Cost of Living Comparison Between Marikina and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Marikina and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $684 in Marikina versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,072 in Marikina versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,459 in Marikina versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Marikina costs roughly 13% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Marikina 49% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 ₱214

$3.57 ₱220

-2.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.45 ₱1,754

$13.38 ₱825

112.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.46 ₱214

$2.64 ₱162

31.06%

Cappuccino

$2.69 ₱166

$2.36 ₱145

13.98%

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

$0.72 ₱44.50

$0.65 ₱40.14

10.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.94

$0.38 ₱23.18

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₱66.9

$1.39 ₱85.5

-22.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱162

$1.89 ₱117

39.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₱127

$1.88 ₱116

9.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ₱89.7

$1.19 ₱73.4

21.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ₱68.0

$1.12 ₱68.8

-1.79%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱139

$2.22 ₱137

1.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 ₱490

$9.21 ₱568

-13.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 ₱284

$3.74 ₱231

23.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 ₱489

$8.33 ₱514

-4.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱167

$2.74 ₱169

-0.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.80 ₱111

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$2.39 ₱147

13.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ₱133

$1.20 ₱74.3

80.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 ₱205

$1.81 ₱112

83.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 ₱179

$2.29 ₱141

27.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.73 ₱45.12

56.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.57

$0.72 ₱44.25

-4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱176

$3.26 ₱201

-12.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.76 ₱540

$9.08 ₱560

-3.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₱76.6

$1.06 ₱65.5

16.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.31 ₱143

-9.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.46

$0.26 ₱15.91

76.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.15

$0.92 ₱57.0

-17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.64

$0.24 ₱14.88

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₱223

$2.40 ₱148

50.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.12 ₱69.0

-1.79%

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

$34.0K ₱2.1M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

7.09%

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

$17.4K ₱1.1M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

-14.33%

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

$110 ₱6,765

$147 ₱9,087

-25.55%

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

$13.62 ₱840

$35.37 ₱2,181

-61.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.05 ₱1,606

$26.43 ₱1,630

-1.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.93 ₱2,585

$22.38 ₱1,380

87.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 ₱393

$5.60 ₱346

13.93%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$154 ₱9,495

108.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,131 ₱69.8K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-75.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$47.79 ₱2,947

-2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ₱1,606

$27.10 ₱1,671

-3.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.5 ₱3,482

$76.1 ₱4,690

-25.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.95 ₱1,662

$45.80 ₱2,824

-41.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₱11.0K

$345 ₱21.3K

-48.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.2 ₱5,435

$145 ₱8,959

-39.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 ₱18.3K

$549 ₱33.8K

-45.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 ₱10.4K

$261 ₱16.1K

-35.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,140 ₱70.3K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

-52.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$478 ₱29.5K

$933 ₱57.5K

-48.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$398 ₱24.5K

$181 ₱11.2K

119.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

4.5

38.89%

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

Last update for Marikina: May 30, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $178 in Marikina and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Marikina pays 119% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Marikina vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 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

Marikina vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marikina wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Marikina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Marikina pays 119% 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: $178 in Marikina versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $684 per month in Marikina versus $788 in Baguio – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Marikina 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, Marikina 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 Marikina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.