Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Rosa and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Rosa and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $746 in Santa Rosa versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,142 in Santa Rosa versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,539 in Santa Rosa versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Santa Rosa costs roughly 4% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Rosa 44% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.78 ₱171

$3.59 ₱222

-22.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.58 ₱1,331

$13.50 ₱833

59.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.16 ₱195

$2.60 ₱160

21.54%

Cappuccino

$1.27 ₱78.2

$2.34 ₱145

-45.73%

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

$0.37 ₱23.10

$0.70 ₱43.29

-47.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.94

$0.40 ₱24.72

-35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ₱77.2

$1.46 ₱89.9

-14.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 ₱86.8

$2.00 ₱123

-29.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.89 ₱116

13.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱76.8

$1.25 ₱77.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.2

$1.11 ₱68.6

Eggs

$1.73 ₱106

$2.20 ₱135

-21.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.87 ₱424

$9.08 ₱560

-24.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 ₱258

$3.70 ₱228

12.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.39 ₱456

$8.42 ₱519

-12.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 ₱267

$2.63 ₱162

64.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 ₱54.2

$1.87 ₱115

-52.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 ₱178

$2.26 ₱140

27.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₱100

$1.18 ₱72.6

38.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$1.82 ₱112

50.55%

Onion (1kg)

$4.00 ₱246

$2.29 ₱141

74.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 ₱100

$0.72 ₱44.67

126.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱65.0

$0.77 ₱47.61

36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱202

$3.35 ₱206

-2.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.09 ₱560

$9.17 ₱566

-0.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 ₱94.6

$1.08 ₱66.4

41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱125

$2.26 ₱140

-10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.40

$0.26 ₱15.90

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.59

$0.87 ₱53.7

-11.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.52

$0.22 ₱13.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.45 ₱151

-14.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.6

$1.11 ₱68.3

-0.90%

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

$25.9K ₱1.6M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-19.62%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

0.89%

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

$52.2 ₱3,219

$146 ₱8,987

-64.18%

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

$32.54 ₱2,007

$34.10 ₱2,103

-4.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.70 ₱1,770

$25.99 ₱1,603

10.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.03 ₱2,099

$21.76 ₱1,342

56.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.54 ₱280

$4.16 ₱256

9.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.98 ₱430

$5.93 ₱366

17.71%

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

$81.9 ₱5,049

$153 ₱9,455

-46.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,737 ₱168.8K

$4,642 ₱286.3K

-41.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.23 ₱1,988

$49.11 ₱3,029

-34.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.54 ₱1,822

$27.25 ₱1,681

8.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 ₱5,938

$76.3 ₱4,706

26.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.6 ₱5,899

$45.91 ₱2,832

108.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₱15.3K

$346 ₱21.3K

-28.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.9K

$142 ₱8,777

24.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₱24.5K

$544 ₱33.6K

-26.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 ₱17.3K

$264 ₱16.3K

6.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,577 ₱159.0K

$2,423 ₱149.4K

6.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$153 ₱9,408

$186 ₱11.5K

-17.92%

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 Santa Rosa: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $248 in Santa Rosa and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 22% 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: $22.00 in Santa Rosa vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $205 per month, with Baguio 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 Rosa vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Rosa wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Rosa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Baguio earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $248 in Santa Rosa versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $746 per month in Santa Rosa versus $779 in Baguio – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Santa Rosa 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 Rosa 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 Rosa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.