Cost of Living Comparison Between Pagadian and San Pablo Cost of Living Comparison Between Pagadian and San Pablo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $776 in Pagadian versus $822 in San Pablo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,092 in Pagadian versus $1,237 in San Pablo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,408 in Pagadian versus $1,651 in San Pablo.

Living in Pagadian costs roughly 6% less than in San Pablo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pagadian 42% lower, San Pablo 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 ₱215

$4.75 ₱293

-26.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.85 ₱1,099

$14.00 ₱862

27.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.22 ₱198

$3.14 ₱193

2.55%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ₱178

$2.98 ₱183

-2.68%

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

$0.96 ₱58.8

$0.43 ₱26.17

123.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₱28.18

$0.28 ₱17.24

64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.70 ₱42.83

54.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱107

$2.17 ₱134

-20.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₱106

$1.69 ₱104

1.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 ₱66.0

$0.81 ₱49.87

32.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.3

$0.74 ₱45.82

39.19%

Eggs

$2.05 ₱126

$1.99 ₱123

3.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱504

$5.26 ₱324

55.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 ₱300

$3.86 ₱238

26.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.85 ₱360

$7.19 ₱442

-18.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱213

$4.51 ₱278

-23.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$1.07 ₱65.9

4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.36 ₱207

$2.37 ₱146

41.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.1

$1.63 ₱100

-15.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.44 ₱88.5

84.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.41 ₱210

$1.03 ₱63.5

231.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$0.90 ₱55.7

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₱46.39

$0.59 ₱36.49

27.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₱160

$2.53 ₱156

2.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.31 ₱511

$6.49 ₱400

28.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱64.3

$1.13 ₱69.7

-7.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 ₱90.4

$1.97 ₱121

-25.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.28 ₱17.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.15 ₱440

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.55

$0.84 ₱51.7

-8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.53

$0.24 ₱14.79

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.19 ₱135

-4.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.15 ₱70.7

8.70%

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

$26.7K ₱1.6M

$25.4K ₱1.6M

5.12%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

1.00%

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

$93.9 ₱5,784

$166 ₱10.2K

-43.51%

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

$32.31 ₱1,989

$32.55 ₱2,004

-0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.98 ₱1,661

$30.25 ₱1,862

-10.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.52 ₱2,064

$34.57 ₱2,129

-3.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.31 ₱265

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$6.95 ₱428

-16.69%

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

$154 ₱9,481

$82.6 ₱5,084

86.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,303 ₱264.9K

$2,817 ₱173.5K

52.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.08 ₱2,837

$17.59 ₱1,083

161.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.28 ₱1,618

$29.42 ₱1,811

-10.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ₱4,569

$99.1 ₱6,102

-25.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.2 ₱3,213

$93.1 ₱5,730

-43.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$112 ₱6,883

$122 ₱7,517

-8.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.8K

$175 ₱10.8K

0.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 ₱15.1K

$579 ₱35.6K

-57.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 ₱9,427

$394 ₱24.3K

-61.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,755 ₱169.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$908 ₱55.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$295 ₱18.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

8.13

-17.96%

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

Last update for Pagadian: July 13, 2026

Last update for San Pablo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $112 in Pagadian and $122 in San Pablo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Pagadian vs $14.00 in San Pablo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $179 per month, with San Pablo 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

Pagadian vs San Pablo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pagadian and San Pablo differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($776 vs $822 including rent). Pagadian is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,165 in Pagadian and $1,234 in San Pablo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $112 in Pagadian versus $122 in San Pablo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Pablo pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $776 per month in Pagadian versus $822 in San Pablo – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pagadian 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, Pagadian and San Pablo 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 Pagadian gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in San Pablo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.