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: $919 in Muntinlupa versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,444 in Muntinlupa versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,970 in Muntinlupa versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Muntinlupa is roughly 18% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muntinlupa 31% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.67 ₱288

$3.59 ₱222

30.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.00 ₱1,665

$13.50 ₱833

100.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.11 ₱192

$2.60 ₱160

19.62%

Cappuccino

$2.63 ₱162

$2.34 ₱145

12.39%

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

$0.93 ₱57.4

$0.70 ₱43.29

32.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₱28.07

$0.40 ₱24.72

15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.9

$1.46 ₱89.9

-4.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.00 ₱123

30.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 ₱76.3

$1.25 ₱77.3

-0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱67.0

$1.11 ₱68.6

-1.80%

Eggs

$2.04 ₱126

$2.20 ₱135

-7.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.19 ₱443

$9.08 ₱560

-20.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₱288

$3.70 ₱228

26.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 ₱475

$8.42 ₱519

-8.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.83 ₱236

$2.63 ₱162

45.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₱100.0

$1.87 ₱115

-13.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 ₱183

$2.26 ₱140

31.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.38 ₱147

$1.18 ₱72.6

101.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱172

$1.82 ₱112

52.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 ₱190

$2.29 ₱141

34.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.72 ₱44.67

175.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.9

$0.77 ₱47.61

32.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₱200

$3.35 ₱206

-2.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.19 ₱567

$9.17 ₱566

0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₱95.8

$1.08 ₱66.4

43.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱125

$2.26 ₱140

-10.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.27

$0.26 ₱15.90

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.46 ₱892

$10.56 ₱652

36.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.87 ₱53.7

-6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.86

$0.22 ₱13.54

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱129

$2.45 ₱151

-14.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.3

$1.11 ₱68.3

4.50%

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

$25.9K ₱1.6M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-19.55%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

1.14%

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

$136 ₱8,392

$146 ₱8,987

-6.62%

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

$21.93 ₱1,353

$34.10 ₱2,103

-35.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 ₱1,831

$25.99 ₱1,603

14.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.83 ₱3,012

$21.76 ₱1,342

124.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.38 ₱270

$4.16 ₱256

5.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 ₱404

$5.93 ₱366

10.29%

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

$113 ₱6,957

$153 ₱9,455

-26.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,528 ₱279.3K

$4,642 ₱286.3K

-2.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 ₱2,836

$49.11 ₱3,029

-6.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.65 ₱2,137

$27.25 ₱1,681

27.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 ₱6,056

$76.3 ₱4,706

28.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.4 ₱5,700

$45.91 ₱2,832

101.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 ₱24.8K

$346 ₱21.3K

16.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₱12.9K

$142 ₱8,777

47.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,171 ₱72.3K

$544 ₱33.6K

115.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ₱27.6K

$264 ₱16.3K

69.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,310 ₱142.5K

$2,423 ₱149.4K

-4.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$832 ₱51.3K

$949 ₱58.5K

-12.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$641 ₱39.6K

$186 ₱11.5K

245.19%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $402 in Muntinlupa and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muntinlupa pays 245% 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: $27.00 in Muntinlupa vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 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

Muntinlupa vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 18% 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.

Muntinlupa pays 245% 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: $402 in Muntinlupa versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $919 per month in Muntinlupa versus $779 in Baguio – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 37% 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 18% less than in Muntinlupa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.