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: $870 in Santiago City versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,357 in Santiago City versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,844 in Santiago City versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in Santiago City is roughly 14% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santiago City 37% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.39 ₱398

$3.95 ₱246

61.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.81 ₱2,483

$16.48 ₱1,027

141.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₱284

$2.88 ₱179

58.33%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱165

$1.77 ₱110

49.72%

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

$1.12 ₱70.0

$0.61 ₱37.75

83.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.37

$0.32 ₱19.83

53.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱146

$0.98 ₱60.9

138.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₱196

$1.56 ₱97.5

101.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.69 ₱105

8.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₱81.1

$1.16 ₱72.2

12.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱66.3

$1.02 ₱63.6

3.92%

Eggs

$1.43 ₱89.3

$2.07 ₱129

-30.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 ₱453

$5.15 ₱321

41.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 ₱301

$3.40 ₱212

41.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.95 ₱433

$8.09 ₱504

-14.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 ₱145

$2.31 ₱144

0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱123

$1.57 ₱97.6

26.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱205

$2.41 ₱150

36.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 ₱143

$1.07 ₱66.6

114.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 ₱217

$1.76 ₱110

97.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱224

$1.77 ₱110

102.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱67.0

$0.62 ₱38.69

72.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.83

$0.53 ₱33.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 ₱162

$2.87 ₱179

-9.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.98 ₱498

$9.02 ₱562

-11.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₱85.9

$0.96 ₱59.8

43.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₱129

$2.10 ₱131

-1.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱16.91

$0.25 ₱15.63

8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.15 ₱695

$12.99 ₱810

-14.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 ₱41.45

$0.84 ₱52.2

-21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.25 ₱15.61

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱122

$1.97 ₱123

-0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.15 ₱71.8

7.83%

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

$21.6K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

2.68%

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

$19.8K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

1.11%

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

$153 ₱9,540

$139 ₱8,662

10.14%

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

$16.42 ₱1,024

$17.39 ₱1,085

-5.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.65 ₱1,973

$23.64 ₱1,474

33.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.63 ₱2,035

$21.34 ₱1,331

52.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.83 ₱301

$5.20 ₱324

-7.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 ₱441

$5.10 ₱318

38.63%

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

$135 ₱8,394

$134 ₱8,351

0.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,574 ₱472.3K

$10.6K ₱658.6K

-28.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.56 ₱2,030

$28.47 ₱1,775

14.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.82 ₱1,236

$19.81 ₱1,235

0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 ₱5,044

$70.8 ₱4,415

14.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 ₱3,516

$56.6 ₱3,529

-0.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ₱16.6K

$411 ₱25.6K

-35.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.9K

$198 ₱12.3K

-11.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 ₱31.5K

$849 ₱52.9K

-40.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₱22.1K

$465 ₱29.0K

-23.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,628 ₱163.9K

$2,662 ₱166.0K

-1.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 ₱66.0K

$900 ₱56.1K

17.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Santiago City: September 8, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $266 in Santiago City and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Santiago City vs $16.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $178 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

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

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Santiago City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,304 in Santiago City 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: $266 in Santiago City versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $870 per month in Santiago City versus $763 in Baguio – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 17% less than in Santiago City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Santiago City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.