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: $788 in Baguio versus $527 in Cabanatuan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,043 in Cabanatuan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,490 in Baguio versus $1,560 in Cabanatuan.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱217

$4.50 ₱273

-20.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.22 ₱802

$35.28 ₱2,142

-62.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.65 ₱161

$3.57 ₱217

-25.77%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱143

$2.91 ₱177

-18.90%

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

$0.69 ₱41.93

$0.85 ₱51.9

-18.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.55

$0.48 ₱29.30

-22.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.48 ₱89.7

-2.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱115

$2.59 ₱157

-26.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.95 ₱119

-3.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱74.8

$1.61 ₱98.0

-23.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.3

$0.98 ₱59.6

10.20%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱137

$2.02 ₱122

11.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱555

$3.62 ₱220

152.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ₱237

$3.15 ₱191

24.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 ₱531

$6.66 ₱404

31.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 ₱160

$4.19 ₱255

-36.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱109

$1.28 ₱77.4

40.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱140

$1.93 ₱117

19.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.2

$0.77 ₱46.80

50.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$1.44 ₱87.3

27.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱139

$1.45 ₱88.3

57.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱40.39

$1.04 ₱62.9

-35.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.15

$0.84 ₱51.2

-9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ₱203

$2.87 ₱174

16.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.91 ₱541

$5.66 ₱344

57.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱63.1

$0.75 ₱45.61

38.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱141

$1.81 ₱110

28.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.11

$0.28 ₱17.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱51.7

$0.70 ₱42.34

21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.32

$0.22 ₱13.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ₱143

$0.87 ₱52.9

171.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.1

$1.11 ₱67.6

-0.90%

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

$31.9K ₱1.9M

$28.5K ₱1.7M

12.01%

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

$20.5K ₱1.2M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

16.55%

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

$146 ₱8,846

$58.3 ₱3,538

150.07%

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

$35.30 ₱2,143

$21.16 ₱1,285

66.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.09 ₱1,584

$25.19 ₱1,529

3.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.90 ₱1,330

$12.32 ₱748

77.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ₱246

$2.72 ₱165

48.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱353

$6.73 ₱408

-13.52%

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

$154 ₱9,378

$152 ₱9,245

1.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,658 ₱282.9K

$4,256 ₱258.4K

9.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.66 ₱2,955

$26.79 ₱1,627

81.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.00 ₱1,700

$33.81 ₱2,053

-17.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 ₱4,624

$61.0 ₱3,703

24.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.62 ₱2,831

$46.37 ₱2,816

0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ₱20.7K

$268 ₱16.3K

27.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,635

$44.88 ₱2,725

216.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$552 ₱33.5K

$591 ₱35.9K

-6.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.1K

$391 ₱23.7K

-32.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ₱145.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱56.7K

$226 ₱13.7K

312.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 ₱11.2K

$206 ₱12.5K

-10.63%

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 9, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Baguio and $268 in Cabanatuan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cabanatuan pays 12% 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 $35.00 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, Cabanatuan earns 12% 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: $340 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 $788 per month in Baguio versus $527 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.