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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $788 per month in Baguio vs $736 in Bacolod, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,154 per month in Baguio vs $1,190 in Bacolod, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,520 per month in Baguio vs $1,645 in Bacolod, rent included.

Baguio costs about 7% more than Bacolod, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baguio and Bacolod are more affordable than the global median – Baguio 41% lower, Bacolod 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱221

$2.24 ₱138

59.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$17.17 ₱1,060

-22.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱163

$3.97 ₱245

-33.50%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.96 ₱183

-20.27%

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

$0.65 ₱40.16

$1.64 ₱101

-60.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.19

$1.21 ₱74.9

-68.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.28 ₱78.8

8.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.94 ₱119

-2.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.73 ₱107

8.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.25 ₱76.8

-4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$0.91 ₱55.9

23.08%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$1.77 ₱109

25.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$9.64 ₱595

-4.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$7.62 ₱470

-50.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.76 ₱479

7.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$3.85 ₱238

-28.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$2.73 ₱168

-34.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.58 ₱159

-7.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$0.65 ₱39.85

84.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.32 ₱143

-21.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱142

$2.27 ₱140

0.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.15

$1.10 ₱67.9

-33.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.28

$1.13 ₱69.5

-36.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$3.05 ₱188

6.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱561

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$0.96 ₱59.1

10.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.99 ₱123

16.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.92

$0.18 ₱10.86

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$10.62 ₱655

2.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.78 ₱48.43

17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.89

$0.24 ₱14.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.17 ₱134

10.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.24 ₱76.5

-9.68%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$25.3K ₱1.6M

25.60%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$30.6K ₱1.9M

-33.55%

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

$147 ₱9,093

$103 ₱6,364

42.88%

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

$35.37 ₱2,183

$35.67 ₱2,201

-0.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,631

$27.89 ₱1,721

-5.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,381

$26.22 ₱1,618

-14.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱258

$2.58 ₱159

62.02%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$4.86 ₱300

15.23%

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

$154 ₱9,502

$35.27 ₱2,176

336.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.4K

$4,330 ₱267.2K

8.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,949

$55.3 ₱3,412

-13.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,672

$26.06 ₱1,608

3.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,693

$50.1 ₱3,090

51.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,826

$43.72 ₱2,698

4.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$227 ₱14.0K

52.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,965

$148 ₱9,161

-2.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.9K

$495 ₱30.5K

10.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$430 ₱26.5K

-39.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$207 ₱12.8K

-12.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bacolod: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $345 in Baguio versus $227 in Bacolod. 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 14% 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 Baguio versus $17.00 in Bacolod. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $218 – 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

Baguio vs Bacolod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $788 in Baguio, $736 in Bacolod – roughly 7% apart. Baguio costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,182 per month in Baguio and $1,104 in Bacolod. 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.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Bacolod. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $154 per month in Baguio and $35.27 in Bacolod. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $788 in Baguio and $736 in Bacolod, 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 $736 in Bacolod to $788 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.