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: $834 in Tacloban versus $776 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,187 in Tacloban versus $1,142 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,541 in Tacloban versus $1,507 in Baguio.

Living in Tacloban is roughly 7% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacloban 38% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ₱273

$3.63 ₱225

21.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.41 ₱1,076

$13.20 ₱816

31.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.70 ₱167

-4.07%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱164

$2.47 ₱153

7.29%

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

$0.77 ₱47.70

$0.69 ₱42.84

11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.66

$0.40 ₱24.87

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 ₱98.4

$1.38 ₱85.4

15.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₱135

$1.94 ₱120

12.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.83 ₱113

22.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.5

$1.20 ₱74.1

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱58.5

$1.06 ₱65.8

-10.38%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱143

$2.21 ₱136

4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.77 ₱789

$9.02 ₱558

41.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 ₱288

$3.92 ₱242

18.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.65 ₱473

$8.48 ₱524

-9.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 ₱220

$2.73 ₱169

30.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ₱75.3

$1.77 ₱109

-31.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.43 ₱212

$2.39 ₱147

43.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 ₱111

$1.20 ₱74.2

49.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 ₱162

$1.92 ₱118

36.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$2.28 ₱141

12.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱62.1

$0.71 ₱43.96

40.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₱52.4

$0.71 ₱44.06

19.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 ₱130

$3.19 ₱197

-33.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 ₱395

$8.87 ₱548

-27.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.8

$1.04 ₱64.2

16.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₱141

$2.34 ₱145

-2.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₱12.87

$0.26 ₱16.04

-19.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱653

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.3

$0.86 ₱53.2

-3.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.14 ₱8.94

$0.22 ₱13.53

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.46 ₱152

11.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.3

$1.12 ₱69.1

2.68%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-8.72%

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

$27.4K ₱1.7M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

35.15%

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

$96.1 ₱5,941

$145 ₱8,935

-33.51%

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

$34.12 ₱2,109

$34.50 ₱2,133

-1.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.34 ₱1,875

$26.42 ₱1,633

14.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.93 ₱2,098

$22.14 ₱1,368

53.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.45 ₱275

$4.05 ₱251

9.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱363

$5.61 ₱347

4.63%

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

$229 ₱14.1K

$150 ₱9,245

52.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,915 ₱242.0K

$4,634 ₱286.5K

-15.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.09 ₱2,849

$48.95 ₱3,026

-5.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.35 ₱1,444

$27.80 ₱1,718

-16.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 ₱4,594

$76.8 ₱4,745

-3.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 ₱3,492

$46.78 ₱2,892

20.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 ₱15.5K

$342 ₱21.2K

-26.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 ₱13.1K

$145 ₱8,936

46.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ₱50.3K

$539 ₱33.3K

50.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ₱14.7K

$270 ₱16.7K

-12.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₱150.3K

$2,477 ₱153.1K

-1.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$989 ₱61.1K

$927 ₱57.3K

6.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 ₱21.9K

$187 ₱11.6K

89.02%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $251 in Tacloban and $342 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: $17.00 in Tacloban vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 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 7% 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.

Average pay runs 89% higher in Tacloban, 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: $251 in Tacloban versus $342 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 $834 per month in Tacloban versus $776 in Baguio – a 7% 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 7% less than in Tacloban. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.