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: $660 in Santiago City versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Santiago City versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,426 in Santiago City versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Santiago City costs roughly 16% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santiago City 51% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.46 ₱399

$3.57 ₱220

80.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.04 ₱804

$13.38 ₱825

-2.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.57 ₱220

$2.64 ₱162

35.23%

Cappuccino

$0.93 ₱57.3

$2.36 ₱145

-60.59%

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

$0.77 ₱47.33

$0.65 ₱40.14

18.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.42

$0.38 ₱23.18

-13.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 ₱66.9

$1.39 ₱85.5

-21.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₱106

$1.89 ₱117

-8.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ₱97.6

$1.88 ₱116

-15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ₱78.5

$1.19 ₱73.4

6.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 ₱47.71

$1.12 ₱68.8

-31.25%

Eggs

$1.52 ₱93.5

$2.22 ₱137

-31.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.51 ₱155

$9.21 ₱568

-72.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 ₱202

$3.74 ₱231

-12.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.60 ₱345

$8.33 ₱514

-32.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ₱164

$2.74 ₱169

-3.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ₱63.9

$1.80 ₱111

-42.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 ₱43.00

$2.39 ₱147

-70.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 ₱87.8

$1.20 ₱74.3

18.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$1.81 ₱112

90.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ₱67.4

$2.29 ₱141

-52.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 ₱50.3

$0.73 ₱45.12

12.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₱61.6

$0.72 ₱44.25

38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 ₱141

$3.26 ₱201

-30.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.79 ₱233

$9.08 ₱560

-58.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.7

$1.06 ₱65.5

1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱106

$2.31 ₱143

-25.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.94

$0.26 ₱15.91

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.92 ₱57.0

-9.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.14 ₱8.42

$0.24 ₱14.88

-41.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 ₱216

$2.40 ₱148

46.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.3

$1.12 ₱69.0

-2.68%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-29.52%

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

$17.6K ₱1.1M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

-13.66%

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

$75.2 ₱4,637

$147 ₱9,087

-48.97%

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

$26.73 ₱1,648

$35.37 ₱2,181

-24.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.70 ₱1,400

$26.43 ₱1,630

-14.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.61 ₱2,072

$22.38 ₱1,380

50.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.55 ₱281

$4.18 ₱257

8.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₱333

$5.60 ₱346

-3.57%

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

$88.8 ₱5,472

$154 ₱9,495

-42.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,353 ₱268.4K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-7.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.33 ₱2,610

$47.79 ₱2,947

-11.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.73 ₱1,464

$27.10 ₱1,671

-12.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.3 ₱3,287

$76.1 ₱4,690

-29.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.02 ₱2,468

$45.80 ₱2,824

-12.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$345 ₱21.3K

-24.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₱11.0K

$145 ₱8,959

22.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₱36.8K

$549 ₱33.8K

8.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₱24.6K

$261 ₱16.1K

53.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,351 ₱145.0K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

-2.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$962 ₱59.3K

$933 ₱57.5K

3.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$218 ₱13.5K

$181 ₱11.2K

20.33%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Santiago City and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santiago City pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Santiago City vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $205 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 19% 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.

Santiago City pays 20% more on average, 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: $262 in Santiago City versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $660 per month in Santiago City versus $788 in Baguio – a 19% 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 19% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.