Cost of Living Comparison Between Negros and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Negros and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $803 in Negros versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,227 in Negros versus $1,141 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,650 in Negros versus $1,494 in Baguio.

Living in Negros is roughly 2% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Negros 40% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 ₱218

$3.60 ₱217

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.03 ₱784

$13.38 ₱805

-2.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 ₱183

$2.64 ₱159

15.53%

Cappuccino

$1.57 ₱94.7

$2.46 ₱148

-36.18%

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

$0.30 ₱18.30

$0.69 ₱41.33

-56.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₱27.62

$0.37 ₱22.57

24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱78.3

$1.45 ₱87.4

-10.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₱126

$1.90 ₱114

10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₱136

$1.84 ₱111

22.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱94.4

$1.20 ₱72.2

30.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱69.4

$1.07 ₱64.3

7.48%

Eggs

$2.29 ₱138

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 ₱763

$9.26 ₱557

36.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.30 ₱319

$3.78 ₱227

40.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.51 ₱452

$8.48 ₱510

-11.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱208

$2.67 ₱161

29.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱92.2

$1.83 ₱110

-16.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.33 ₱201

$2.27 ₱137

46.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱136

$1.20 ₱72.3

87.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 ₱155

$1.89 ₱114

35.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₱150

$2.30 ₱138

8.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱60.5

$0.72 ₱43.37

38.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱46.44

$0.72 ₱43.42

6.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₱190

$3.36 ₱202

-6.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 ₱389

$9.31 ₱560

-30.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱69.1

$1.02 ₱61.4

12.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱141

$2.27 ₱136

3.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.04

$0.28 ₱16.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.52 ₱633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.1

$0.93 ₱56.1

-10.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱13.83

$0.24 ₱14.51

-4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱162

$2.43 ₱146

11.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱68.7

$1.16 ₱69.8

-1.72%

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

$30.2K ₱1.8M

$31.8K ₱1.9M

-5.24%

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

$26.7K ₱1.6M

$20.8K ₱1.2M

28.82%

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

$96.1 ₱5,780

$144 ₱8,680

-33.41%

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

$34.90 ₱2,100

$34.34 ₱2,066

1.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.18 ₱1,816

$26.06 ₱1,568

15.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.15 ₱2,055

$21.83 ₱1,314

56.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.42 ₱266

$4.12 ₱248

7.28%

Cinema Ticket

$6.12 ₱368

$5.80 ₱349

5.52%

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

$233 ₱14.0K

$152 ₱9,134

53.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,942 ₱237.3K

$4,819 ₱290.0K

-18.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.68 ₱2,749

$49.25 ₱2,964

-7.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.47 ₱1,412

$27.23 ₱1,639

-13.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 ₱4,587

$73.9 ₱4,444

3.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.3 ₱3,330

$46.95 ₱2,826

17.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.2K

$346 ₱20.8K

-22.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.7K

$142 ₱8,575

24.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 ₱35.1K

$548 ₱33.0K

6.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 ₱23.6K

$261 ₱15.7K

50.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,228 ₱134.1K

$2,505 ₱150.8K

-11.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 ₱57.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 ₱14.8K

$192 ₱11.6K

27.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

55.56%

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

Last update for Negros: April 21, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Negros and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Negros pays 28% 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: $13 in Negros vs $13 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $205, with Baguio cheaper for home cooking.

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

Negros vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Negros. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Negros pays 28% 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: $269 in Negros versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Negros. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $803 per month in Negros versus $788 in Baguio – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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, Negros 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 2% less than in Negros. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.