Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, Laguna and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, Laguna and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $635 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $974 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,313 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in Santa Cruz, Laguna costs roughly 17% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Cruz, Laguna 54% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.64 ₱102

$3.95 ₱246

-58.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.96 ₱497

$16.48 ₱1,027

-51.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱173

$2.88 ₱179

-3.82%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₱111

$1.77 ₱110

0.56%

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

$0.42 ₱26.14

$0.61 ₱37.75

-31.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₱14.30

$0.32 ₱19.83

-28.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.0

$0.98 ₱60.9

5.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₱57.8

$1.56 ₱97.5

-40.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ₱102

$1.69 ₱105

-2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱69.7

$1.16 ₱72.2

-3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱58.6

$1.02 ₱63.6

-7.84%

Eggs

$1.56 ₱97.1

$2.07 ₱129

-24.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.75 ₱296

$5.15 ₱321

-7.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 ₱218

$3.40 ₱212

2.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.29 ₱455

$8.09 ₱504

-9.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ₱92.4

$2.31 ₱144

-35.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.50 ₱31.15

$1.57 ₱97.6

-68.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.9

$2.41 ₱150

-39.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.2

$1.07 ₱66.6

0.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 ₱106

$1.76 ₱110

-3.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 ₱109

$1.77 ₱110

-1.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ₱39.03

$0.62 ₱38.69

1.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.86

$0.53 ₱33.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱186

$2.87 ₱179

3.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.65 ₱539

$9.02 ₱562

-4.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₱57.9

$0.96 ₱59.8

-3.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ₱126

$2.10 ₱131

-4.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.51

$0.25 ₱15.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.30 ₱705

$12.99 ₱810

-13.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₱49.17

$0.84 ₱52.2

-5.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.59

$0.25 ₱15.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.97 ₱123

-3.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₱75.6

$1.15 ₱71.8

5.22%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

0.17%

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

$19.2K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-2.02%

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

$87.6 ₱5,460

$139 ₱8,662

-36.97%

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

$17.87 ₱1,114

$17.39 ₱1,085

2.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.16 ₱1,444

$23.64 ₱1,474

-2.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.24 ₱2,011

$21.34 ₱1,331

51.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.72 ₱294

$5.20 ₱324

-9.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.34 ₱333

$5.10 ₱318

4.71%

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

$132 ₱8,260

$134 ₱8,351

-1.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₱668.8K

$10.6K ₱658.6K

1.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.47 ₱1,838

$28.47 ₱1,775

3.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.28 ₱1,202

$19.81 ₱1,235

-2.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.9 ₱4,419

$70.8 ₱4,415

0.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 ₱3,499

$56.6 ₱3,529

-0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 ₱17.0K

$411 ₱25.6K

-33.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.9K

$198 ₱12.3K

-11.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱31.2K

$849 ₱52.9K

-41.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 ₱22.1K

$465 ₱29.0K

-23.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱164.6K

$2,662 ₱166.0K

-0.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,024 ₱63.9K

$900 ₱56.1K

13.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

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 Santa Cruz, Laguna: September 6, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $8.00 in Santa Cruz, Laguna vs $16.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $178 per month, with Santa Cruz, Laguna 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

Santa Cruz, Laguna vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz, Laguna wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Cruz, Laguna the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $953 in Santa Cruz, Laguna and $1,144 in Baguio to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $273 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $635 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $763 in Baguio – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 $1,200 a month, though Santa Cruz, Laguna 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, Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 Santa Cruz, Laguna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.