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: $771 in Bago versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,213 in Bago versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,655 in Bago versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Bago is roughly 1% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bago 42% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 ₱213

$3.51 ₱216

-1.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.62 ₱1,085

$13.35 ₱822

31.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.67 ₱165

24.34%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱146

$2.35 ₱145

0.43%

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

$0.77 ₱47.46

$0.69 ₱42.28

11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.68

$0.37 ₱23.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱79.9

$1.44 ₱88.4

-9.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.93 ₱119

13.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.92 ₱118

-1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.19 ₱73.3

5.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱60.6

$1.06 ₱65.3

-7.55%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱129

$2.17 ₱134

-3.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 ₱483

$9.41 ₱579

-16.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 ₱256

$3.72 ₱229

11.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 ₱484

$8.61 ₱530

-8.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.85 ₱175

$2.72 ₱168

4.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₱98.0

$1.79 ₱110

-11.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.35 ₱145

10.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₱99.4

$1.17 ₱72.1

37.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱140

$1.81 ₱112

25.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₱156

$2.20 ₱135

15.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$0.68 ₱41.60

61.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₱46.19

$0.78 ₱47.77

-3.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 ₱171

$3.33 ₱205

-16.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.64 ₱470

$8.71 ₱536

-12.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱71.1

$1.06 ₱65.4

9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₱122

$2.34 ₱144

-14.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.85

$0.28 ₱17.27

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.7

$0.92 ₱56.7

-10.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.45

$0.22 ₱13.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.35 ₱145

-11.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.2

$1.11 ₱68.1

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-17.54%

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

1.26%

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

$111 ₱6,837

$144 ₱8,878

-22.98%

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

$32.30 ₱1,989

$34.02 ₱2,094

-5.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.02 ₱1,725

$25.86 ₱1,592

8.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 ₱2,114

$22.30 ₱1,373

53.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.53 ₱279

$4.23 ₱261

7.09%

Cinema Ticket

$5.80 ₱357

$5.79 ₱356

0.17%

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

$149 ₱9,201

$151 ₱9,287

-0.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,261 ₱262.3K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-8.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.44 ₱2,859

$48.90 ₱3,011

-5.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.93 ₱1,658

$27.56 ₱1,697

-2.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 ₱4,678

$74.1 ₱4,560

2.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 ₱3,246

$45.63 ₱2,809

15.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$349 ₱21.5K

-25.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.8K

$145 ₱8,937

20.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 ₱36.8K

$543 ₱33.4K

10.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 ₱24.7K

$265 ₱16.3K

51.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,477 ₱152.5K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

3.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$834 ₱51.3K

$925 ₱57.0K

-9.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Bago and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bago vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $206, with Bago cheaper for home cooking.

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

Baguio is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,156 in Bago and $1,146 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: $261 in Bago versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $149 in Bago versus $151 in Baguio. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Baguio – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $18.00 in Bago. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Bago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.