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: $760 in Pagadian versus $846 in San Pablo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,074 in Pagadian versus $1,261 in San Pablo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,389 in Pagadian versus $1,675 in San Pablo.

Living in Pagadian costs roughly 10% less than in San Pablo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pagadian 43% lower, San Pablo 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$4.92 ₱304

-27.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.01 ₱1,110

$14.03 ₱865

28.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.20 ₱197

$3.15 ₱194

1.59%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ₱179

$2.86 ₱176

1.40%

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

$0.93 ₱57.1

$0.46 ₱28.18

102.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.38

$0.28 ₱17.29

53.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₱66.3

$0.69 ₱42.69

56.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₱108

$2.09 ₱129

-15.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ₱106

$1.73 ₱106

-1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.89 ₱54.9

20.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱59.8

$0.68 ₱41.83

42.65%

Eggs

$2.03 ₱125

$2.02 ₱124

0.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 ₱508

$5.12 ₱316

61.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 ₱307

$3.81 ₱235

30.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.85 ₱361

$7.28 ₱449

-19.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 ₱224

$4.36 ₱269

-16.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ₱69.3

$1.03 ₱63.7

8.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ₱211

$2.24 ₱138

52.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ₱82.4

$1.72 ₱106

-22.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 ₱164

$1.45 ₱89.2

82.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.46 ₱213

$1.03 ₱63.6

235.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.88 ₱54.2

21.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱43.42

$0.64 ₱39.65

9.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 ₱167

$2.55 ₱158

6.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.91 ₱488

$6.60 ₱407

19.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱64.6

$1.18 ₱72.9

-11.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₱94.8

$2.02 ₱124

-23.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.03

$0.28 ₱17.36

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 ₱443

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.9

$0.77 ₱47.69

6.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.87

$0.24 ₱14.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.10 ₱130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₱73.2

$1.09 ₱67.3

9.17%

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

$26.9K ₱1.7M

$25.9K ₱1.6M

3.55%

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

$20.2K ₱1.2M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-1.53%

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

$96.0 ₱5,919

$162 ₱9,960

-40.58%

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

$33.16 ₱2,045

$33.55 ₱2,068

-1.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.38 ₱1,688

$30.44 ₱1,877

-10.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.61 ₱2,072

$34.19 ₱2,108

-1.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.53 ₱279

Cinema Ticket

$5.95 ₱367

$7.18 ₱443

-17.13%

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

$149 ₱9,190

$82.4 ₱5,084

80.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,359 ₱268.8K

$2,784 ₱171.7K

56.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.37 ₱2,798

$17.32 ₱1,068

161.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ₱1,652

$29.70 ₱1,831

-9.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 ₱4,592

$97.3 ₱6,000

-23.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.1 ₱3,271

$92.9 ₱5,728

-42.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 ₱6,956

$126 ₱7,768

-10.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.9K

$180 ₱11.1K

-1.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₱15.3K

$577 ₱35.6K

-56.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 ₱9,271

$397 ₱24.5K

-62.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,118 ₱130.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$966 ₱59.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$290 ₱17.9K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for San Pablo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $113 in Pagadian and $126 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 $180 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 11% in total monthly costs ($760 vs $846 including rent). Pagadian is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,140 in Pagadian and $1,269 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: $113 in Pagadian versus $126 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 $760 per month in Pagadian versus $846 in San Pablo – a 11% 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 11% less than in San Pablo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.