266 in Mandaue versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Mandaue. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Mandaue versus $788 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.