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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$2.17 ₱133

61.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$16.61 ₱1,022

-19.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$3.92 ₱241

-31.89%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.84 ₱175

-17.25%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$1.62 ₱100

-57.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$1.22 ₱75.4

-69.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$1.30 ₱80.2

10.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.91 ₱117

1.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.75 ₱108

9.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.20 ₱74.2

-0.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$0.92 ₱56.8

15.22%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$1.84 ₱114

17.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$10.06 ₱619

-6.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$7.32 ₱451

-49.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$7.76 ₱478

10.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$3.90 ₱240

-30.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$2.72 ₱167

-34.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.70 ₱166

-12.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$0.64 ₱39.69

82.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.32 ₱143

-21.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$2.17 ₱134

1.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$1.11 ₱68.1

-38.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$1.08 ₱66.5

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.94 ₱181

13.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$0.99 ₱61.1

7.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.96 ₱121

19.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.26

$0.18 ₱11.27

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

$10.79 ₱664

0.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.78 ₱48.31

17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.24 ₱14.71

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.15 ₱132

9.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$1.24 ₱76.3

-10.48%

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

$31.7K ₱1.9M

$24.5K ₱1.5M

29.40%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$31.1K ₱1.9M

-33.98%

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

$144 ₱8,877

$100.0 ₱6,154

44.25%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$36.07 ₱2,221

-5.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$27.07 ₱1,667

-4.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$26.81 ₱1,651

-16.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$2.67 ₱164

58.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$5.07 ₱312

14.20%

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

$151 ₱9,286

$34.91 ₱2,149

332.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$4,322 ₱266.1K

7.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,010

$55.5 ₱3,416

-11.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$26.52 ₱1,633

3.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$49.55 ₱3,050

49.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$44.74 ₱2,755

1.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$229 ₱14.1K

52.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,936

$146 ₱8,962

-0.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$495 ₱30.5K

9.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$427 ₱26.3K

-38.00%

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)

$183 ₱11.3K

$214 ₱13.2K

-14.63%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bacolod: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,146 per month in Baguio and $1,141 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Baguio and $17.00 in Bacolod. 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 $764 in Baguio and $761 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 $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.