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: $630 in Polomolok versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $989 in Polomolok versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,348 in Polomolok versus $1,586 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 54% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.63 ₱102

$3.95 ₱246

-58.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.66 ₱1,039

$16.48 ₱1,027

1.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.12 ₱133

$2.88 ₱179

-26.39%

Cappuccino

$2.17 ₱135

$1.77 ₱110

22.60%

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

$0.39 ₱24.05

$0.61 ₱37.75

-36.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.86

$0.32 ₱19.83

115.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₱66.7

$0.98 ₱60.9

9.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.56 ₱97.5

21.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ₱102

$1.69 ₱105

-2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 ₱57.2

$1.16 ₱72.2

-20.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 ₱41.60

$1.02 ₱63.6

-34.31%

Eggs

$1.96 ₱123

$2.07 ₱129

-5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 ₱426

$5.15 ₱321

32.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 ₱165

$3.40 ₱212

-22.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.67 ₱353

$8.09 ₱504

-29.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ₱162

$2.31 ₱144

12.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 ₱36.62

$1.57 ₱97.6

-62.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ₱140

$2.41 ₱150

-6.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 ₱48.03

$1.07 ₱66.6

-28.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱75.8

$1.76 ₱110

-31.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 ₱178

$1.77 ₱110

61.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 ₱47.79

$0.62 ₱38.69

24.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₱41.65

$0.53 ₱33.07

26.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 ₱151

$2.87 ₱179

-15.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.17 ₱447

$9.02 ₱562

-20.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱63.5

$0.96 ₱59.8

6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱97.3

$2.10 ₱131

-25.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.52

$0.25 ₱15.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.26 ₱702

$12.99 ₱810

-13.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱51.3

$0.84 ₱52.2

-2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.67

$0.25 ₱15.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.97 ₱123

-3.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 ₱53.6

$1.15 ₱71.8

-25.22%

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

$15.8K ₱983.7K

$21.0K ₱1.3M

-24.96%

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

$17.7K ₱1.1M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-9.43%

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

$52.4 ₱3,267

$139 ₱8,662

-62.29%

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

$19.19 ₱1,197

$17.39 ₱1,085

10.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.81 ₱1,672

$23.64 ₱1,474

13.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.56 ₱2,030

$21.34 ₱1,331

52.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.95 ₱309

$5.20 ₱324

-4.81%

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 ₱247

$5.10 ₱318

-22.35%

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

$108 ₱6,717

$134 ₱8,351

-19.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,362 ₱84.9K

$10.6K ₱658.6K

-87.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.47 ₱2,025

$28.47 ₱1,775

14.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.27 ₱1,202

$19.81 ₱1,235

-2.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 ₱3,933

$70.8 ₱4,415

-10.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.3 ₱3,947

$56.6 ₱3,529

11.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 ₱17.0K

$411 ₱25.6K

-33.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₱10.9K

$198 ₱12.3K

-11.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 ₱30.7K

$849 ₱52.9K

-41.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₱22.1K

$465 ₱29.0K

-23.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,590 ₱161.5K

$2,662 ₱166.0K

-2.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,042 ₱65.0K

$900 ₱56.1K

15.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$236 ₱14.7K

$179 ₱11.2K

31.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

-11.11%

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

Last update for Polomolok: September 6, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $273 in Polomolok and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Polomolok pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Polomolok vs $16.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $159 vs $178, 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 21% 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.

Average pay runs 31% higher in Polomolok, 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: $273 in Polomolok versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $630 per month in Polomolok versus $763 in Baguio – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Polomolok runs roughly 15% 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 21% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.