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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $761 per month in Bacolod vs $764 in Baguio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,212 per month in Bacolod vs $1,128 in Baguio, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,664 per month in Bacolod vs $1,491 in Baguio, rent included.

Bacolod and Baguio have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Bacolod and Baguio are more affordable than the global median – Bacolod 43% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 ₱133

$3.51 ₱216

-38.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.61 ₱1,022

$13.35 ₱822

24.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱241

$2.67 ₱165

46.82%

Cappuccino

$2.84 ₱175

$2.35 ₱145

20.85%

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

$1.62 ₱100

$0.69 ₱42.28

134.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₱75.4

$0.37 ₱23.01

229.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱80.2

$1.44 ₱88.4

-9.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₱117

$1.93 ₱119

-1.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ₱108

$1.92 ₱118

-8.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₱74.2

$1.19 ₱73.3

0.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ₱56.8

$1.06 ₱65.3

-13.21%

Eggs

$1.84 ₱114

$2.17 ₱134

-15.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 ₱619

$9.41 ₱579

6.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 ₱451

$3.72 ₱229

96.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 ₱478

$8.61 ₱530

-9.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 ₱240

$2.72 ₱168

43.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.72 ₱167

$1.79 ₱110

51.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.35 ₱145

14.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ₱39.69

$1.17 ₱72.1

-45.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.81 ₱112

28.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 ₱134

$2.20 ₱135

-1.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$0.68 ₱41.60

63.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.78 ₱47.77

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$3.33 ₱205

-11.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.1

$1.06 ₱65.4

-6.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₱121

$2.34 ₱144

-16.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₱11.27

$0.28 ₱17.27

-35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.79 ₱664

$10.81 ₱665

-0.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.31

$0.92 ₱56.7

-15.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.71

$0.22 ₱13.54

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.35 ₱145

-8.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱76.3

$1.11 ₱68.1

11.71%

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

$24.5K ₱1.5M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-22.72%

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

$31.1K ₱1.9M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

51.47%

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

$100.0 ₱6,154

$144 ₱8,878

-30.67%

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

$36.07 ₱2,221

$34.02 ₱2,094

6.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.07 ₱1,667

$25.86 ₱1,592

4.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.81 ₱1,651

$22.30 ₱1,373

20.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.67 ₱164

$4.23 ₱261

-36.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 ₱312

$5.79 ₱356

-12.44%

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

$34.91 ₱2,149

$151 ₱9,287

-76.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,322 ₱266.1K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-6.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ₱3,416

$48.90 ₱3,011

13.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.52 ₱1,633

$27.56 ₱1,697

-3.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.55 ₱3,050

$74.1 ₱4,560

-33.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.74 ₱2,755

$45.63 ₱2,809

-1.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 ₱14.1K

$349 ₱21.5K

-34.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 ₱8,962

$145 ₱8,937

0.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 ₱30.5K

$543 ₱33.4K

-8.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 ₱26.3K

$265 ₱16.3K

61.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$214 ₱13.2K

$183 ₱11.3K

17.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Bacolod: July 13, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Bacolod versus $349 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 17% higher in Bacolod. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Bacolod versus $13.00 in Baguio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $206 – making Baguio 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,141 per month in Bacolod and $1,146 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 $17.00 in Bacolod and $13.00 in Baguio. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 0% less in Bacolod. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $761 in Bacolod and $764 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 $761 in Bacolod to $764 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.