Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Batangas Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Batangas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $627 in Batangas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $917 in Batangas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,206 in Batangas.

Living in Baguio is roughly 22% more expensive than in Batangas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Batangas 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$2.21 ₱138

82.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,037

$18.95 ₱1,189

-12.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.66 ₱167

4.14%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.03 ₱127

-9.36%

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

$0.60 ₱37.76

$0.41 ₱25.81

46.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.84

$0.29 ₱18.26

13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$1.06 ₱66.7

-2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$1.48 ₱92.7

6.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.74 ₱109

-4.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.13 ₱71.1

1.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.79 ₱49.34

27.85%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.64 ₱103

23.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$5.71 ₱358

-12.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$4.29 ₱269

-19.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$7.26 ₱456

7.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.44 ₱153

-5.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.8

$1.39 ₱86.9

10.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.31 ₱145

-0.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.16 ₱72.9

-10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$2.28 ₱143

-27.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$3.41 ₱214

-48.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.75

$1.30 ₱81.4

-48.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.90

$0.96 ₱60.5

-45.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.49 ₱156

19.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱533

$7.76 ₱487

9.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.2

$1.28 ₱80.6

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.85 ₱116

10.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.70 ₱43.63

-67.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.76 ₱47.59

6.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.21 ₱13.14

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$2.47 ₱155

-23.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.07 ₱67.1

12.15%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

2.81%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

-0.23%

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

$138 ₱8,659

$164 ₱10.3K

-15.86%

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

$17.68 ₱1,109

$14.22 ₱892

24.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,471

$25.02 ₱1,569

-6.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,357

$19.28 ₱1,209

12.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

$12.90 ₱809

-59.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$5.68 ₱356

-9.68%

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

$131 ₱8,230

$73.8 ₱4,628

77.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.6K

$1,284 ₱80.6K

737.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,842

$16.20 ₱1,016

81.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,198

$22.37 ₱1,403

-14.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,569

$55.3 ₱3,469

31.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,510

$39.75 ₱2,493

40.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$70.3 ₱4,410

184.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$158 ₱9,931

438.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$95.2 ₱5,971

386.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.3K

$2,592 ₱162.5K

0.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$1,605 ₱100.6K

-42.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$165 ₱10.3K

8.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

-3.57%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Batangas: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Baguio pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $19.00 in Batangas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $190 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 Batangas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batangas wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Batangas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 9% higher in Baguio, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $627 in Batangas – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Batangas 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 Batangas 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 Batangas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.