Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacolod and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacolod and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $639 per month in Bacolod vs $748 in Baguio, rent included.

A couple spends around $917 per month in Bacolod vs $1,182 in Baguio, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,195 per month in Bacolod vs $1,616 in Baguio, rent included.

Bacolod is about 15% cheaper than Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bacolod and Baguio are more affordable than the global median – Bacolod 53% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.43 ₱152

$4.03 ₱252

-39.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.99 ₱812

$16.79 ₱1,050

-22.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.89 ₱243

$2.77 ₱173

40.43%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₱148

$1.79 ₱112

32.40%

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

$0.69 ₱43.41

$0.55 ₱34.69

25.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.29

$0.35 ₱21.57

5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱87.0

$1.02 ₱63.9

36.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₱113

$1.64 ₱103

10.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ₱100

$1.62 ₱101

-1.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$1.12 ₱69.9

-0.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ₱56.0

$0.98 ₱61.3

-8.16%

Eggs

$1.60 ₱100

$2.11 ₱132

-24.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 ₱544

$5.00 ₱313

74.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 ₱413

$3.36 ₱210

96.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 ₱508

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱212

$2.29 ₱143

48.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 ₱159

$1.62 ₱101

57.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱146

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 ₱33.39

$1.08 ₱67.3

-50.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 ₱105

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 ₱124

$1.71 ₱107

16.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱39.00

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₱64.2

$0.49 ₱30.59

110.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 ₱173

$2.99 ₱187

-7.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 ₱561

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₱54.1

$0.95 ₱59.6

-9.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₱10.42

$0.25 ₱15.64

-32.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱792

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱46.15

$0.76 ₱47.83

-2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.25 ₱15.71

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱122

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₱76.3

$1.20 ₱75.0

1.67%

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

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

1.02%

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

$23.7K ₱1.5M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

21.17%

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

$139 ₱8,698

$144 ₱8,974

-3.08%

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

$8.10 ₱506

$17.30 ₱1,082

-53.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.83 ₱1,740

$23.28 ₱1,456

19.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.84 ₱991

$21.30 ₱1,332

-25.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.43 ₱152

$5.36 ₱335

-54.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 ₱282

$5.19 ₱325

-12.91%

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

$31.97 ₱1,999

$131 ₱8,191

-75.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱663.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 ₱3,560

$29.51 ₱1,845

92.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 ₱1,206

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ₱4,568

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 ₱3,466

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₱16.7K

$411 ₱25.7K

-35.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱11.2K

$198 ₱12.4K

-9.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 ₱29.6K

$851 ₱53.2K

-44.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 ₱21.1K

$466 ₱29.1K

-27.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,650 ₱165.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$209 ₱13.0K

$180 ₱11.2K

16.18%

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 Bacolod: August 29, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Bacolod versus $411 in Baguio. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 16% higher in Bacolod, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Bacolod versus $17.00 in Baguio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $175 – making Bacolod the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bacolod vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $639 in Bacolod, $748 in Baguio – roughly 17% apart. Baguio costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $959 per month in Bacolod and $1,122 in Baguio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacolod, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Bacolod and $17.00 in Baguio. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Baguio, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $639 in Bacolod and $748 in Baguio, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Bacolod has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $639 in Bacolod to $748 in Baguio. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bacolod. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baguio makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.