Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Bataan Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Bataan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $602 in Bataan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $998 in Bataan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,393 in Bataan.

Living in Baguio is roughly 29% more expensive than Bataan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Bataan 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$1.45 ₱89.7

147.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$17.40 ₱1,073

-22.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.11 ₱192

-16.40%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$1.55 ₱95.6

50.97%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.83 ₱51.2

-15.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.26 ₱15.85

53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.48 ₱91.2

-1.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.61 ₱161

-23.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.85 ₱114

2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.41 ₱86.7

-11.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.93 ₱57.6

19.35%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$2.00 ₱123

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$8.08 ₱498

12.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$4.14 ₱256

-10.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$10.46 ₱645

-19.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$2.88 ₱178

-8.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$2.17 ₱134

-13.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$3.62 ₱223

-37.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.40 ₱86.6

-15.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.38 ₱85.1

31.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.62 ₱162

-12.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$1.07 ₱66.1

-32.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.54 ₱33.33

42.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$2.44 ₱151

37.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$9.07 ₱559

1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.09 ₱67.0

-0.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.50 ₱154

-9.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.26 ₱15.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

$4.12 ₱254

156.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.78 ₱48.15

11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.24 ₱14.82

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.07 ₱128

18.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.15 ₱71.2

-3.48%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

14.76%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$28.9K ₱1.8M

-29.01%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$53.6 ₱3,303

172.03%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$23.22 ₱1,432

46.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$25.98 ₱1,602

0.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$34.19 ₱2,109

-36.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.39 ₱271

-5.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$6.29 ₱388

-5.72%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$75.0 ₱4,626

104.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$4,365 ₱269.2K

6.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$45.82 ₱2,826

7.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$33.61 ₱2,073

-18.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$68.6 ₱4,232

11.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$113 ₱6,993

-59.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$95.7 ₱5,904

261.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$57.7 ₱3,560

146.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$305 ₱18.8K

78.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$172 ₱10.6K

53.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$414 ₱25.5K

-55.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.17

-27.07%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bataan: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $95.7 in Bataan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bataan pays 123% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Bataan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $218 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 Bataan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bataan wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bataan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Bataan earns 123% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $346 in Baguio versus $95.7 in Bataan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $602 in Bataan – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bataan runs roughly 156% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bataan 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 Bataan 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 Bataan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.