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: $779 in Baguio versus $651 in Batangas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $969 in Batangas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,288 in Batangas.

Living in Baguio is roughly 20% more expensive than Batangas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Batangas 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$2.43 ₱150

47.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$20.88 ₱1,288

-35.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$2.59 ₱160

0.39%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$1.72 ₱106

36.05%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.83 ₱51.3

-15.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.37 ₱22.86

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.02 ₱62.8

43.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.34 ₱82.4

49.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.08 ₱128

-9.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.20 ₱73.9

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.90 ₱55.6

23.33%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$1.85 ₱114

18.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$4.79 ₱296

89.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$4.16 ₱257

-11.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$7.33 ₱452

14.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$2.61 ₱161

0.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$1.57 ₱97.1

19.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.60 ₱160

-13.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.62 ₱100

-27.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.52 ₱155

-27.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$4.13 ₱255

-44.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$1.40 ₱86.3

-48.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$1.02 ₱62.6

-24.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$2.91 ₱179

15.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$7.43 ₱458

23.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$0.92 ₱56.5

17.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$1.96 ₱121

15.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.26 ₱15.82

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.77 ₱47.56

12.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.27 ₱16.68

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.08 ₱128

17.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.09 ₱67.0

1.83%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$25.4K ₱1.6M

26.78%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

-0.77%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$166 ₱10.2K

-12.14%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$19.22 ₱1,186

77.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$29.85 ₱1,841

-12.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$27.00 ₱1,665

-19.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.56 ₱281

-8.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$5.17 ₱319

14.70%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$82.9 ₱5,111

85.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$1,392 ₱85.9K

233.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$17.53 ₱1,081

180.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$26.41 ₱1,629

3.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$63.3 ₱3,902

20.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$44.55 ₱2,748

3.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$267 ₱16.5K

29.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$80.4 ₱4,961

76.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$177 ₱10.9K

206.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$108 ₱6,680

143.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,586 ₱159.5K

-6.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

$1,646 ₱101.5K

-42.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$169 ₱10.4K

10.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

8.13

-44.65%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for Batangas: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $267 in Batangas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 10% 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: $13.00 in Baguio vs $21.00 in Batangas. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $199, with Batangas cheaper for home cooking.

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 20% 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.

Baguio pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $346 in Baguio versus $267 in Batangas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $651 in Batangas – a 20% 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 20% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.