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: $778 in Palawan versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,221 in Palawan versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,664 in Palawan versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Palawan costs roughly 1% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Palawan 42% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.25 ₱1,187

$13.38 ₱825

43.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.41 ₱210

$2.64 ₱162

29.17%

Cappuccino

$2.61 ₱161

$2.36 ₱145

10.59%

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

$0.77 ₱47.45

$0.65 ₱40.14

18.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.37

$0.38 ₱23.18

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ₱77.0

$1.39 ₱85.5

-10.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₱131

$1.89 ₱117

12.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱118

$1.88 ₱116

1.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱75.1

$1.19 ₱73.4

2.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.8

$1.12 ₱68.8

-10.71%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱129

$2.22 ₱137

-5.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.14 ₱502

$9.21 ₱568

-11.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 ₱256

$3.74 ₱231

11.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 ₱465

$8.33 ₱514

-9.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.85 ₱176

$2.74 ₱169

4.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₱93.6

$1.80 ₱111

-15.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.39 ₱147

8.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 ₱99.9

$1.20 ₱74.3

35.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$1.81 ₱112

26.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.29 ₱141

13.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 ₱65.6

$0.73 ₱45.12

45.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.51

$0.72 ₱44.25

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 ₱174

$3.26 ₱201

-13.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.94 ₱428

$9.08 ₱560

-23.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱71.3

$1.06 ₱65.5

9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱125

$2.31 ₱143

-12.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.82

$0.26 ₱15.91

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.17

$0.92 ₱57.0

-17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.24 ₱14.88

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.40 ₱148

-10.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.2

$1.12 ₱69.0

1.79%

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

$26.9K ₱1.7M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-15.35%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

1.15%

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

$111 ₱6,825

$147 ₱9,087

-24.90%

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

$32.27 ₱1,990

$35.37 ₱2,181

-8.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.45 ₱1,693

$26.43 ₱1,630

3.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.41 ₱2,060

$22.38 ₱1,380

49.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.38 ₱270

$4.18 ₱257

4.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ₱365

$5.60 ₱346

5.71%

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

$149 ₱9,188

$154 ₱9,495

-3.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,328 ₱266.9K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-8.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.65 ₱2,815

$47.79 ₱2,947

-4.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.52 ₱1,635

$27.10 ₱1,671

-2.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ₱4,575

$76.1 ₱4,690

-2.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.1 ₱3,336

$45.80 ₱2,824

18.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ₱16.4K

$345 ₱21.3K

-22.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱11.1K

$145 ₱8,959

23.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 ₱36.1K

$549 ₱33.8K

6.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ₱24.8K

$261 ₱16.1K

53.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,357 ₱145.4K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

-2.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$964 ₱59.5K

$933 ₱57.5K

3.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Palawan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $266 in Palawan and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Palawan vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $205, with Palawan 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

Palawan vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palawan wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Palawan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,166 in Palawan and $1,182 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: $266 in Palawan versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $778 per month in Palawan versus $788 in Baguio – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Palawan 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 Palawan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.