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: $769 in Tacloban versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,146 in Tacloban versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,522 in Tacloban versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in Tacloban is roughly 1% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacloban 44% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 ₱186

$3.95 ₱248

-24.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.94 ₱999

$16.48 ₱1,033

-3.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.46 ₱154

$2.88 ₱180

-14.58%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱147

$1.77 ₱111

32.20%

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

$0.66 ₱41.12

$0.61 ₱37.95

8.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱21.93

$0.32 ₱19.93

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 ₱102

$0.98 ₱61.2

66.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.56 ₱98.1

42.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₱124

$1.69 ₱106

17.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 ₱73.5

$1.16 ₱72.6

0.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₱51.7

$1.02 ₱63.9

-19.61%

Eggs

$1.98 ₱124

$2.07 ₱130

-4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₱619

$5.15 ₱323

91.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.41 ₱277

$3.40 ₱213

29.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.10 ₱445

$8.09 ₱507

-12.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ₱210

$2.31 ₱145

45.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ₱68.6

$1.57 ₱98.1

-30.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.41 ₱151

-4.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ₱93.1

$1.07 ₱66.9

38.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.76 ₱110

34.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 ₱121

$1.77 ₱111

9.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₱74.4

$0.62 ₱38.90

91.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₱41.91

$0.53 ₱33.24

26.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 ₱122

$2.87 ₱180

-32.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.38 ₱400

$9.02 ₱565

-29.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₱68.4

$0.96 ₱60.1

13.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₱110

$2.10 ₱131

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.55

$0.25 ₱15.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.07 ₱694

$12.99 ₱814

-14.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.55

$0.84 ₱52.4

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.25 ₱15.69

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.97 ₱123

-3.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ₱65.0

$1.15 ₱72.2

-9.57%

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

$21.2K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

0.83%

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

$19.2K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-2.23%

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

$120 ₱7,494

$139 ₱8,708

-13.94%

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

$15.19 ₱952

$17.39 ₱1,090

-12.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.27 ₱1,773

$23.64 ₱1,482

19.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.60 ₱2,044

$21.34 ₱1,338

52.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.71 ₱295

$5.20 ₱326

-9.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.52 ₱346

$5.10 ₱320

8.24%

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

$134 ₱8,371

$134 ₱8,395

-0.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,203 ₱514.3K

$10.6K ₱662.1K

-22.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.10 ₱2,013

$28.47 ₱1,785

12.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.66 ₱1,232

$19.81 ₱1,242

-0.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 ₱4,747

$70.8 ₱4,438

6.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.2 ₱3,459

$56.6 ₱3,547

-2.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱17.0K

$411 ₱25.7K

-33.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 ₱12.1K

$198 ₱12.4K

-2.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 ₱31.7K

$849 ₱53.2K

-40.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 ₱22.0K

$465 ₱29.1K

-24.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,646 ₱165.9K

$2,662 ₱166.9K

-0.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,030 ₱64.6K

$900 ₱56.4K

14.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$349 ₱21.9K

$179 ₱11.3K

94.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Tacloban: September 6, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Tacloban and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tacloban pays 94% 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: $16.00 in Tacloban vs $16.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $201 vs $178, 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

Tacloban vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 1% 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 94% 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: $271 in Tacloban versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $769 per month in Tacloban versus $763 in Baguio – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 17% less than in Tacloban. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 1% less than in Tacloban. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.