Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacloban and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacloban and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $829 in Tacloban versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,185 in Tacloban versus $1,141 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,540 in Tacloban versus $1,494 in Baguio.

Living in Tacloban is roughly 5% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacloban 38% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ₱269

$3.60 ₱217

24.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.84 ₱1,074

$13.38 ₱805

33.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.68 ₱161

$2.64 ₱159

1.52%

Cappuccino

$2.61 ₱157

$2.46 ₱148

6.10%

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

$0.71 ₱43.01

$0.69 ₱41.33

2.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₱23.31

$0.37 ₱22.57

5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱92.2

$1.45 ₱87.4

5.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₱130

$1.90 ₱114

13.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₱136

$1.84 ₱111

22.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱92.0

$1.20 ₱72.2

27.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱59.9

$1.07 ₱64.3

-6.54%

Eggs

$2.30 ₱138

$2.29 ₱138

0.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.99 ₱782

$9.26 ₱557

40.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 ₱285

$3.78 ₱227

25.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 ₱468

$8.48 ₱510

-8.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 ₱219

$2.67 ₱161

36.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ₱76.0

$1.83 ₱110

-31.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.30 ₱198

$2.27 ₱137

45.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱110

$1.20 ₱72.3

51.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 ₱159

$1.89 ₱114

39.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₱152

$2.30 ₱138

9.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱55.3

$0.72 ₱43.37

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₱47.87

$0.72 ₱43.42

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 ₱131

$3.36 ₱202

-35.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.70 ₱403

$9.31 ₱560

-28.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱69.7

$1.02 ₱61.4

13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱141

$2.27 ₱136

3.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₱10.29

$0.28 ₱16.87

-39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.52 ₱633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₱53.6

$0.93 ₱56.1

-4.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.16 ₱9.35

$0.24 ₱14.51

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 ₱157

$2.43 ₱146

7.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱65.6

$1.16 ₱69.8

-6.03%

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

$30.5K ₱1.8M

$31.8K ₱1.9M

-4.14%

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

$27.8K ₱1.7M

$20.8K ₱1.2M

33.77%

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

$96.2 ₱5,786

$144 ₱8,680

-33.34%

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

$34.23 ₱2,060

$34.34 ₱2,066

-0.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.40 ₱1,829

$26.06 ₱1,568

16.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.30 ₱2,064

$21.83 ₱1,314

57.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.48 ₱270

$4.12 ₱248

8.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.11 ₱368

$5.80 ₱349

5.34%

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

$230 ₱13.9K

$152 ₱9,134

51.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,887 ₱233.9K

$4,819 ₱290.0K

-19.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.72 ₱2,751

$49.25 ₱2,964

-7.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.34 ₱1,405

$27.23 ₱1,639

-14.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.6 ₱4,610

$73.9 ₱4,444

3.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 ₱3,348

$46.95 ₱2,826

18.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₱14.9K

$346 ₱20.8K

-28.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 ₱12.7K

$142 ₱8,575

48.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 ₱47.7K

$548 ₱33.0K

44.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ₱14.3K

$261 ₱15.7K

-8.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,338 ₱140.7K

$2,505 ₱150.8K

-6.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,125 ₱127.9K

$953 ₱57.4K

122.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$363 ₱21.9K

$192 ₱11.6K

89.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

77.78%

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

Last update for Tacloban: April 22, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $248 in Tacloban and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tacloban pays 89% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18 in Tacloban vs $13 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 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

Tacloban vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Tacloban. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Tacloban pays 89% 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: $248 in Tacloban versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Tacloban. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $829 per month in Tacloban versus $788 in Baguio – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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, Tacloban 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 5% less than in Tacloban. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.