Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Calapan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Calapan City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $783 in Calapan City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,227 in Calapan City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,672 in Calapan City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 1% more expensive than Calapan City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Calapan City 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$3.61 ₱223

-1.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$17.77 ₱1,096

-24.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.27 ₱202

-19.27%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.46 ₱152

-4.07%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.79 ₱48.50

-17.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.37 ₱22.56

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.31 ₱80.9

6.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.07 ₱128

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.91 ₱118

-1.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.27 ₱78.0

-6.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.08 ₱66.4

3.70%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$1.99 ₱123

11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$7.92 ₱488

16.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.17 ₱257

-10.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.67 ₱473

8.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.95 ₱182

-7.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.52 ₱93.9

18.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.71 ₱167

-11.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.56 ₱96.1

-23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.30 ₱142

-21.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.53 ₱156

-9.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.07 ₱66.2

-31.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.77 ₱47.47

-6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.86 ₱176

13.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.98 ₱492

13.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.21 ₱74.5

-12.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.95 ₱120

18.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.28 ₱17.32

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$14.02 ₱864

-22.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.83 ₱51.0

10.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.22 ₱13.52

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.17 ₱134

10.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.14 ₱70.1

-1.75%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

18.94%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.1K ₱1.2M

1.42%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$113 ₱6,977

30.25%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$32.18 ₱1,984

9.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$27.67 ₱1,706

-4.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$34.31 ₱2,116

-34.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.46 ₱275

-6.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$5.96 ₱367

-6.04%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$150 ₱9,262

2.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,264 ₱262.9K

10.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$46.29 ₱2,854

3.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$26.95 ₱1,662

0.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$75.0 ₱4,626

1.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$53.3 ₱3,289

-14.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$264 ₱16.3K

30.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$179 ₱11.0K

-18.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$599 ₱36.9K

-8.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$391 ₱24.1K

-33.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$2,492 ₱153.6K

-2.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$960 ₱59.2K

-2.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$119 ₱7,309

53.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Calapan City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $264 in Calapan City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 53% 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 $18.00 in Calapan City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $206 per month, with Baguio cheaper across the board.

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 Calapan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calapan City wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calapan City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baguio pays 53% 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: $345 in Baguio versus $264 in Calapan City. 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 $783 in Calapan City – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Calapan City runs roughly 29% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Calapan City 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 Calapan City 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 Calapan City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.