Cost of Living Comparison Between Bago and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Bago and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $784 in Bago versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,196 in Bago versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,607 in Bago versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Bago costs roughly 1% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bago 41% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 ₱222

$3.57 ₱220

0.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.41 ₱1,073

$13.38 ₱825

30.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.21 ₱198

$2.64 ₱162

21.59%

Cappuccino

$2.39 ₱147

$2.36 ₱145

1.27%

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

$0.84 ₱51.7

$0.65 ₱40.14

29.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₱24.32

$0.38 ₱23.18

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ₱83.4

$1.39 ₱85.5

-2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₱130

$1.89 ₱117

12.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.88 ₱116

1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ₱78.3

$1.19 ₱73.4

6.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ₱59.1

$1.12 ₱68.8

-14.29%

Eggs

$2.05 ₱127

$2.22 ₱137

-7.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.12 ₱501

$9.21 ₱568

-11.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.17 ₱257

$3.74 ₱231

11.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱490

$8.33 ₱514

-4.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 ₱182

$2.74 ₱169

8.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ₱98.4

$1.80 ₱111

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 ₱165

$2.39 ₱147

12.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₱94.6

$1.20 ₱74.3

27.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₱142

$1.81 ₱112

27.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 ₱155

$2.29 ₱141

9.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱65.9

$0.73 ₱45.12

46.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.58

$0.72 ₱44.25

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 ₱171

$3.26 ₱201

-14.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.15 ₱564

$9.08 ₱560

0.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱73.8

$1.06 ₱65.5

13.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱122

$2.31 ₱143

-14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.98

$0.26 ₱15.91

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.92 ₱57.0

-9.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.51

$0.24 ₱14.88

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.40 ₱148

-12.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.4

$1.12 ₱69.0

1.79%

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

$26.4K ₱1.6M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-16.92%

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

2.07%

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

$112 ₱6,887

$147 ₱9,087

-24.21%

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

$33.07 ₱2,039

$35.37 ₱2,181

-6.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.00 ₱1,665

$26.43 ₱1,630

2.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.26 ₱2,112

$22.38 ₱1,380

53.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.34 ₱268

$4.18 ₱257

3.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.02 ₱371

$5.60 ₱346

7.50%

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

$152 ₱9,343

$154 ₱9,495

-1.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,248 ₱261.9K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-9.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.46 ₱2,865

$47.79 ₱2,947

-2.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.85 ₱1,656

$27.10 ₱1,671

-0.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 ₱4,620

$76.1 ₱4,690

-1.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.4 ₱3,231

$45.80 ₱2,824

14.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.7K

$345 ₱21.3K

-21.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱11.1K

$145 ₱8,959

23.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 ₱35.9K

$549 ₱33.8K

6.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱24.6K

$261 ₱16.1K

52.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,777 ₱171.2K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

14.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$845 ₱52.1K

$933 ₱57.5K

-9.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

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 Bago: June 1, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Bago and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Bago vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $205 per month, with Baguio cheaper across the board.

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

Bago vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bago is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,176 in Bago and $1,182 in Baguio to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $271 in Bago versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $152 in Bago versus $154 in Baguio. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bago – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $13.00 in Baguio. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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