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: $822 in San Pablo versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,237 in San Pablo versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,651 in San Pablo versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in San Pablo is roughly 8% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Pablo 38% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.75 ₱293

$3.51 ₱216

35.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.00 ₱862

$13.35 ₱822

4.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 ₱193

$2.67 ₱165

17.60%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ₱183

$2.35 ₱145

26.81%

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

$0.43 ₱26.17

$0.69 ₱42.28

-37.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₱17.24

$0.37 ₱23.01

-24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.70 ₱42.83

$1.44 ₱88.4

-51.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₱134

$1.93 ₱119

12.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱104

$1.92 ₱118

-11.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₱49.86

$1.19 ₱73.3

-31.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 ₱45.82

$1.06 ₱65.3

-30.19%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱123

$2.17 ₱134

-8.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.26 ₱324

$9.41 ₱579

-44.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.86 ₱238

$3.72 ₱229

3.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱442

$8.61 ₱530

-16.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱278

$2.72 ₱168

65.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.9

$1.79 ₱110

-40.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱146

$2.35 ₱145

0.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₱100

$1.17 ₱72.1

39.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 ₱88.5

$1.81 ₱112

-20.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.5

$2.20 ₱135

-53.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₱55.7

$0.68 ₱41.60

32.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱36.49

$0.78 ₱47.77

-24.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.53 ₱156

$3.33 ₱205

-24.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.49 ₱400

$8.71 ₱536

-25.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱69.7

$1.06 ₱65.4

6.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₱121

$2.34 ₱144

-15.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.44

$0.28 ₱17.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.7

$0.92 ₱56.7

-8.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.79

$0.22 ₱13.54

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.35 ₱145

-6.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.7

$1.11 ₱68.1

3.60%

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

$25.4K ₱1.6M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-19.70%

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

$20.4K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-0.45%

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

$166 ₱10.2K

$144 ₱8,877

15.33%

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

$32.55 ₱2,004

$34.02 ₱2,094

-4.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 ₱1,862

$25.86 ₱1,592

16.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.57 ₱2,129

$22.30 ₱1,373

55.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱428

$5.79 ₱356

20.03%

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

$82.6 ₱5,084

$151 ₱9,286

-45.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,817 ₱173.4K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-39.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.59 ₱1,083

$48.90 ₱3,010

-64.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.42 ₱1,811

$27.56 ₱1,697

6.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ₱6,102

$74.1 ₱4,560

33.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ₱5,729

$45.63 ₱2,809

103.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 ₱7,517

$349 ₱21.5K

-65.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.8K

$145 ₱8,936

20.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 ₱35.6K

$543 ₱33.4K

6.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱24.3K

$265 ₱16.3K

48.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$295 ₱18.2K

$183 ₱11.3K

61.10%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in San Pablo and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Pablo pays 61% 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 $179 vs $206, 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 8% 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.

Average pay runs 61% 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: $122 in San Pablo versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Pablo pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $822 per month in San Pablo versus $764 in Baguio – a 8% 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 8% less than in San Pablo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.