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: $786 in Surigao versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,201 in Surigao versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,617 in Surigao versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Monthly costs are close between Surigao and Baguio; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surigao 41% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 ₱218

$3.57 ₱221

-1.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.55 ₱1,083

$13.38 ₱825

31.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.28 ₱202

$2.64 ₱163

24.24%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₱146

$2.36 ₱145

0.42%

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

$0.79 ₱48.59

$0.65 ₱40.16

21.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.69

$0.38 ₱23.19

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ₱83.4

$1.39 ₱85.5

-2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱128

$1.89 ₱117

10.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱118

$1.88 ₱116

1.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱75.1

$1.19 ₱73.4

2.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱60.6

$1.12 ₱68.9

-12.50%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱129

$2.22 ₱137

-5.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.90 ₱487

$9.21 ₱568

-14.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 ₱261

$3.74 ₱231

12.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$8.33 ₱514

-8.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 ₱183

$2.74 ₱169

8.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱94.5

$1.80 ₱111

-15.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 ₱165

$2.39 ₱147

11.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ₱96.5

$1.20 ₱74.3

30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱137

$1.81 ₱112

22.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.29 ₱142

13.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱68.0

$0.73 ₱45.15

50.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.88

$0.72 ₱44.28

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ₱173

$3.26 ₱201

-13.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.94 ₱428

$9.08 ₱561

-23.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.2

$1.06 ₱65.5

13.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₱122

$2.31 ₱143

-14.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.39

$0.26 ₱15.92

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.1

$0.92 ₱57.0

-9.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 ₱128

$2.40 ₱148

-13.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.2

$1.12 ₱69.1

-0.89%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-16.69%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

-0.24%

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

$113 ₱6,961

$147 ₱9,093

-23.44%

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

$24.51 ₱1,512

$35.37 ₱2,183

-30.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.06 ₱2,410

$26.43 ₱1,631

47.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.10 ₱2,104

$22.38 ₱1,381

52.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.42 ₱272

$4.18 ₱258

5.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$5.60 ₱346

5.89%

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

$150 ₱9,246

$154 ₱9,502

-2.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,399 ₱271.4K

$4,706 ₱290.4K

-6.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.90 ₱2,832

$47.79 ₱2,949

-3.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.45 ₱1,632

$27.10 ₱1,672

-2.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 ₱4,556

$76.1 ₱4,693

-2.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.2 ₱3,220

$45.80 ₱2,826

13.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.6K

$345 ₱21.3K

-21.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.9K

$145 ₱8,965

21.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 ₱36.9K

$549 ₱33.9K

9.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₱24.7K

$261 ₱16.1K

53.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,636 ₱162.7K

$2,417 ₱149.2K

9.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,050 ₱64.8K

$933 ₱57.6K

12.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

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 Surigao: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Surigao and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Surigao vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $205, with Surigao 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

You'd need roughly $1,179 in Surigao 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: $269 in Surigao versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Surigao – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $13.00 in Baguio. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Surigao wins on affordability, Baguio on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.