Cost of Living Comparison Between Panglao and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Panglao and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $811 in Panglao versus $789 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Panglao versus $1,214 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,509 in Panglao versus $1,639 in Baguio.

Living in Panglao is roughly 3% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Panglao 40% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 ₱242

$4.19 ₱255

-5.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.53 ₱1,491

$17.51 ₱1,064

40.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.08 ₱248

$2.88 ₱175

41.67%

Cappuccino

$2.31 ₱140

$1.83 ₱111

26.23%

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

$0.67 ₱40.51

$0.59 ₱35.58

13.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱31.30

$0.32 ₱19.30

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₱91.7

$1.06 ₱64.3

42.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ₱122

$1.67 ₱101

20.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₱101

$1.73 ₱105

-4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱74.3

$1.19 ₱72.1

2.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱58.7

$1.00 ₱60.9

-3.00%

Eggs

$1.82 ₱111

$2.09 ₱127

-12.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.93 ₱542

$5.16 ₱314

73.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 ₱280

$3.51 ₱213

31.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.63 ₱463

$8.10 ₱492

-5.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 ₱123

$2.30 ₱140

-12.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₱90.8

$1.64 ₱99.4

-9.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₱117

$2.41 ₱146

-20.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱93.7

$1.07 ₱64.8

43.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 ₱148

$1.79 ₱109

35.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.85 ₱112

10.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ₱78.2

$0.68 ₱41.32

89.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.13

$0.54 ₱33.10

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ₱178

$3.06 ₱186

-4.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.04 ₱367

$8.85 ₱538

-31.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₱49.33

$1.01 ₱61.4

-19.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₱102

$2.13 ₱130

-21.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₱18.15

$0.26 ₱15.88

15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.73 ₱652

$13.02 ₱791

-17.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱46.36

$0.84 ₱51.0

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱12.73

$0.26 ₱15.84

-19.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱117

$1.96 ₱119

-1.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$1.17 ₱71.1

-15.38%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$22.4K ₱1.4M

-1.93%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

-2.88%

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

$62.0 ₱3,765

$146 ₱8,875

-57.58%

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

$6.75 ₱410

$17.91 ₱1,088

-62.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.96 ₱1,577

$24.17 ₱1,469

7.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.70 ₱1,319

$22.17 ₱1,347

-2.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.52 ₱275

$5.35 ₱325

-15.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.12 ₱250

$5.28 ₱321

-21.97%

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

$138 ₱8,382

$134 ₱8,158

2.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,318 ₱505.4K

$10.7K ₱650.7K

-22.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.33 ₱1,843

$29.24 ₱1,777

3.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.05 ₱1,218

$19.85 ₱1,206

1.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 ₱4,287

$69.8 ₱4,242

1.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.91 ₱3,033

$56.5 ₱3,432

-11.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$293 ₱17.8K

$417 ₱25.3K

-29.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₱19.1K

$205 ₱12.5K

53.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 ₱34.5K

$854 ₱51.9K

-33.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 ₱24.7K

$482 ₱29.3K

-15.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$974 ₱59.2K

$2,498 ₱151.8K

-61.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$878 ₱53.3K

$943 ₱57.3K

-6.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 ₱11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Panglao: August 2, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $293 in Panglao and $417 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Panglao vs $18.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $181 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

Panglao vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Panglao. 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 $1,217 in Panglao and $1,183 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: $293 in Panglao versus $417 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $811 per month in Panglao versus $789 in Baguio – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 21% less than in Panglao. 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, Panglao 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 3% less than in Panglao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.