Cost of Living Comparison Between Olongapo and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Olongapo and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $700 in Olongapo versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,026 in Olongapo versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,353 in Olongapo versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Olongapo costs roughly 10% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Olongapo 48% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 ₱222

$3.59 ₱220

1.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱822

$13.50 ₱826

-0.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱161

$2.60 ₱159

1.54%

Cappuccino

$2.46 ₱151

$2.34 ₱143

5.13%

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

$0.70 ₱42.62

$0.70 ₱42.94

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.11

$0.40 ₱24.52

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ₱84.6

$1.46 ₱89.2

-5.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱101

$2.00 ₱122

-18.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 ₱113

$1.89 ₱115

-2.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 ₱26.17

$1.25 ₱76.6

-65.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 ₱52.8

$1.11 ₱68.1

-22.52%

Eggs

$2.15 ₱132

$2.20 ₱134

-2.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.94 ₱547

$9.08 ₱555

-1.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ₱169

$3.70 ₱226

-25.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.39 ₱513

$8.42 ₱515

-0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 ₱163

$2.63 ₱161

1.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ₱63.6

$1.87 ₱114

-44.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱138

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.1

$1.18 ₱72.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.82 ₱111

0.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 ₱137

$2.29 ₱140

-2.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ₱43.63

$0.72 ₱44.31

-1.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₱28.01

$0.77 ₱47.22

-40.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱205

Wine (Bottle)

$9.28 ₱568

$9.17 ₱561

1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₱65.4

$1.08 ₱65.8

-0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱137

$2.26 ₱138

-0.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.48

$0.26 ₱15.77

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.04 ₱1,104

$10.56 ₱646

70.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱52.1

$0.87 ₱53.3

-2.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.44

$0.22 ₱13.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱144

$2.45 ₱150

-4.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.4

$1.11 ₱67.8

3.60%

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

$31.6K ₱1.9M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-2.15%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

1.16%

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

$146 ₱8,917

$146 ₱8,914

0.03%

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

$34.12 ₱2,087

$34.10 ₱2,086

0.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.67 ₱1,631

$25.99 ₱1,590

2.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.37 ₱940

$21.76 ₱1,331

-29.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.40 ₱331

$4.16 ₱254

29.81%

Cinema Ticket

$4.48 ₱274

$5.93 ₱363

-24.45%

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

$88.0 ₱5,384

$153 ₱9,378

-42.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,731 ₱289.4K

$4,642 ₱284.0K

1.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.67 ₱3,039

$49.11 ₱3,005

1.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.09 ₱1,657

$27.25 ₱1,667

-0.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 ₱4,621

$76.3 ₱4,667

-1.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.87 ₱2,806

$45.91 ₱2,809

-0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 ₱7,468

$346 ₱21.2K

-64.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.9 ₱5,436

$142 ₱8,706

-37.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.2K

$544 ₱33.3K

-51.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.7K

$264 ₱16.1K

-33.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱148.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$333 ₱20.4K

$949 ₱58.0K

-64.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$139 ₱8,507

$186 ₱11.4K

-25.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Olongapo: April 25, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Olongapo and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 34% 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: $13.00 in Olongapo vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $205 per month, with Olongapo 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

Olongapo vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Olongapo wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Olongapo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Baguio earns 34% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Olongapo versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $700 per month in Olongapo versus $779 in Baguio – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Olongapo runs roughly 71% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Olongapo 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, Olongapo 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 Olongapo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.