Cost of Living Comparison Between Arak and Tuguegarao Cost of Living Comparison Between Arak and Tuguegarao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $430 in Arak versus $643 in Tuguegarao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $669 in Arak versus $1,018 in Tuguegarao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $907 in Arak versus $1,393 in Tuguegarao.

Living in Arak costs roughly 33% less than in Tuguegarao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Arak 68% lower, Tuguegarao 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 $2.97

$1.72 ₱106

72.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.74 $13.74

$13.51 ₱833

1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.59 ₱160

-1.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 $0.88

Cappuccino

$1.27 $1.27

$2.33 ₱144

-45.49%

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

$0.36 $0.36

$0.48 ₱29.80

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.31 ₱19.11

235.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ₱89.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₱119

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 $0.63

$1.92 ₱118

-67.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 $0.58

$1.19 ₱73.5

-51.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.81 ₱50.1

139.51%

Eggs

$1.02 $1.02

$2.21 ₱136

-53.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$6.38 ₱394

-70.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.73 ₱230

-48.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 $8.59

$8.55 ₱528

0.47%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$2.68 ₱165

-67.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.85 ₱114

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 $0.58

$2.35 ₱145

-75.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.41 $0.41

$1.17 ₱72.3

-64.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 $0.39

$1.91 ₱118

-79.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 $0.37

$2.23 ₱138

-83.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.72 ₱44.53

-52.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.70 ₱43.36

-67.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.03 $1.03

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.16 ₱133

-16.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.11 ₱562

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱139

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 $0.43

$0.28 ₱17.32

53.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 $9.97

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.93 ₱57.2

-60.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.09 $0.09

$0.24 ₱14.82

-62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 $1.21

$2.38 ₱147

-49.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 $0.35

$1.11 ₱68.7

-68.47%

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

$43.0K $43.0K

$32.0K ₱2.0M

34.34%

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

$39.9K $39.9K

$20.5K ₱1.3M

94.58%

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

$10.17 $10.17

$35.42 ₱2,185

-71.29%

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

$2.06 $2.06

$18.07 ₱1,115

-88.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.69 $5.69

$25.83 ₱1,593

-77.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.09 $13.09

$33.38 ₱2,059

-60.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.11 $16.11

$4.45 ₱275

262.02%

Cinema Ticket

$0.98 $0.98

$5.63 ₱348

-82.59%

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

$62.1 $62.1

$151 ₱9,290

-58.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,967 $1,967

$4,743 ₱292.6K

-58.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.86 $12.86

$48.53 ₱2,993

-73.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.21 $8.21

$27.28 ₱1,683

-69.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.82 $44.82

$44.21 ₱2,727

1.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.50 $45.50

$26.42 ₱1,629

72.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 $315

$262 ₱16.2K

20.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 $192

$180 ₱11.1K

7.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 $479

$590 ₱36.4K

-18.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 $305

$401 ₱24.7K

-23.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,370 $1,370

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$532 $532

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$323 $323

$217 ₱13.4K

48.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.33

4.5

307.33%

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

Last update for Arak: April 26, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Arak and $262 in Tuguegarao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Arak vs $14.00 in Tuguegarao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $86.0 vs $196 per month, with Arak cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arak vs Tuguegarao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Arak pays 49% 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: $315 in Arak versus $262 in Tuguegarao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $62.1 in Arak versus $151 in Tuguegarao. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Arak – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $14.00 in Tuguegarao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Arak 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, Arak and Tuguegarao 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 Arak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Tuguegarao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.