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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $766 per month in Baguio vs $624 in Bacolod, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,168 per month in Baguio vs $928 in Bacolod, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,570 per month in Baguio vs $1,231 in Bacolod, rent included.

Baguio costs about 23% more than Bacolod, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Baguio and Bacolod are more affordable than the global median – Baguio 44% lower, Bacolod 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$2.44 ₱153

65.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,037

$13.05 ₱819

26.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$3.95 ₱248

-29.87%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.33 ₱146

-21.03%

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

$0.60 ₱37.76

$0.65 ₱40.65

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.84

$0.35 ₱21.77

-5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$1.34 ₱83.8

-23.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$1.81 ₱114

-13.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.53 ₱96.1

8.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.16 ₱72.9

-0.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.90 ₱56.4

12.22%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.63 ₱102

23.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$8.58 ₱538

-41.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$6.93 ₱435

-49.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$3.39 ₱213

-31.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.8

$2.53 ₱159

-39.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$0.54 ₱33.97

92.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.94 ₱122

-8.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.75

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.90

$1.02 ₱64.1

-49.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.75 ₱172

8.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱533

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.2

$0.91 ₱56.9

5.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.16 ₱10.19

43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.75 ₱46.99

8.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.23 ₱14.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.20 ₱75.4

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-1.09%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$23.8K ₱1.5M

-19.93%

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

$138 ₱8,659

$137 ₱8,619

0.47%

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

$17.68 ₱1,109

$8.01 ₱503

120.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,471

$27.72 ₱1,739

-15.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,357

$15.63 ₱980

38.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

$2.41 ₱151

118.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$4.56 ₱286

12.50%

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

$131 ₱8,230

$31.46 ₱1,973

317.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,842

$56.1 ₱3,515

-47.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,198

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,569

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,510

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$271 ₱17.0K

47.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$179 ₱11.2K

11.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$467 ₱29.3K

82.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$335 ₱21.0K

38.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$204 ₱12.8K

-12.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bacolod: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $399 in Baguio versus $271 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 $17.00 in Baguio versus $13.00 in Bacolod. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $153 – making Bacolod 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: $766 in Baguio, $624 in Bacolod – roughly 23% apart. Baguio costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,149 per month in Baguio and $936 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 $17.00 in Baguio and $13.00 in Bacolod. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Baguio, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $766 in Baguio and $624 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 $624 in Bacolod to $766 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.