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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $650 in San Pablo versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $936 in San Pablo versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,221 in San Pablo versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in San Pablo costs roughly 13% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Pablo 53% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.10 ₱256

$4.03 ₱252

1.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.91 ₱1,058

$16.79 ₱1,050

0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.83 ₱177

$2.77 ₱173

2.17%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₱116

$1.79 ₱112

3.35%

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

$0.38 ₱24.03

$0.55 ₱34.69

-30.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ₱11.63

$0.35 ₱21.58

-45.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱64.0

$1.02 ₱63.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$1.64 ₱103

-4.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱102

$1.62 ₱101

0.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 ₱71.1

$1.12 ₱70.0

1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱62.5

$0.98 ₱61.3

2.04%

Eggs

$2.01 ₱126

$2.11 ₱132

-4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.24 ₱328

$5.00 ₱313

4.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$3.36 ₱210

3.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.63 ₱477

$8.12 ₱508

-6.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$2.29 ₱143

-0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.7

$1.62 ₱101

-9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ₱101

$2.33 ₱146

-30.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₱68.1

$1.08 ₱67.3

0.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 ₱102

$1.68 ₱105

-2.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 ₱108

$1.71 ₱107

0.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ₱39.25

$0.62 ₱39.00

1.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.62

$0.49 ₱30.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 ₱177

$2.99 ₱187

-5.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.23 ₱390

$8.98 ₱561

-30.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₱60.9

$0.95 ₱59.6

2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.11 ₱132

-3.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.32

$0.25 ₱15.64

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱793

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.7

$0.76 ₱47.83

6.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.64

$0.25 ₱15.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.96 ₱122

-3.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 ₱58.6

$1.20 ₱75.0

-21.67%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-0.71%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-0.86%

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

$140 ₱8,765

$144 ₱8,975

-2.34%

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

$17.92 ₱1,121

$17.30 ₱1,082

3.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.56 ₱1,473

$23.28 ₱1,456

1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.30 ₱1,332

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.36 ₱335

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₱320

$5.19 ₱325

-1.54%

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

$136 ₱8,492

$131 ₱8,192

3.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₱667.3K

$10.6K ₱663.5K

0.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.94 ₱1,810

$29.51 ₱1,845

-1.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.99 ₱1,250

$19.29 ₱1,206

3.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 ₱4,543

$73.0 ₱4,568

-0.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.9 ₱3,556

$55.4 ₱3,466

2.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 ₱8,930

$411 ₱25.7K

-65.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 ₱7,908

$198 ₱12.4K

-36.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$211 ₱13.2K

$851 ₱53.2K

-75.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 ₱12.2K

$466 ₱29.1K

-58.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,650 ₱165.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$292 ₱18.3K

$180 ₱11.2K

62.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for San Pablo: August 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $143 in San Pablo and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Pablo pays 63% 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 San Pablo vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $175 per month, with San Pablo 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 Pablo vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Pablo wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Pablo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 63% higher in San Pablo, 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: $143 in San Pablo versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $650 per month in San Pablo versus $748 in Baguio – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though San Pablo 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 Pablo 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 San Pablo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.