Cost of Living Comparison Between Marawi and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Marawi and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $777 in Marawi versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,220 in Marawi versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,663 in Marawi versus $1,490 in Baguio.

Living in Marawi costs roughly 1% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Marawi 42% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 ₱215

$3.57 ₱217

-1.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.57 ₱1,067

$13.22 ₱802

32.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.21 ₱195

$2.65 ₱161

21.13%

Cappuccino

$2.45 ₱149

$2.36 ₱143

3.81%

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

$0.77 ₱46.78

$0.69 ₱41.93

11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.25

$0.37 ₱22.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₱82.6

$1.44 ₱87.5

-5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱128

$1.90 ₱115

11.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱110

$1.89 ₱115

-3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱73.5

$1.23 ₱74.8

-1.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱56.9

$1.08 ₱65.3

-12.96%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱121

$2.26 ₱137

-11.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 ₱486

$9.14 ₱555

-12.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 ₱257

$3.91 ₱237

8.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 ₱457

$8.75 ₱531

-14.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 ₱183

$2.64 ₱160

14.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₱96.3

$1.80 ₱109

-11.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 ₱163

$2.31 ₱140

16.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱93.6

$1.16 ₱70.2

32.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₱139

$1.84 ₱112

25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₱154

$2.29 ₱139

10.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱65.5

$0.67 ₱40.39

61.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₱44.05

$0.76 ₱46.15

-3.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 ₱168

$3.34 ₱203

-17.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.69 ₱528

$8.91 ₱541

-2.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱72.4

$1.04 ₱63.1

14.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱124

$2.32 ₱141

-12.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.66

$0.28 ₱17.11

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.15

$0.85 ₱51.7

-8.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.34

$0.22 ₱13.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱133

$2.36 ₱143

-7.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.0

$1.10 ₱67.1

4.55%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-17.86%

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

$20.5K ₱1.2M

0.13%

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

$113 ₱6,854

$146 ₱8,846

-22.52%

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

$32.80 ₱1,992

$35.30 ₱2,143

-7.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.22 ₱1,653

$26.09 ₱1,584

4.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.51 ₱2,035

$21.90 ₱1,330

53.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.54 ₱276

$4.05 ₱246

12.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 ₱356

$5.82 ₱353

0.69%

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

$153 ₱9,279

$154 ₱9,378

-1.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,316 ₱262.1K

$4,658 ₱282.9K

-7.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.03 ₱2,734

$48.66 ₱2,955

-7.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.69 ₱1,620

$28.00 ₱1,700

-4.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,570

$76.2 ₱4,624

-1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 ₱3,264

$46.62 ₱2,831

15.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.4K

$340 ₱20.7K

-20.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱10.9K

$142 ₱8,635

25.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 ₱35.2K

$552 ₱33.5K

5.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 ₱24.0K

$264 ₱16.1K

49.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,579 ₱156.6K

$2,390 ₱145.1K

7.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,030 ₱62.6K

$933 ₱56.7K

10.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$291 ₱17.6K

$184 ₱11.2K

57.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Marawi: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Marawi and $340 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Marawi pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Marawi vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $206, with Marawi cheaper for home cooking.

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

Marawi vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marawi wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Marawi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Marawi pays 58% 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: $271 in Marawi versus $340 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Marawi versus $788 in Baguio – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Marawi 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, Marawi 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 Marawi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.