Cost of Living Comparison Between Zamboanga and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Zamboanga and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $745 in Zamboanga versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,076 in Zamboanga versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,408 in Zamboanga versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Zamboanga costs roughly 6% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zamboanga 44% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.55 ₱95.5

$3.57 ₱220

-56.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.47 ₱584

$13.38 ₱825

-29.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.64 ₱162

3.41%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ₱111

$2.36 ₱145

-23.31%

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

$0.91 ₱56.0

$0.65 ₱40.14

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.84

$0.38 ₱23.18

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ₱75.5

$1.39 ₱85.5

-12.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱101

$1.89 ₱117

-13.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱120

$1.88 ₱116

3.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 ₱101

$1.19 ₱73.4

38.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ₱79.2

$1.12 ₱68.8

14.29%

Eggs

$1.66 ₱102

$2.22 ₱137

-25.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 ₱692

$9.21 ₱568

21.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.51 ₱278

$3.74 ₱231

20.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$8.33 ₱514

-57.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 ₱208

$2.74 ₱169

22.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 ₱81.2

$1.80 ₱111

-26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 ₱260

$2.39 ₱147

76.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱166

$1.20 ₱74.3

123.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.0

$1.81 ₱112

-23.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.29 ₱141

20.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₱55.3

$0.73 ₱45.12

23.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.90

$0.72 ₱44.25

-20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$3.26 ₱201

-8.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₱270

$9.08 ₱560

-51.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 ₱90.4

$1.06 ₱65.5

38.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₱134

$2.31 ₱143

-5.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱14.85

$0.26 ₱15.91

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.5

$0.92 ₱57.0

1.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$0.24 ₱14.88

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.40 ₱148

-12.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₱75.0

$1.12 ₱69.0

8.93%

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

$26.9K ₱1.7M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-15.42%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

1.73%

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

$167 ₱10.3K

$147 ₱9,087

13.16%

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

$48.00 ₱2,960

$35.37 ₱2,181

35.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 ₱3,254

$26.43 ₱1,630

99.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.54 ₱2,438

$22.38 ₱1,380

76.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.31 ₱266

$4.18 ₱257

3.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱429

$5.60 ₱346

24.11%

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

$53.2 ₱3,283

$154 ₱9,495

-65.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,223 ₱75.4K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-74.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.61 ₱1,517

$47.79 ₱2,947

-48.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.58 ₱1,639

$27.10 ₱1,671

-1.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 ₱5,458

$76.1 ₱4,690

16.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 ₱3,808

$45.80 ₱2,824

34.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 ₱8,603

$345 ₱21.3K

-59.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$71.1 ₱4,384

$145 ₱8,959

-51.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 ₱22.8K

$549 ₱33.8K

-32.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$143 ₱8,818

$261 ₱16.1K

-45.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,275 ₱140.3K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

-5.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,099 ₱67.7K

$933 ₱57.5K

17.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$193 ₱11.9K

$181 ₱11.2K

6.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

166.67%

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

Last update for Zamboanga: May 30, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $140 in Zamboanga and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zamboanga pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Zamboanga vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $205, 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

Zamboanga vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zamboanga wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zamboanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Zamboanga pays 7% 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: $140 in Zamboanga versus $345 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 $745 per month in Zamboanga versus $788 in Baguio – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Zamboanga 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, Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.