Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Bulacan Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Bulacan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $718 in Bulacan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,050 in Bulacan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,383 in Bulacan.

Living in Baguio is roughly 10% more expensive than Bulacan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Bulacan 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$2.70 ₱167

32.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$14.10 ₱870

-5.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$2.83 ₱174

-6.71%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.22 ₱137

6.31%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.68 ₱41.84

-4.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.31 ₱18.92

22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.04 ₱63.9

33.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.10 ₱129

-10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$2.11 ₱130

-10.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.25 ₱77.0

-4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.92 ₱56.6

21.74%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$1.97 ₱121

12.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$3.04 ₱188

202.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$3.70 ₱228

1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$6.67 ₱411

24.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.07 ₱128

32.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.44 ₱88.6

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.14 ₱132

11.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.43 ₱88.2

-16.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.74 ₱107

4.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$1.52 ₱93.6

50.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$0.88 ₱54.0

-17.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.84 ₱52.1

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.87 ₱177

13.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$3.63 ₱224

150.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.09 ₱67.3

-2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.62 ₱100

42.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.29 ₱17.95

-10.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$7.49 ₱462

44.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.76 ₱47.02

21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.24 ₱14.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.72 ₱168

-11.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.10 ₱67.6

1.82%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

17.35%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$14.7K ₱905.5K

38.51%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$113 ₱6,942

30.90%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$32.16 ₱1,983

9.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$27.96 ₱1,724

-5.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$40.56 ₱2,501

-44.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.40 ₱271

-5.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.38 ₱393

-12.23%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$106 ₱6,556

44.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,394 ₱270.9K

7.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$29.90 ₱1,844

59.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$23.35 ₱1,440

16.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$75.8 ₱4,674

0.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$98.2 ₱6,052

-53.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$255 ₱15.7K

35.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$135 ₱8,326

7.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$392 ₱24.1K

40.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$202 ₱12.4K

29.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$1,907 ₱117.6K

26.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$1,479 ₱91.2K

-36.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$294 ₱18.1K

-38.33%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bulacan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $255 in Bulacan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bulacan pays 62% 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 $14.00 in Bulacan. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $165, with Bulacan 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 Bulacan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bulacan wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bulacan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Bulacan earns 62% 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: $345 in Baguio versus $255 in Bulacan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $718 in Bulacan – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bulacan runs roughly 45% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bulacan 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 Bulacan 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 Bulacan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.