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: $619 in Tagbilaran City versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $999 in Tagbilaran City versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,378 in Tagbilaran City versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Tagbilaran City costs roughly 17% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tagbilaran City 55% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 ₱188

$4.03 ₱252

-25.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.53 ₱1,098

$16.79 ₱1,051

4.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.80 ₱176

$2.77 ₱174

1.08%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱161

$1.79 ₱112

43.58%

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

$0.92 ₱57.3

$0.55 ₱34.74

67.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱26.33

$0.35 ₱21.61

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 ₱51.5

$1.02 ₱63.9

-19.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 ₱138

$1.64 ₱103

34.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₱97.8

$1.62 ₱101

-3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$1.12 ₱70.0

-9.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ₱55.9

$0.98 ₱61.4

-9.18%

Eggs

$1.80 ₱113

$2.11 ₱132

-14.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.88 ₱619

$5.00 ₱313

97.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 ₱286

$3.36 ₱210

35.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.44 ₱466

$8.12 ₱508

-8.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 ₱177

$2.29 ₱143

23.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 ₱84.8

$1.62 ₱102

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$2.33 ₱146

-0.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ₱97.9

$1.08 ₱67.4

44.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 ₱153

$1.68 ₱105

45.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.71 ₱107

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ₱40.52

$0.62 ₱39.05

4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.02

$0.49 ₱30.63

2.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.39 ₱150

$2.99 ₱187

-20.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.23 ₱390

$8.98 ₱562

-30.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₱58.5

$0.95 ₱59.7

-2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$2.11 ₱132

-49.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 ₱31.32

$0.25 ₱15.66

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱794

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱47.23

$0.76 ₱47.90

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.25 ₱15.73

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 ₱274

$1.96 ₱122

123.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ₱67.6

$1.20 ₱75.1

-10.00%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

2.05%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

0.45%

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

$79.3 ₱4,963

$144 ₱8,987

-44.77%

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

$14.82 ₱928

$17.30 ₱1,083

-14.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.23 ₱1,580

$23.28 ₱1,458

8.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.18 ₱700

$21.30 ₱1,334

-47.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.29 ₱206

$5.36 ₱336

-38.62%

Cinema Ticket

$3.56 ₱223

$5.19 ₱325

-31.41%

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

$277 ₱17.3K

$131 ₱8,203

111.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,083 ₱506.1K

$10.6K ₱664.4K

-23.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.16 ₱2,390

$29.51 ₱1,848

29.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.97 ₱1,126

$19.29 ₱1,208

-6.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.8 ₱4,117

$73.0 ₱4,574

-9.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.7 ₱3,679

$55.4 ₱3,471

5.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$196 ₱12.3K

$411 ₱25.7K

-52.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 ₱8,808

$198 ₱12.4K

-28.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ₱30.1K

$851 ₱53.3K

-43.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 ₱21.3K

$466 ₱29.2K

-26.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$806 ₱50.5K

$2,650 ₱165.9K

-69.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$480 ₱30.1K

$919 ₱57.5K

-47.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 ₱11.0K

$180 ₱11.2K

-2.03%

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 Tagbilaran City: September 1, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $196 in Tagbilaran City and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 2% 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: $18.00 in Tagbilaran City vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $175 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 21% 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 2% 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: $196 in Tagbilaran City versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $619 per month in Tagbilaran City versus $748 in Baguio – a 21% 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 21% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.