Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Cabanatuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Cabanatuan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $522 in Cabanatuan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in Baguio versus $1,035 in Cabanatuan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,548 in Cabanatuan.

Living in Baguio is roughly 49% more expensive than in Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Cabanatuan 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱223

$4.51 ₱277

-19.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱825

$35.99 ₱2,210

-62.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱165

$3.47 ₱213

-22.48%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.84 ₱174

-16.90%

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

$0.66 ₱40.50

$0.85 ₱52.2

-22.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.03

$0.45 ₱27.42

-15.56%

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

$2.64 ₱162

-26.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.06 ₱126

-11.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱74.1

$1.56 ₱95.5

-22.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.0

$0.99 ₱60.8

8.08%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱140

$1.99 ₱122

14.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱561

$3.54 ₱217

158.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱238

$3.17 ₱195

22.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱519

$6.74 ₱414

25.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱169

$4.19 ₱257

-34.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱113

$1.26 ₱77.5

46.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.96 ₱121

20.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱71.1

$0.82 ₱50.6

41.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.48 ₱90.9

22.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.46 ₱89.7

55.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱42.04

$1.04 ₱63.8

-34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.51

$0.82 ₱50.5

-12.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.79 ₱171

20.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱563

$5.64 ₱346

62.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.3

$0.69 ₱42.09

56.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.73 ₱106

31.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.40

$0.28 ₱17.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱641

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.8

$0.70 ₱42.91

22.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.42

$0.24 ₱14.78

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱150

$0.93 ₱57.3

162.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.6

$1.16 ₱71.3

-3.45%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

14.59%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$18.1K ₱1.1M

13.82%

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

$149 ₱9,136

$58.1 ₱3,570

155.92%

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

$34.55 ₱2,121

$20.86 ₱1,281

65.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,618

$24.85 ₱1,526

6.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,341

$12.25 ₱752

78.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱250

$4.35 ₱267

-6.44%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱360

$6.83 ₱420

-14.06%

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

$149 ₱9,137

$152 ₱9,308

-1.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱287.5K

$4,350 ₱267.1K

7.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,939

$26.14 ₱1,605

83.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,666

$34.55 ₱2,122

-21.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,622

$61.0 ₱3,747

23.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,831

$47.20 ₱2,898

-2.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.6K

$268 ₱16.5K

25.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,704

$44.11 ₱2,708

221.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱34.1K

$599 ₱36.8K

-7.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$401 ₱24.6K

-34.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.8K

$2,193 ₱134.7K

9.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱56.4K

$967 ₱59.4K

-5.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.5K

$206 ₱12.6K

-8.71%

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 Cabanatuan: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $268 in Cabanatuan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cabanatuan pays 10% 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 $36.00 in Cabanatuan. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $175, with Cabanatuan 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 Cabanatuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cabanatuan wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cabanatuan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Cabanatuan. 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 $268 in Cabanatuan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% 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 $522 in Cabanatuan – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cabanatuan 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 Cabanatuan 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 Cabanatuan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.