Cost of Living Comparison Between Palawan and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Palawan and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $798 in Palawan versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,222 in Palawan versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,646 in Palawan versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in Palawan is roughly 5% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Palawan 42% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 ₱216

$3.95 ₱246

-12.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.76 ₱1,232

$16.48 ₱1,027

19.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.41 ₱213

$2.88 ₱179

18.40%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱160

$1.77 ₱110

45.20%

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

$0.78 ₱48.76

$0.61 ₱37.75

27.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.68

$0.32 ₱19.83

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₱80.5

$0.98 ₱60.9

31.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$1.56 ₱97.5

33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.69 ₱105

10.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.6

$1.16 ₱72.2

6.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱58.9

$1.02 ₱63.6

-7.84%

Eggs

$2.09 ₱130

$2.07 ₱129

0.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 ₱505

$5.15 ₱321

57.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₱268

$3.40 ₱212

26.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.92 ₱494

$8.09 ₱504

-2.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 ₱186

$2.31 ₱144

29.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱97.9

$1.57 ₱97.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 ₱164

$2.41 ₱150

9.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ₱97.2

$1.07 ₱66.6

45.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱140

$1.76 ₱110

27.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 ₱163

$1.77 ₱110

47.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$0.62 ₱38.69

79.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₱47.07

$0.53 ₱33.07

41.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 ₱175

$2.87 ₱179

-2.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.71 ₱419

$9.02 ₱562

-25.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.4

$0.96 ₱59.8

18.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.10 ₱131

-3.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.51

$0.25 ₱15.63

12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.34 ₱707

$12.99 ₱810

-12.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.64

$0.84 ₱52.2

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.70

$0.25 ₱15.61

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 ₱132

$1.97 ₱123

7.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱71.3

$1.15 ₱71.8

-0.87%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

24.00%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

5.46%

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

$113 ₱7,076

$139 ₱8,662

-18.31%

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

$33.33 ₱2,079

$17.39 ₱1,085

91.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.41 ₱1,709

$23.64 ₱1,474

15.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.18 ₱2,131

$21.34 ₱1,331

60.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.51 ₱281

$5.20 ₱324

-13.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ₱361

$5.10 ₱318

13.33%

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

$151 ₱9,394

$134 ₱8,351

12.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,317 ₱269.2K

$10.6K ₱658.6K

-59.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.70 ₱2,912

$28.47 ₱1,775

64.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.76 ₱1,669

$19.81 ₱1,235

35.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.9 ₱4,736

$70.8 ₱4,415

7.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.0 ₱3,308

$56.6 ₱3,529

-6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.5K

$411 ₱25.6K

-35.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₱10.9K

$198 ₱12.3K

-11.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 ₱35.9K

$849 ₱52.9K

-32.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 ₱24.7K

$465 ₱29.0K

-14.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,362 ₱147.3K

$2,662 ₱166.0K

-11.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,024 ₱63.9K

$900 ₱56.1K

13.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.75

-1.19%

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

Last update for Palawan: September 8, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $264 in Palawan and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Palawan vs $16.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $178 per month, with Baguio 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

Palawan vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Palawan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,198 in Palawan and $1,144 in Baguio 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: $264 in Palawan versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $798 per month in Palawan versus $763 in Baguio – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 15% less than in Palawan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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, Palawan 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 5% less than in Palawan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.