Food and Drink
- Grocery Delivery
- SM Markets Online or MetroMart.
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda and GrabFood are the dominant services in the city.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pinikpikan (Cordilleran chicken soup) or Etag (smoked pork) at Farmer's Daughter Restaurant.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Oh My Gulay (Session Road): artistic vegetarian cafe; meals approx. 250 PHP.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Vizco’s Restaurant and Cake Shop (Session Rd): Strawberry Shortcake is 700 PHP for a small whole cake.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Baguio City Public Market for the cheapest local produce, coffee beans, and strawberries.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee and Lazada are the primary online retailers.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Session Road and the outskirts of Leonard Wood Road (e.g., Rumours, The Ampersand).
- Local Brewery
- Baguio Craft Brewery (RKC Building): 250-350 PHP per pint of local craft beer.
- Wine Bars
- Concoctions (Upper Session Rd): Relaxed vibe with a decent wine selection.
- Street Food Stalls
- Baguio Night Market (Harrison Road): Opens 9 PM - 2 AM for cheap street eats and 'ukay-ukay' clothes.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Chaya (Legarda Rd) for authentic Japanese; Amare La Cucina (Wright Park) for wood-fired pizza.
Essentials
- City
- Baguio, Benguet, Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines
- Population
- Approximately 380,000
- Internet Speed
- Fiber broadband up to 200 Mbps via PLDT/Converge; 5G mobile speeds around 40-70 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 PHP ≈ 0.018 USD, 1 USD ≈ 56.50 PHP. ATMs are widely available; BDO and BPI are most reliable.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable. Purchase 5-gallon purified water jugs for approx. 40-50 PHP.
- Power
- 220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A and B sockets (standard US style)
- SIM Card
- Globe or Smart: 500 PHP for 20GB monthly data; purchase at SM City Baguio.
- Banking for Expats
- GCash (digital wallet) is essential; BPI and BDO for physical accounts; Maya for digital banking.
- Accommodation
- Airbnb for short stays; Facebook Groups (Baguio Apartment Rentals) for long-term leases.
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate. Larger malls and restaurants accept cards/GCash; Jeepneys and local markets are cash only.
- Short Term Rentals
- The Outlook Ridge Residences (approx. 45,000 PHP/month) or Airbnb units in cedar crest.
- Budget Accommodation
- 3BU Hostel (Governor Pack Road): approx. 700-900 PHP per night for a pod.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Upper Session Road / Leonard Wood Road for proximity to parks and dining.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- South Drive or Loakan for quieter environments with modern condo developments.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Core Working Space (Military Cut-off): 450 PHP per day with high-speed fiber.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Hot Cat Specialty Coffee (Brent Rd): excellent Wi-Fi and quiet atmosphere; average latte 160 PHP.
- Networking Events
- Baguio Tech Community meetups usually held at Calle Uno Coworking.
- Social Events for Expats
- Baguio Expats and Locals Facebook group organizes weekly mixers at local craft bars.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab (Car and Taxi) is reliable. Local white taxis are honest and always use meters.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Baguio City is very hilly; rentals are rare. Walking or Jeepneys are preferred.
- Best Beach Nearby
- San Juan, La Union (Surfing capital): 2 hours away via Partas Bus (150 PHP).
- Top Regional Airline
- PAL Express (Philippine Airlines) flies from Loakan Airport (BAG) to Cebu.
- Top International Airline
- Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific via Clark International Airport (CRK).
- Highway Access
- Connected to Manila via TPLEX and Kennon Road or Marcos Highway.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Victory Liner Terminal (Gov. Pack Road) for luxury bus travel to Manila (650-900 PHP).
- Public Transport Passes
- None. Jeepneys cost 13 PHP (base); Taxis start at 40 PHP flag-down rate.
- Regional Travel
- Victory Liner (Manila), Partas (Vigan/Laoag), GL Trans (Sagada).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital (Main St): highly regarded private facility.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Room (SM City Baguio area): 400 PHP per drop-in session.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Altitude Gym (Kenon Rd): 2,000 PHP/month; Anytime Fitness (SM Baguio): 2,500 PHP/month.
- Laundry Services
- Wash and Dry (Leonard Wood): 200 PHP for an 8kg load (wash/dry/fold).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Mines View Park, Burnham Park, and The Mansion.
- Museums & Art Venues
- BenCab Museum (Km. 6 Asin Road): Entrance 200 PHP; features works of National Artist Benedicto Cabrera.
- Historical Sites
- Camp John Hay (Former US military rest and recreation base).
- Religious Sites
- Baguio Cathedral (Our Lady of the Atonement) - iconic pink facade on a hill.
- Annual Events
- Panagbenga Festival (Flower Festival) held every February.
- Cultural Districts
- Tam-awan Village: A reconstructed indigenous village highlighting Cordilleran heritage.
- Theater Venues
- Baguio Convention Center for major performances and trade fairs.
- Local Markets
- Baguio Public Market for 'Pasalubong' (souvenirs) and fresh highland vegetables.
- Music Scene
- Kaffeeklatsch (City Camp Rd) for jazz and acoustic live performances.
- Street Art
- Valley of Colors (Stobosa, La Trinidad): giant colorful mural across a hillside of houses.
- Cooking Classes
- Check local culinary schools like Mama's Table for private highland cooking demonstrations.
- Art Galleries
- Ili-likha Artists' Wateringhole (Assumption Rd): multi-level ecostructure food court and gallery.
- Historic Buildings
- Laperal White House (reputed haunted house, now a Victorian museum).
- Local Heritage
- The weaving traditions; visit Easter Weaving Room (Guisad) to see traditional looms.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Costa (La Trinidad): A sprawling park with themed gardens; entrance 350 PHP.
- National Parks Nearby
- Mount Pulag National Park: famous for the 'Sea of Clouds' (requires 3-4 hour drive to trailhead).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Yellow Trail at Camp John Hay: perfectly pine-canopied 3km forest trail.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mines View Park Overlook: vista of the Amburayan Valley and abandoned gold mines.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Forbes Park neighborhood or the deeper pine forests of Camp John Hay.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Camp John Hay picnic grounds (designated fire pits available for rent).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- LBC Express or J&T Express for domestic shipping.
- Tech Repair Services
- SM Cyberzone in SM City Baguio for authorized and third-party repairs.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Baguio City Athletic Bowl sports complex.
- Language Classes
- University of the Cordilleras (UC) sometimes offers Tagalog or Ilocano courses.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Baguio City Public Library (Burnham Park): quiet, traditional study space.
- Community Centers
- Baguio City Hall administrative hall.
- Gaming Lounges
- TNC Cyber Cafe (Session Rd) for competitive PC gaming.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Filipino (Bagong Nayong Pilipino) at the Baguio Palace Hotel.
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 130,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 25 m² = 3,250,000 PHP)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 95,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 25 m² = 2,375,000 PHP)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 125,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 5,000,000 PHP)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 85,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 3,400,000 PHP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 115,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 65 m² = 7,475,000 PHP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 80,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 65 m² = 5,200,000 PHP)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard) or 20% for small domestic corporations.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents; 25% for non-resident aliens.
- Tax System
- Progressive personal income tax (0% to 35%); Residency is determined by 180+ days stay.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income over 8 million PHP.
- VAT
- 12% standard rate.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, regulations are in place to prevent tax avoidance via foreign income.
- Property Tax
- Amilyar: Roughly 1-2% of assessed value annually.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Capital Gains Tax (6%), Documentary Stamp Tax (1.5%), Transfer Tax (0.5-0.75%).
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Non-residents are generally taxed only on Philippines-sourced income (0% on foreign income).