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: $846 in San Pablo versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,261 in San Pablo versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,675 in San Pablo versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in San Pablo is roughly 7% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Pablo 37% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.92 ₱304

$3.57 ₱220

37.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.03 ₱865

$13.38 ₱825

4.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.15 ₱194

$2.64 ₱162

19.32%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₱176

$2.36 ₱145

21.19%

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

$0.46 ₱28.18

$0.65 ₱40.14

-29.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.38 ₱23.18

-26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.69 ₱42.69

$1.39 ₱85.5

-50.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₱129

$1.89 ₱117

10.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ₱106

$1.88 ₱116

-7.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₱54.9

$1.19 ₱73.4

-25.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 ₱41.83

$1.12 ₱68.8

-39.29%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱124

$2.22 ₱137

-9.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 ₱316

$9.21 ₱568

-44.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 ₱235

$3.74 ₱231

1.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 ₱449

$8.33 ₱514

-12.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$2.74 ₱169

59.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.80 ₱111

-42.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.39 ₱147

-6.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 ₱106

$1.20 ₱74.3

43.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.2

$1.81 ₱112

-19.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.6

$2.29 ₱141

-55.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 ₱54.2

$0.73 ₱45.12

20.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.65

$0.72 ₱44.25

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 ₱158

$3.26 ₱201

-21.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.60 ₱407

$9.08 ₱560

-27.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱72.9

$1.06 ₱65.5

11.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱124

$2.31 ₱143

-12.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.36

$0.26 ₱15.91

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.69

$0.92 ₱57.0

-16.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱130

$2.40 ₱148

-12.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.3

$1.12 ₱69.0

-2.68%

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

$25.9K ₱1.6M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-18.43%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

0.98%

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

$162 ₱9,960

$147 ₱9,087

9.61%

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

$33.55 ₱2,068

$35.37 ₱2,181

-5.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.44 ₱1,877

$26.43 ₱1,630

15.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.19 ₱2,108

$22.38 ₱1,380

52.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

Cinema Ticket

$7.18 ₱443

$5.60 ₱346

28.21%

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

$82.4 ₱5,084

$154 ₱9,495

-46.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,784 ₱171.7K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-40.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.32 ₱1,068

$47.79 ₱2,947

-63.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.70 ₱1,831

$27.10 ₱1,671

9.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 ₱6,000

$76.1 ₱4,690

27.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.9 ₱5,728

$45.80 ₱2,824

102.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ₱7,768

$345 ₱21.3K

-63.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱11.1K

$145 ₱8,959

23.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 ₱35.6K

$549 ₱33.8K

5.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$261 ₱16.1K

52.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$290 ₱17.9K

$181 ₱11.2K

60.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.13

4.5

80.67%

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

Last update for San Pablo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in San Pablo and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Pablo pays 60% 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: $14.00 in San Pablo vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $180 vs $205, with San Pablo 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

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

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in San Pablo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

San Pablo pays 60% 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: $126 in San Pablo versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Pablo pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $846 per month in San Pablo versus $788 in Baguio – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in San Pablo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.