Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $959 in Manila versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,528 in Manila versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,097 in Manila versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Manila is roughly 22% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.57 ₱220

50.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$13.38 ₱825

100.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$2.64 ₱162

64.39%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.36 ₱145

16.53%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.65 ₱40.14

47.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.38 ₱23.18

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.39 ₱85.5

7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.89 ₱117

38.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.88 ₱116

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.19 ₱73.4

15.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.12 ₱68.8

-6.25%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.22 ₱137

-1.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$9.21 ₱568

4.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$3.74 ₱231

38.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$8.33 ₱514

-0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.74 ₱169

27.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.39 ₱147

49.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.20 ₱74.3

107.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.81 ₱112

52.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.29 ₱141

32.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$0.73 ₱45.12

175.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.72 ₱44.25

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.26 ₱201

1.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$9.08 ₱560

7.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.06 ₱65.5

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.31 ₱143

-6.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱15.91

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

$10.85 ₱669

10.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.92 ₱57.0

-6.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.88

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.40 ₱148

-10.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.12 ₱69.0

3.57%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-17.58%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

11.72%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$147 ₱9,087

-6.14%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$35.37 ₱2,181

-37.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$26.43 ₱1,630

4.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$22.38 ₱1,380

85.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.18 ₱257

64.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.60 ₱346

17.50%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$154 ₱9,495

131.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

143.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$47.79 ₱2,947

-2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$27.10 ₱1,671

29.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$76.1 ₱4,690

8.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$45.80 ₱2,824

-0.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$345 ₱21.3K

44.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$145 ₱8,959

82.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$549 ₱33.8K

206.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$261 ₱16.1K

143.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

80.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$933 ₱57.5K

172.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$181 ₱11.2K

165.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

4.5

67.11%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Manila and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 165% 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: $27.00 in Manila vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 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

Manila vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Manila. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Manila pays 165% 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: $500 in Manila versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $959 per month in Manila versus $788 in Baguio – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 11% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $788 in Baguio versus $959 in Manila, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Baguio but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Baguio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $788 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Manila 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 22% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.