Cost of Living Comparison Between Tagbilaran City and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Tagbilaran City and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $716 in Tagbilaran City versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,183 in Tagbilaran City versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,649 in Tagbilaran City versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Tagbilaran City costs roughly 6% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tagbilaran City 46% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 ₱278

$3.51 ₱216

28.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.67 ₱1,334

$13.35 ₱822

62.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.34 ₱206

$2.67 ₱165

25.09%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱161

$2.35 ₱145

11.49%

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

$0.79 ₱48.73

$0.69 ₱42.28

14.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱26.02

$0.37 ₱23.01

13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₱72.5

$1.44 ₱88.4

-18.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₱133

$1.93 ₱119

11.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 ₱109

$1.92 ₱118

-7.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 ₱66.8

$1.19 ₱73.3

-8.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱58.0

$1.06 ₱65.3

-11.32%

Eggs

$1.92 ₱118

$2.17 ₱134

-11.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.52 ₱648

$9.41 ₱579

11.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 ₱287

$3.72 ₱229

25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 ₱468

$8.61 ₱530

-11.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.72 ₱168

31.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 ₱81.0

$1.79 ₱110

-26.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 ₱201

$2.35 ₱145

39.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.17 ₱72.1

62.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱142

$1.81 ₱112

27.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 ₱149

$2.20 ₱135

10.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₱61.9

$0.68 ₱41.60

48.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.60

$0.78 ₱47.77

-11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 ₱171

$3.33 ₱205

-16.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.34 ₱390

$8.71 ₱536

-27.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₱61.7

$1.06 ₱65.4

-5.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$2.34 ₱144

-52.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.42

$0.28 ₱17.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₱54.8

$0.92 ₱56.7

-3.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.43

$0.22 ₱13.54

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.35 ₱145

14.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.11 ₱68.1

3.60%

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

$28.2K ₱1.7M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-10.89%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

7.09%

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

$78.4 ₱4,827

$144 ₱8,877

-45.63%

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

$26.08 ₱1,606

$34.02 ₱2,094

-23.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 ₱1,814

$25.86 ₱1,592

13.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.18 ₱2,104

$22.30 ₱1,373

53.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.33 ₱267

$4.23 ₱261

2.36%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 ₱243

$5.79 ₱356

-31.78%

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

$228 ₱14.0K

$151 ₱9,286

50.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,830 ₱235.8K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-17.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.82 ₱2,821

$48.90 ₱3,010

-6.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.25 ₱1,247

$27.56 ₱1,697

-26.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 ₱4,540

$74.1 ₱4,560

-0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.1 ₱3,390

$45.63 ₱2,809

20.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.1K

$349 ₱21.5K

-38.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 ₱9,360

$145 ₱8,936

4.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 ₱33.1K

$543 ₱33.4K

-0.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 ₱23.8K

$265 ₱16.3K

45.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$796 ₱49.0K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

-66.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$484 ₱29.8K

$925 ₱57.0K

-47.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 ₱10.9K

$183 ₱11.3K

-2.85%

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 Tagbilaran City: July 11, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Tagbilaran City and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 3% 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: $22.00 in Tagbilaran City vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $206 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

Tagbilaran City vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tagbilaran City wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tagbilaran City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Baguio. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $214 in Tagbilaran City versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $716 per month in Tagbilaran City versus $764 in Baguio – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tagbilaran City 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, Tagbilaran City 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 Tagbilaran City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.