Cost of Living Comparison Between Surigao and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Surigao and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $727 in Surigao versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,107 in Surigao versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,486 in Surigao versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Surigao costs roughly 3% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surigao 47% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 ₱228

$4.03 ₱252

-9.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.05 ₱1,003

$16.79 ₱1,050

-4.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.79 ₱174

$2.77 ₱173

0.72%

Cappuccino

$2.25 ₱141

$1.79 ₱112

25.70%

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

$0.62 ₱38.81

$0.55 ₱34.69

12.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱22.00

$0.35 ₱21.57

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱64.0

$1.02 ₱63.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₱105

$1.64 ₱103

2.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ₱104

$1.62 ₱101

3.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 ₱73.9

$1.12 ₱69.9

5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₱56.8

$0.98 ₱61.3

-7.14%

Eggs

$1.93 ₱121

$2.11 ₱132

-8.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.89 ₱305

$5.00 ₱313

-2.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 ₱264

$3.36 ₱210

25.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.31 ₱457

$8.12 ₱508

-9.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ₱141

$2.29 ₱143

-1.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱110

$1.62 ₱101

9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.33 ₱146

10.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.7

$1.08 ₱67.3

-2.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱136

$1.68 ₱105

29.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₱122

$1.71 ₱107

14.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₱49.70

$0.62 ₱39.00

27.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱38.70

$0.49 ₱30.59

26.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ₱183

$2.99 ₱187

-2.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.06 ₱442

$8.98 ₱561

-21.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱52.7

$0.95 ₱59.6

-11.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₱120

$2.11 ₱132

-9.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.57

$0.25 ₱15.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.03 ₱752

$12.67 ₱792

-5.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 ₱45.57

$0.76 ₱47.83

-3.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.21

$0.25 ₱15.71

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 ₱129

$1.96 ₱122

5.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ₱65.0

$1.20 ₱75.0

-13.33%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-8.12%

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

$19.5K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-0.36%

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

$123 ₱7,698

$144 ₱8,974

-14.22%

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

$13.94 ₱872

$17.30 ₱1,082

-19.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.65 ₱2,229

$23.28 ₱1,456

53.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.41 ₱2,214

$21.30 ₱1,332

66.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.13 ₱321

$5.36 ₱335

-4.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.81 ₱363

$5.19 ₱325

11.95%

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

$123 ₱7,680

$131 ₱8,191

-6.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,440 ₱465.2K

$10.6K ₱663.5K

-29.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.01 ₱2,064

$29.51 ₱1,845

11.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.22 ₱1,076

$19.29 ₱1,206

-10.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 ₱4,527

$73.0 ₱4,568

-0.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.8 ₱3,615

$55.4 ₱3,466

4.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 ₱17.2K

$411 ₱25.7K

-33.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₱10.8K

$198 ₱12.4K

-12.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ₱27.2K

$851 ₱53.2K

-48.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ₱19.4K

$466 ₱29.1K

-33.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,901 ₱181.4K

$2,650 ₱165.7K

9.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$930 ₱58.2K

$919 ₱57.5K

1.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Surigao: August 29, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Surigao and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Surigao vs $17.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $178 vs $175, with Baguio cheaper for home cooking.

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

Surigao vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surigao wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Surigao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,090 in Surigao and $1,122 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: $275 in Surigao versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $727 per month in Surigao versus $748 in Baguio – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Surigao runs roughly 5% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Surigao 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, Surigao 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 Surigao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.