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: $842 in Mandaue versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Mandaue versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,562 in Mandaue versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Mandaue is roughly 13% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mandaue 39% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.12 ₱195

$4.03 ₱252

-22.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.01 ₱1,439

$16.79 ₱1,050

37.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 ₱244

$2.77 ₱173

40.79%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱157

$1.79 ₱112

40.22%

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

$0.59 ₱36.76

$0.55 ₱34.69

7.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.03

$0.35 ₱21.58

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 ₱111

$1.02 ₱63.9

74.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 ₱138

$1.64 ₱103

34.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱122

$1.62 ₱101

19.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱74.4

$1.12 ₱70.0

6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ₱57.7

$0.98 ₱61.3

-6.12%

Eggs

$2.06 ₱129

$2.11 ₱132

-2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.95 ₱622

$5.00 ₱313

99.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 ₱279

$3.36 ₱210

32.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.39 ₱462

$8.12 ₱508

-8.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 ₱207

$2.29 ₱143

44.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.9

$1.62 ₱101

-9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 ₱151

$2.33 ₱146

3.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ₱97.0

$1.08 ₱67.3

43.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱147

$1.68 ₱105

40.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.71 ₱107

10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 ₱74.9

$0.62 ₱39.00

93.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₱39.13

$0.49 ₱30.59

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.47 ₱154

$2.99 ₱187

-17.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 ₱399

$8.98 ₱561

-29.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₱77.3

$0.95 ₱59.6

30.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₱105

$2.11 ₱132

-19.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱14.86

$0.25 ₱15.64

-4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱661

$12.67 ₱793

-16.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱49.01

$0.76 ₱47.83

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.09

$0.25 ₱15.71

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.96 ₱122

-1.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.2

$1.20 ₱75.0

5.83%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-0.70%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

0.75%

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

$99.6 ₱6,229

$144 ₱8,975

-30.60%

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

$14.83 ₱927

$17.30 ₱1,082

-14.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.47 ₱1,781

$23.28 ₱1,456

22.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.87 ₱1,993

$21.30 ₱1,332

49.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.02 ₱314

$5.36 ₱335

-6.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.69 ₱356

$5.19 ₱325

9.63%

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

$136 ₱8,512

$131 ₱8,192

3.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,067 ₱504.5K

$10.6K ₱663.5K

-23.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.04 ₱2,004

$29.51 ₱1,845

8.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.34 ₱1,210

$19.29 ₱1,206

0.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 ₱4,911

$73.0 ₱4,568

7.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.8 ₱3,674

$55.4 ₱3,466

6.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 ₱27.5K

$411 ₱25.7K

7.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 ₱15.8K

$198 ₱12.4K

27.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₱47.1K

$851 ₱53.2K

-11.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 ₱22.2K

$466 ₱29.1K

-23.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,943 ₱184.0K

$2,650 ₱165.7K

11.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,157 ₱72.4K

$919 ₱57.5K

25.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 ₱15.3K

$180 ₱11.2K

36.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Mandaue: August 30, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Mandaue and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandaue pays 36% 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: $23.00 in Mandaue vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $175 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 13% 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 36% 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: $440 in Mandaue versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $842 per month in Mandaue versus $748 in Baguio – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 20% less than in Mandaue. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 13% less than in Mandaue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.