Cost of Living Comparison Between Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $755 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,282 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,809 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Subic Bay Freeport Zone costs roughly 4% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Subic Bay Freeport Zone 44% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.53 ₱279

$3.57 ₱220

26.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.23 ₱1,001

$13.38 ₱825

21.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.64 ₱162

38.26%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₱157

$2.36 ₱145

7.63%

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

$0.85 ₱52.5

$0.65 ₱40.14

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.91

$0.38 ₱23.18

18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱91.9

$1.39 ₱85.5

7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₱146

$1.89 ₱117

24.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.88 ₱116

-4.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱93.3

$1.19 ₱73.4

26.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱58.6

$1.12 ₱68.8

-15.18%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.22 ₱137

-6.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.14 ₱502

$9.21 ₱568

-11.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$3.74 ₱231

39.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 ₱853

$8.33 ₱514

66.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ₱182

$2.74 ₱169

7.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₱109

$1.80 ₱111

-2.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 ₱88.0

$2.39 ₱147

-40.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₱70.5

$1.20 ₱74.3

-5.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 ₱107

$1.81 ₱112

-4.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$2.29 ₱141

-37.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$0.73 ₱45.12

46.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.0

$0.72 ₱44.25

15.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ₱154

$3.26 ₱201

-23.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 ₱484

$9.08 ₱560

-13.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$1.06 ₱65.5

-21.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.31 ₱143

-0.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.50

$0.26 ₱15.91

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.12 ₱1,117

$10.85 ₱669

67.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 ₱45.08

$0.92 ₱57.0

-20.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.67

$0.24 ₱14.88

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.40 ₱148

-12.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.12 ₱69.0

-0.89%

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

$27.9K ₱1.7M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-12.30%

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

$17.4K ₱1.1M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

-14.43%

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

$129 ₱7,980

$147 ₱9,087

-12.19%

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

$10.92 ₱673

$35.37 ₱2,181

-69.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.27 ₱1,127

$26.43 ₱1,630

-30.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.14 ₱1,920

$22.38 ₱1,380

39.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.55 ₱281

$4.18 ₱257

8.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 ₱465

$5.60 ₱346

34.64%

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

$150 ₱9,227

$154 ₱9,495

-2.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,384 ₱270.3K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-6.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.58 ₱2,811

$47.79 ₱2,947

-4.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.62 ₱2,135

$27.10 ₱1,671

27.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.5 ₱4,163

$76.1 ₱4,690

-11.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₱7,137

$45.80 ₱2,824

152.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$141 ₱8,710

$345 ₱21.3K

-59.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.0 ₱5,424

$145 ₱8,959

-39.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 ₱22.6K

$549 ₱33.8K

-33.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 ₱29.1K

$261 ₱16.1K

81.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,350 ₱144.9K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

-2.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 ₱65.8K

$933 ₱57.5K

14.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

4.5

37.11%

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

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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

Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $1,132 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone and $1,182 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: $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $755 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $788 in Baguio – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Subic Bay Freeport Zone runs roughly 67% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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.