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: $664 in Marikina versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,053 in Marikina versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,441 in Marikina versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Marikina costs roughly 13% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Marikina 50% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 ₱213

$3.51 ₱216

-1.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.88 ₱1,778

$13.35 ₱822

116.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.67 ₱165

32.58%

Cappuccino

$2.68 ₱165

$2.35 ₱145

14.04%

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

$0.68 ₱42.10

$0.69 ₱42.28

-1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₱26.95

$0.37 ₱23.01

18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₱66.3

$1.44 ₱88.4

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₱167

$1.93 ₱119

40.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₱129

$1.92 ₱118

9.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.19 ₱73.3

20.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.8

$1.06 ₱65.3

0.94%

Eggs

$2.27 ₱140

$2.17 ₱134

4.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 ₱499

$9.41 ₱579

-13.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 ₱281

$3.72 ₱229

22.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.57 ₱466

$8.61 ₱530

-12.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$2.72 ₱168

-0.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.79 ₱110

11.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.35 ₱145

10.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.17 ₱72.1

87.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 ₱203

$1.81 ₱112

82.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₱181

$2.20 ₱135

33.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.7

$0.68 ₱41.60

58.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₱44.80

$0.78 ₱47.77

-6.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱166

$3.33 ₱205

-18.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.99 ₱553

$8.71 ₱536

3.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.06 ₱65.4

12.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.34 ₱144

-11.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.06

$0.28 ₱17.26

64.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.31

$0.92 ₱56.7

-16.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.84

$0.22 ₱13.54

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₱221

$2.35 ₱145

53.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.11 ₱68.1

-1.80%

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

$33.6K ₱2.1M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

6.20%

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

$17.4K ₱1.1M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-15.02%

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

$110 ₱6,800

$144 ₱8,877

-23.40%

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

$13.50 ₱831

$34.02 ₱2,094

-60.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.08 ₱1,605

$25.86 ₱1,592

0.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.72 ₱2,568

$22.30 ₱1,373

87.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

Cinema Ticket

$6.35 ₱391

$5.79 ₱356

9.67%

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

$322 ₱19.8K

$151 ₱9,286

113.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,163 ₱71.6K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-74.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.46 ₱2,860

$48.90 ₱3,010

-4.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.76 ₱1,586

$27.56 ₱1,697

-6.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.7 ₱3,613

$74.1 ₱4,560

-20.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.03 ₱1,664

$45.63 ₱2,809

-40.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.7K

$349 ₱21.5K

-50.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.4 ₱5,383

$145 ₱8,936

-39.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 ₱17.8K

$543 ₱33.4K

-46.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 ₱10.5K

$265 ₱16.3K

-35.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,150 ₱70.8K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

-51.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$485 ₱29.8K

$925 ₱57.0K

-47.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$395 ₱24.3K

$183 ₱11.3K

115.84%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $175 in Marikina and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Marikina pays 116% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $29.00 in Marikina vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 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

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.

Average pay runs 116% 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: $175 in Marikina versus $349 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 $664 per month in Marikina versus $764 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.