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: $716 in Marikina versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,118 in Marikina versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,519 in Marikina versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Marikina costs roughly 4% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Marikina 48% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 ₱248

$4.03 ₱252

-1.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.71 ₱1,983

$16.79 ₱1,050

88.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.25 ₱203

$2.77 ₱173

17.33%

Cappuccino

$2.30 ₱144

$1.79 ₱112

28.49%

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

$0.59 ₱36.91

$0.55 ₱34.69

7.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱21.57

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ₱63.4

$1.02 ₱63.9

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₱154

$1.64 ₱103

50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱119

$1.62 ₱101

17.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.1

$1.12 ₱69.9

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.8

$0.98 ₱61.3

9.18%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$2.11 ₱132

-5.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 ₱459

$5.00 ₱313

46.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱277

$3.36 ₱210

31.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.75 ₱485

$8.12 ₱508

-4.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 ₱154

$2.29 ₱143

7.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 ₱128

$1.62 ₱101

26.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 ₱154

$2.33 ₱146

5.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.08 ₱67.3

105.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 ₱199

$1.68 ₱105

89.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 ₱219

$1.71 ₱107

104.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱68.1

$0.62 ₱39.00

75.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₱41.62

$0.49 ₱30.59

36.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ₱183

$2.99 ₱187

-2.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.87 ₱554

$8.98 ₱561

-1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₱61.0

$0.95 ₱59.6

3.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$2.11 ₱132

-2.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.08

$0.25 ₱15.64

88.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱792

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱46.46

$0.76 ₱47.83

-2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.12

$0.25 ₱15.71

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.96 ₱122

-3.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱73.0

$1.20 ₱75.0

-2.50%

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

$21.2K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-1.13%

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

$19.0K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-2.74%

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

$144 ₱8,996

$144 ₱8,974

0.24%

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

$16.39 ₱1,025

$17.30 ₱1,082

-5.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.24 ₱1,703

$23.28 ₱1,456

17.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.93 ₱2,372

$21.30 ₱1,332

78.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.36 ₱335

Cinema Ticket

$7.22 ₱452

$5.19 ₱325

39.11%

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

$134 ₱8,370

$131 ₱8,191

2.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,510 ₱469.6K

$10.6K ₱663.5K

-29.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,747

$29.51 ₱1,845

103.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ₱1,755

$19.29 ₱1,206

45.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.2 ₱4,703

$73.0 ₱4,568

2.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 ₱3,509

$55.4 ₱3,466

1.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 ₱11.3K

$411 ₱25.7K

-55.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.6 ₱4,918

$198 ₱12.4K

-60.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 ₱19.9K

$851 ₱53.2K

-62.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 ₱10.4K

$466 ₱29.1K

-64.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,171 ₱73.2K

$2,650 ₱165.7K

-55.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$487 ₱30.5K

$919 ₱57.5K

-47.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$391 ₱24.5K

$180 ₱11.2K

117.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Marikina: August 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Marikina and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Marikina pays 118% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Marikina vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 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

Marikina vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marikina wins on cost – living expenses run 4% 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.

Average pay runs 118% higher in Marikina, 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: $181 in Marikina versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $716 per month in Marikina versus $748 in Baguio – a 4% 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 4% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.