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: $731 in Zamboanga versus $766 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,099 in Zamboanga versus $1,168 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,467 in Zamboanga versus $1,570 in Baguio.

Living in Zamboanga costs roughly 5% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zamboanga 47% lower, Baguio 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.32 ₱82.7

$4.03 ₱253

-67.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.92 ₱1,061

$16.53 ₱1,036

2.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.51 ₱220

$2.77 ₱174

26.71%

Cappuccino

$2.08 ₱130

$1.84 ₱116

13.04%

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

$0.87 ₱54.2

$0.60 ₱37.72

45.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱26.50

$0.33 ₱20.82

27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱91.6

$1.03 ₱64.2

41.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₱125

$1.57 ₱98.2

26.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.66 ₱104

4.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.5

$1.15 ₱72.1

24.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱69.7

$1.01 ₱63.3

9.90%

Eggs

$1.52 ₱95.0

$2.02 ₱127

-24.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 ₱632

$4.99 ₱312

102.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.06 ₱254

$3.47 ₱218

17.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.16 ₱198

$7.80 ₱489

-59.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 ₱192

$2.31 ₱144

32.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ₱73.2

$1.53 ₱95.7

-23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.69 ₱231

$2.30 ₱144

60.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₱71.3

$1.04 ₱65.1

9.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱74.3

$1.65 ₱104

-28.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 ₱153

$1.77 ₱111

37.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 ₱52.0

$0.67 ₱41.71

23.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.55

$0.52 ₱32.87

-3.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 ₱175

$2.98 ₱187

-6.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.11 ₱257

$8.49 ₱532

-51.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱82.1

$0.96 ₱60.1

36.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₱123

$2.04 ₱128

-3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.80

$0.23 ₱14.35

-4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱743

$12.81 ₱803

-7.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.02

$0.81 ₱50.9

-4.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.16

$0.23 ₱14.36

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 ₱105

$1.88 ₱118

-11.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ₱60.9

$1.20 ₱75.0

-19.17%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-3.94%

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

$18.5K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

-2.83%

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

$122 ₱7,667

$138 ₱8,651

-11.39%

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

$14.78 ₱926

$17.68 ₱1,108

-16.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.02 ₱2,947

$23.45 ₱1,470

100.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.01 ₱2,257

$21.64 ₱1,356

66.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.65 ₱291

$5.27 ₱330

-11.76%

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 ₱319

$5.13 ₱321

-0.78%

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

$131 ₱8,182

$131 ₱8,223

-0.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,834 ₱490.9K

$10.8K ₱674.0K

-27.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.17 ₱2,016

$29.37 ₱1,840

9.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 ₱1,181

$19.10 ₱1,197

-1.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.0 ₱4,448

$72.9 ₱4,565

-2.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,417

$56.0 ₱3,507

-2.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.5K

$399 ₱25.0K

-34.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₱10.9K

$200 ₱12.5K

-13.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ₱21.3K

$853 ₱53.5K

-60.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₱22.2K

$463 ₱29.0K

-23.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,560 ₱160.4K

$2,603 ₱163.1K

-1.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,002 ₱62.8K

$928 ₱58.2K

7.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.8K

$179 ₱11.2K

5.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Zamboanga: September 13, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Zamboanga and $399 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zamboanga pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Zamboanga vs $17.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $181 vs $174, 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 5% 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.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Zamboanga, 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: $263 in Zamboanga versus $399 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $731 per month in Zamboanga versus $766 in Baguio – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Zamboanga runs roughly 8% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 5% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.