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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱221

$3.60 ₱222

-0.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$17.41 ₱1,074

-23.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱163

$3.21 ₱198

-17.76%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.39 ₱147

-1.26%

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

$0.65 ₱40.16

$0.84 ₱51.7

-22.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.19

$0.39 ₱24.34

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.35 ₱83.5

2.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.12 ₱131

-10.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.90 ₱117

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.27 ₱78.3

-6.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$0.96 ₱59.2

16.67%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.05 ₱127

8.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$8.12 ₱501

13.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.17 ₱258

-10.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.95 ₱490

4.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.96 ₱183

-7.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.60 ₱98.5

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.68 ₱166

-10.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.53 ₱94.6

-21.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.30 ₱142

-21.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱142

$2.51 ₱155

-8.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.15

$1.07 ₱66.0

-31.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.28

$0.76 ₱46.62

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.78 ₱171

17.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱561

$9.15 ₱565

-0.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.20 ₱73.9

-11.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.98 ₱122

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.92

$0.26 ₱15.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.83 ₱51.4

10.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.89

$0.22 ₱13.52

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.11 ₱130

13.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.14 ₱70.4

-1.75%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.4K ₱1.6M

20.36%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

-2.03%

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

$147 ₱9,093

$112 ₱6,892

31.95%

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

$35.37 ₱2,183

$33.07 ₱2,041

6.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,631

$27.00 ₱1,666

-2.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,381

$34.26 ₱2,114

-34.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱258

$4.34 ₱268

-3.69%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.02 ₱371

-6.98%

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

$154 ₱9,502

$152 ₱9,349

1.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.4K

$4,248 ₱262.1K

10.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,949

$46.46 ₱2,867

2.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,672

$26.85 ₱1,657

0.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,693

$74.9 ₱4,624

1.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,826

$52.4 ₱3,233

-12.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$271 ₱16.7K

27.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,965

$179 ₱11.1K

-19.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.9K

$582 ₱35.9K

-5.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$399 ₱24.6K

-34.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.2K

$2,777 ₱171.4K

-12.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.6K

$845 ₱52.1K

10.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

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 Bago: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Bago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $209 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

Baguio vs Bago: 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 $1,182 in Baguio and $1,176 in Bago 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: $345 in Baguio versus $271 in Bago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $154 in Baguio versus $152 in Bago. 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, Baguio and Bago 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.