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: $957 in Manila versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Manila versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,118 in Manila versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Manila is roughly 25% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$3.51 ₱216

50.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$13.35 ₱822

103.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$2.67 ₱165

70.41%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.35 ₱145

16.17%

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

$0.96 ₱59.3

$0.69 ₱42.28

39.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.37 ₱23.01

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.44 ₱88.4

6.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.93 ₱119

37.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.92 ₱118

-1.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.19 ₱73.3

11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$1.06 ₱65.3

0.94%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.17 ₱134

-4.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$9.41 ₱579

-1.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$3.72 ₱229

40.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$8.61 ₱530

-0.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.72 ₱168

30.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.79 ₱110

0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.35 ₱145

52.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.17 ₱72.1

113.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$1.81 ₱112

53.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.20 ₱135

43.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.68 ₱41.60

191.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.78 ₱47.77

-12.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$3.33 ₱205

-0.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$8.71 ₱536

9.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.06 ₱65.4

37.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.34 ₱144

-9.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.28 ₱17.27

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

$10.81 ₱665

12.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.92 ₱56.7

-4.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.22 ₱13.54

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.35 ₱145

-11.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.11 ₱68.1

5.41%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-17.64%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

11.34%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$144 ₱8,878

-6.08%

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

$21.56 ₱1,328

$34.02 ₱2,094

-36.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$25.86 ₱1,592

6.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$22.30 ₱1,373

85.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.23 ₱261

61.23%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.79 ₱356

19.52%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$151 ₱9,287

140.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

149.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$48.90 ₱3,011

-3.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$27.56 ₱1,697

24.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$74.1 ₱4,560

10.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$45.63 ₱2,809

3.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$349 ₱21.5K

39.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$145 ₱8,937

87.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$543 ₱33.4K

218.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$265 ₱16.3K

141.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

81.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$925 ₱57.0K

181.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$183 ₱11.3K

155.03%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Manila and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 155% 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 $241 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

Manila vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 25% 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.

Average pay runs 155% higher in Manila, 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: $486 in Manila versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $957 per month in Manila versus $764 in Baguio – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 12% less than in Manila. 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 work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $764 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 25% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.