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: $730 in Pagadian versus $650 in San Pablo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,099 in Pagadian versus $936 in San Pablo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,468 in Pagadian versus $1,221 in San Pablo.

Living in Pagadian is roughly 12% more expensive than in San Pablo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pagadian 47% lower, San Pablo 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.82 ₱239

$4.10 ₱256

-6.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.08 ₱1,068

$16.91 ₱1,058

1.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.85 ₱178

$2.83 ₱177

0.71%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ₱122

$1.85 ₱116

5.41%

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

$0.82 ₱51.3

$0.38 ₱24.03

115.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₱14.27

$0.19 ₱11.63

21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱91.1

$1.02 ₱64.0

43.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₱120

$1.57 ₱98.3

22.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ₱107

$1.63 ₱102

4.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱75.4

$1.14 ₱71.1

6.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ₱56.0

$1.00 ₱62.5

-10.00%

Eggs

$1.85 ₱116

$2.01 ₱126

-7.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.73 ₱296

$5.24 ₱328

-9.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 ₱260

$3.47 ₱217

19.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.85 ₱428

$7.63 ₱477

-10.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 ₱156

$2.28 ₱143

9.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱90.8

$1.47 ₱91.7

-1.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 ₱151

$1.62 ₱101

49.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.09 ₱68.1

3.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.63 ₱102

39.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 ₱140

$1.72 ₱108

29.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 ₱49.75

$0.63 ₱39.25

26.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.49 ₱30.62

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱184

$2.82 ₱177

4.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 ₱498

$6.23 ₱390

27.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.3

$0.97 ₱60.9

-1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ₱126

$2.03 ₱127

-0.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.56

$0.23 ₱14.32

8.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.31 ₱707

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱42.95

$0.81 ₱50.7

-14.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.40

$0.25 ₱15.64

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱120

$1.89 ₱118

2.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ₱65.4

$0.94 ₱58.6

11.70%

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

$24.6K ₱1.5M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

15.78%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

6.17%

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

$124 ₱7,751

$140 ₱8,765

-11.57%

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

$16.40 ₱1,026

$17.92 ₱1,121

-8.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.48 ₱1,656

$23.56 ₱1,473

12.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.92 ₱1,996

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.80 ₱300

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₱338

$5.11 ₱320

5.68%

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

$153 ₱9,562

$136 ₱8,492

12.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,142 ₱446.7K

$10.7K ₱667.3K

-33.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.99 ₱2,126

$28.94 ₱1,810

17.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.15 ₱1,323

$19.99 ₱1,250

5.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 ₱4,249

$72.7 ₱4,543

-6.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.2 ₱3,762

$56.9 ₱3,556

5.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.9K

$143 ₱8,930

89.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 ₱9,456

$126 ₱7,908

19.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 ₱31.5K

$211 ₱13.2K

138.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₱21.9K

$195 ₱12.2K

79.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,279 ₱142.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,165 ₱72.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$292 ₱18.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Pagadian: August 31, 2026

Last update for San Pablo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Pagadian and $143 in San Pablo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Pagadian vs $17.00 in San Pablo. Groceries flip the comparison at $178 vs $166, with San Pablo 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

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

Pagadian and San Pablo differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($730 vs $650 including rent). San Pablo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,095 in Pagadian and $975 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: $271 in Pagadian versus $143 in San Pablo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Pagadian. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $730 per month in Pagadian versus $650 in San Pablo – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though San Pablo 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 San Pablo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Pagadian. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.