Cost of Living Comparison Between Polomolok and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Polomolok and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Polomolok versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Polomolok versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,431 in Polomolok versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Polomolok costs roughly 17% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Polomolok 51% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 ₱110

$3.57 ₱220

-50.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.54 ₱835

$13.38 ₱825

1.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.64 ₱162

-14.39%

Cappuccino

$2.05 ₱127

$2.36 ₱145

-13.14%

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

$0.46 ₱28.30

$0.65 ₱40.14

-29.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.10

$0.38 ₱23.18

28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱69.4

$1.39 ₱85.5

-18.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ₱100.0

$1.89 ₱117

-14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ₱107

$1.88 ₱116

-7.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ₱60.6

$1.19 ₱73.4

-17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 ₱45.67

$1.12 ₱68.8

-33.93%

Eggs

$2.06 ₱127

$2.22 ₱137

-7.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 ₱363

$9.21 ₱568

-36.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 ₱185

$3.74 ₱231

-19.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.06 ₱374

$8.33 ₱514

-27.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ₱179

$2.74 ₱169

5.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.60 ₱36.95

$1.80 ₱111

-66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.39 ₱147

-4.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.86 ₱53.3

$1.20 ₱74.3

-28.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 ₱83.9

$1.81 ₱112

-24.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.17 ₱195

$2.29 ₱141

38.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$0.73 ₱45.12

26.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱36.89

$0.72 ₱44.25

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.26 ₱201

-20.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 ₱458

$9.08 ₱560

-18.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱65.0

$1.06 ₱65.5

-0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₱95.5

$2.31 ₱143

-32.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.01

$0.26 ₱15.91

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.20 ₱876

$10.85 ₱669

30.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₱55.5

$0.92 ₱57.0

-2.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.48

$0.24 ₱14.88

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.40 ₱148

-10.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ₱63.1

$1.12 ₱69.0

-8.93%

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

$17.4K ₱1.1M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-45.14%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

-5.94%

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

$57.9 ₱3,571

$147 ₱9,087

-60.70%

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

$12.51 ₱772

$35.37 ₱2,181

-64.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.48 ₱1,818

$26.43 ₱1,630

11.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.43 ₱2,061

$22.38 ₱1,380

49.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.52 ₱279

$4.18 ₱257

8.13%

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 ₱271

$5.60 ₱346

-21.61%

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

$117 ₱7,214

$154 ₱9,495

-24.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,479 ₱91.2K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-68.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 ₱2,854

$47.79 ₱2,947

-3.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.00 ₱1,665

$27.10 ₱1,671

-0.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 ₱4,350

$76.1 ₱4,690

-7.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ₱4,298

$45.80 ₱2,824

52.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.5K

$345 ₱21.3K

-22.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.9K

$145 ₱8,959

21.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 ₱36.6K

$549 ₱33.8K

8.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$261 ₱16.1K

49.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,419 ₱149.1K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

0.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$971 ₱59.9K

$933 ₱57.5K

4.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 ₱14.9K

$181 ₱11.2K

32.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

33.33%

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

Last update for Polomolok: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $268 in Polomolok and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Polomolok pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Polomolok vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $165 vs $205, with Polomolok 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

Polomolok vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Polomolok wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Polomolok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Polomolok pays 33% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $268 in Polomolok versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Polomolok versus $788 in Baguio – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Polomolok runs roughly 31% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Polomolok 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, Polomolok 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 Polomolok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.