Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago City and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago City and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $676 in Santiago City versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,048 in Santiago City versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,419 in Santiago City versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Santiago City costs roughly 11% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santiago City 49% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.68 ₱411

$3.51 ₱216

90.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.14 ₱809

$13.35 ₱822

-1.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 ₱219

$2.67 ₱165

33.33%

Cappuccino

$0.87 ₱53.8

$2.35 ₱145

-62.98%

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

$0.77 ₱47.30

$0.69 ₱42.28

11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.36

$0.37 ₱23.01

-10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 ₱63.9

$1.44 ₱88.4

-27.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₱111

$1.93 ₱119

-6.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₱100

$1.92 ₱118

-15.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱75.5

$1.19 ₱73.3

3.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₱50.7

$1.06 ₱65.3

-22.64%

Eggs

$1.52 ₱93.4

$2.17 ₱134

-29.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$9.41 ₱579

-73.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ₱191

$3.72 ₱229

-16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.34 ₱329

$8.61 ₱530

-37.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$2.72 ₱168

-0.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.1

$1.79 ₱110

-43.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 ₱45.14

$2.35 ₱145

-68.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 ₱87.6

$1.17 ₱72.1

21.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 ₱211

$1.81 ₱112

88.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ₱67.3

$2.20 ₱135

-50.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ₱46.08

$0.68 ₱41.60

10.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₱57.4

$0.78 ₱47.77

19.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 ₱138

$3.33 ₱205

-33.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 ₱490

$8.71 ₱536

-8.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.06 ₱65.4

-2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₱104

$2.34 ₱144

-27.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.84

$0.28 ₱17.26

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₱48.47

$0.92 ₱56.7

-14.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.07

$0.22 ₱13.54

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₱215

$2.35 ₱145

48.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.9

$1.11 ₱68.1

3.60%

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

$22.2K ₱1.4M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-29.76%

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

$17.2K ₱1.1M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-16.33%

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

$75.8 ₱4,668

$144 ₱8,877

-47.42%

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

$26.94 ₱1,659

$34.02 ₱2,094

-20.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.95 ₱1,413

$25.86 ₱1,592

-11.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.52 ₱2,063

$22.30 ₱1,373

50.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.51 ₱277

$4.23 ₱261

6.62%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 ₱318

$5.79 ₱356

-10.71%

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

$88.9 ₱5,471

$151 ₱9,286

-41.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,283 ₱263.7K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-7.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.93 ₱2,581

$48.90 ₱3,010

-14.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.78 ₱1,464

$27.56 ₱1,697

-13.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.1 ₱3,270

$74.1 ₱4,560

-28.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.75 ₱2,447

$45.63 ₱2,809

-12.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.5K

$349 ₱21.5K

-23.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₱10.7K

$145 ₱8,936

19.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 ₱36.5K

$543 ₱33.4K

9.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.4K

$265 ₱16.3K

49.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,518 ₱155.0K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

5.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$867 ₱53.3K

$925 ₱57.0K

-6.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Santiago City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $268 in Santiago City and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Santiago City vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $206 per month, with Santiago City 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

Santiago City vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago City wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santiago City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,014 in Santiago City and $1,146 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: $268 in Santiago City versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $676 per month in Santiago City versus $764 in Baguio – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Santiago City 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, Santiago City 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 Santiago City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.