Cost of Living Comparison Between Muntinlupa and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Muntinlupa and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $928 in Muntinlupa versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,449 in Muntinlupa versus $1,137 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,969 in Muntinlupa versus $1,495 in Baguio.

Living in Muntinlupa is roughly 19% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muntinlupa 30% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.90 ₱297

$3.52 ₱213

39.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.40 ₱1,598

$13.18 ₱798

100.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.23 ₱196

$2.62 ₱158

23.28%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱158

$2.38 ₱144

9.24%

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

$1.00 ₱60.3

$0.65 ₱39.61

53.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.38

$0.37 ₱22.58

13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ₱86.8

$1.39 ₱84.2

2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₱163

$1.98 ₱120

36.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₱120

$1.84 ₱112

7.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱74.2

$1.23 ₱74.7

-0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 ₱63.1

$1.07 ₱64.7

-2.80%

Eggs

$1.94 ₱117

$2.26 ₱137

-14.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.86 ₱415

$9.23 ₱559

-25.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 ₱292

$3.74 ₱226

29.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.34 ₱445

$8.65 ₱524

-15.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 ₱236

$2.64 ₱160

47.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ₱94.0

$1.84 ₱111

-15.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 ₱177

$2.33 ₱141

25.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱146

$1.20 ₱72.7

100.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 ₱163

$1.87 ₱113

43.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.29 ₱139

33.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 ₱119

$0.69 ₱41.67

184.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱63.0

$0.76 ₱45.76

36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.24 ₱196

Wine (Bottle)

$9.37 ₱567

$8.98 ₱544

4.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱89.9

$1.06 ₱64.3

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱117

$2.27 ₱138

-14.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.09

$0.26 ₱15.73

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.29 ₱865

$10.54 ₱638

35.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.3

$0.85 ₱51.4

-2.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.59

$0.22 ₱13.25

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ₱131

$2.45 ₱148

-11.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.9

$1.12 ₱67.6

2.68%

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

$25.4K ₱1.5M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-20.44%

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

$20.4K ₱1.2M

0.19%

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

$138 ₱8,348

$147 ₱8,908

-6.29%

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

$22.05 ₱1,335

$34.54 ₱2,091

-36.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.40 ₱1,840

$26.21 ₱1,587

15.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.37 ₱2,929

$22.28 ₱1,349

117.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.55 ₱276

$4.20 ₱255

8.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.91 ₱419

$5.62 ₱340

22.95%

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

$113 ₱6,841

$150 ₱9,074

-24.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,534 ₱274.5K

$4,770 ₱288.8K

-4.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.70 ₱2,828

$49.05 ₱2,970

-4.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.50 ₱2,149

$27.49 ₱1,664

29.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ₱6,001

$74.2 ₱4,493

33.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 ₱5,765

$45.80 ₱2,773

107.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$404 ₱24.5K

$341 ₱20.6K

18.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ₱12.4K

$146 ₱8,831

39.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,160 ₱70.2K

$545 ₱33.0K

112.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 ₱26.7K

$263 ₱15.9K

68.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,403 ₱145.5K

$2,494 ₱151.0K

-3.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,004 ₱60.8K

$951 ₱57.6K

5.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$651 ₱39.4K

$189 ₱11.5K

243.96%

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 Muntinlupa: June 15, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $404 in Muntinlupa and $341 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muntinlupa pays 244% 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: $26.00 in Muntinlupa vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 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

Muntinlupa vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Muntinlupa. 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 244% higher in Muntinlupa, 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: $404 in Muntinlupa versus $341 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $928 per month in Muntinlupa versus $779 in Baguio – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 36% less than in Muntinlupa. 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 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, Muntinlupa 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 19% less than in Muntinlupa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.