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 $665 in Batangas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in Baguio versus $973 in Batangas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,282 in Batangas.

Living in Baguio is roughly 17% more expensive than in Batangas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Batangas 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱223

$2.34 ₱143

55.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱825

$21.67 ₱1,330

-38.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱165

$2.61 ₱160

3.07%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$1.70 ₱104

38.82%

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

$0.66 ₱40.50

$0.82 ₱50.1

-19.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.03

$0.37 ₱22.82

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.1

$0.98 ₱60.2

41.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱119

$1.39 ₱85.6

39.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.11 ₱129

-13.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱74.1

$1.24 ₱76.4

-2.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.0

$0.87 ₱53.6

22.99%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱140

$1.89 ₱116

20.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱561

$4.98 ₱306

83.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱238

$4.23 ₱260

-8.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱519

$7.08 ₱435

19.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱169

$2.65 ₱163

3.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱113

$1.54 ₱94.4

19.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱145

$2.73 ₱168

-13.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱71.1

$1.70 ₱104

-31.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.50 ₱153

-27.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$4.05 ₱249

-43.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱42.04

$1.45 ₱89.1

-53.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.51

$1.05 ₱64.5

-31.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.89 ₱177

16.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱563

$7.91 ₱486

16.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.3

$0.86 ₱52.9

25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱139

$2.05 ₱126

10.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.40

$0.26 ₱15.93

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱641

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.8

$0.83 ₱51.1

3.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.42

$0.25 ₱15.17

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱150

$2.19 ₱135

11.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.6

$1.10 ₱67.8

1.82%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$26.0K ₱1.6M

24.15%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.2M

1.04%

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

$149 ₱9,136

$162 ₱9,948

-8.17%

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

$34.55 ₱2,121

$19.09 ₱1,172

80.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,618

$29.60 ₱1,817

-10.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,341

$27.76 ₱1,704

-21.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱250

$4.30 ₱264

-5.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱360

$5.30 ₱325

10.75%

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

$149 ₱9,137

$79.9 ₱4,907

86.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱287.5K

$1,412 ₱86.7K

231.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,939

$17.48 ₱1,073

173.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,666

$27.00 ₱1,658

0.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,622

$61.0 ₱3,743

23.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,831

$43.85 ₱2,693

5.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.6K

$270 ₱16.6K

24.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,704

$78.6 ₱4,826

80.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱34.1K

$178 ₱10.9K

212.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$106 ₱6,514

147.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.8K

$2,508 ₱154.0K

-4.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱56.4K

$1,652 ₱101.4K

-44.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.5K

$169 ₱10.4K

11.08%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Batangas: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $270 in Batangas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 11% 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 $22.00 in Batangas. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $202, 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 17% 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 11% higher in Baguio, 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: $336 in Baguio versus $270 in Batangas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% 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 $665 in Batangas – a 17% 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 17% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.