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: $1,147 in Baguio versus $994 in Bataan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,386 in Bataan.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Bataan 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱223

$1.44 ₱88.6

152.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱825

$17.43 ₱1,070

-22.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱165

$2.99 ₱184

-10.03%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$1.48 ₱91.1

59.46%

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

$0.66 ₱40.50

$0.81 ₱49.60

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.03

$0.26 ₱15.94

46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.1

$1.48 ₱90.6

-6.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱119

$2.60 ₱160

-25.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.79 ₱110

1.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱74.1

$1.44 ₱88.5

-15.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.0

$0.99 ₱60.8

8.08%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱140

$2.01 ₱123

13.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱561

$8.10 ₱497

12.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱238

$4.04 ₱248

-4.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱519

$10.79 ₱662

-21.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱169

$2.88 ₱177

-4.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱113

$2.08 ₱128

-11.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱145

$3.64 ₱223

-34.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱71.1

$1.46 ₱89.5

-20.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.45 ₱88.9

25.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$2.53 ₱155

-10.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱42.04

$1.08 ₱66.1

-37.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.51

$0.55 ₱33.50

30.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.44 ₱150

37.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱563

$8.89 ₱546

3.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.3

$1.08 ₱66.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱139

$2.50 ₱154

-9.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.40

$0.26 ₱15.93

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱641

$4.20 ₱258

148.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.8

$0.83 ₱51.1

3.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.42

$0.22 ₱13.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱150

$2.14 ₱132

14.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.6

$1.17 ₱71.7

-4.27%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$28.2K ₱1.7M

14.41%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$28.7K ₱1.8M

-28.38%

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

$149 ₱9,136

$53.1 ₱3,260

180.21%

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

$34.55 ₱2,121

$23.13 ₱1,420

49.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,618

$26.33 ₱1,617

0.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,341

$34.38 ₱2,111

-36.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱250

$4.54 ₱279

-10.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱360

$6.31 ₱387

-6.97%

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

$149 ₱9,137

$74.4 ₱4,570

99.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱287.5K

$4,358 ₱267.6K

7.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,939

$46.59 ₱2,860

2.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,666

$34.10 ₱2,094

-20.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,622

$69.0 ₱4,235

9.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,831

$116 ₱7,099

-60.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.6K

$98.5 ₱6,046

241.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,704

$57.9 ₱3,555

144.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱34.1K

$315 ₱19.3K

76.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$170 ₱10.4K

54.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱56.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.5K

$407 ₱25.0K

-53.83%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bataan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $98.5 in Bataan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bataan pays 117% 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 $206 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, salaries run 117% lower in Bataan. 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: $336 in Baguio versus $98.5 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 148% 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.