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: $734 in Santa Rosa versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,115 in Santa Rosa versus $1,137 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,496 in Santa Rosa versus $1,495 in Baguio.

Living in Santa Rosa costs roughly 6% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Rosa 45% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.78 ₱167

$3.52 ₱212

-21.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.61 ₱1,301

$13.18 ₱794

63.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.02 ₱182

$2.62 ₱158

15.27%

Cappuccino

$1.26 ₱75.9

$2.38 ₱143

-47.06%

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

$0.40 ₱24.20

$0.65 ₱39.41

-38.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.49

$0.37 ₱22.46

-29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ₱73.4

$1.39 ₱83.8

-12.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱86.7

$1.98 ₱119

-27.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ₱125

$1.84 ₱111

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱72.7

$1.23 ₱74.4

-1.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.0

$1.07 ₱64.4

-0.93%

Eggs

$1.73 ₱104

$2.26 ₱136

-23.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.22 ₱435

$9.23 ₱556

-21.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.27 ₱257

$3.74 ₱225

14.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.02 ₱423

$8.65 ₱521

-18.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 ₱268

$2.64 ₱159

68.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ₱55.8

$1.84 ₱111

-49.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 ₱172

$2.33 ₱140

22.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₱99.7

$1.20 ₱72.3

38.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 ₱169

$1.87 ₱113

49.73%

Onion (1kg)

$4.02 ₱242

$2.29 ₱138

75.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₱94.4

$0.69 ₱41.45

127.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱63.0

$0.76 ₱45.52

38.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 ₱190

$3.24 ₱195

-2.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.35 ₱563

$8.98 ₱541

4.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₱96.0

$1.06 ₱64.0

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱119

$2.27 ₱137

-12.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱16.95

$0.26 ₱15.65

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.54 ₱635

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.2

$0.85 ₱51.1

-2.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.46

$0.22 ₱13.18

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱125

$2.45 ₱148

-15.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱68.7

$1.12 ₱67.2

1.79%

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

$26.0K ₱1.6M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-18.63%

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

$20.6K ₱1.2M

$20.4K ₱1.2M

1.31%

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

$52.9 ₱3,183

$147 ₱8,862

-64.08%

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

$32.49 ₱1,957

$34.54 ₱2,080

-5.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.38 ₱1,709

$26.21 ₱1,578

8.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.14 ₱2,056

$22.28 ₱1,342

53.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.56 ₱274

$4.20 ₱253

8.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 ₱418

$5.62 ₱339

23.49%

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

$82.3 ₱4,957

$150 ₱9,027

-45.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,781 ₱167.5K

$4,770 ₱287.3K

-41.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.85 ₱1,918

$49.05 ₱2,954

-35.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.06 ₱1,750

$27.49 ₱1,656

5.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 ₱5,800

$74.2 ₱4,470

29.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 ₱5,663

$45.80 ₱2,758

105.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₱15.0K

$341 ₱20.5K

-26.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.6K

$146 ₱8,785

20.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱23.9K

$545 ₱32.8K

-27.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₱17.1K

$263 ₱15.8K

7.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,184 ₱131.5K

$2,494 ₱150.2K

-12.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 ₱57.4K

$951 ₱57.3K

0.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$152 ₱9,132

$189 ₱11.4K

-19.87%

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $249 in Santa Rosa and $341 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 25% 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 $206 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 6% 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 25% 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: $249 in Santa Rosa versus $341 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $734 per month in Santa Rosa versus $779 in Baguio – a 6% 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 6% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.