Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in San Fernando versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,177 in San Fernando versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,566 in San Fernando versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in San Fernando is roughly 1% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 ₱223

$3.59 ₱220

1.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.42 ₱821

$13.50 ₱826

-0.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.60 ₱159

5.00%

Cappuccino

$1.09 ₱66.6

$2.34 ₱143

-53.42%

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

$0.45 ₱27.54

$0.70 ₱42.94

-35.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.39

$0.40 ₱24.52

-7.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ₱82.3

$1.46 ₱89.2

-7.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₱85.3

$2.00 ₱122

-30.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.89 ₱115

-3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱75.5

$1.25 ₱76.6

-1.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱59.4

$1.11 ₱68.1

-12.61%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱138

$2.20 ₱134

2.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 ₱546

$9.08 ₱555

-1.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.86 ₱236

$3.70 ₱226

4.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 ₱471

$8.42 ₱515

-8.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 ₱160

$2.63 ₱161

-0.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.87 ₱114

-2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱141

$2.26 ₱138

1.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱74.2

$1.18 ₱72.0

2.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$1.82 ₱111

1.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.29 ₱140

-6.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱40.87

$0.72 ₱44.31

-6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₱37.05

$0.77 ₱47.22

-20.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱202

$3.35 ₱205

-1.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.38 ₱513

$9.17 ₱561

-8.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱65.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₱91.7

$2.26 ₱138

-33.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.26 ₱15.77

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.91 ₱1,279

$10.56 ₱646

98.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 ₱44.84

$0.87 ₱53.3

-16.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.45

$0.22 ₱13.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 ₱66.3

$2.45 ₱150

-55.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.4

$1.11 ₱67.8

3.60%

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

$28.5K ₱1.7M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-11.51%

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

$23.5K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

14.50%

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

$107 ₱6,550

$146 ₱8,914

-26.52%

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

$17.45 ₱1,067

$34.10 ₱2,086

-48.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.29 ₱1,608

$25.99 ₱1,590

1.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.92 ₱1,892

$21.76 ₱1,331

42.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.35 ₱266

$4.16 ₱254

4.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.41 ₱270

$5.93 ₱363

-25.63%

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

$60.9 ₱3,723

$153 ₱9,378

-60.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,948 ₱119.2K

$4,642 ₱284.0K

-58.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.49 ₱2,110

$49.11 ₱3,005

-29.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.97 ₱977

$27.25 ₱1,667

-41.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.3 ₱3,196

$76.3 ₱4,667

-31.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.28 ₱2,893

$45.91 ₱2,809

2.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₱21.6K

$346 ₱21.2K

2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ₱14.8K

$142 ₱8,706

70.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₱36.1K

$544 ₱33.3K

8.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 ₱29.3K

$264 ₱16.1K

81.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,226 ₱136.2K

$2,423 ₱148.2K

-8.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$334 ₱20.4K

$186 ₱11.4K

79.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

4.5

22.22%

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

Last update for San Fernando: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in San Fernando and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in San Fernando vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $205 per month, with San Fernando 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

San Fernando vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

San Fernando pays 80% 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: $354 in San Fernando versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in San Fernando versus $779 in Baguio – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 98% less than in San Fernando. 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, San Fernando 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 1% less than in San Fernando. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.