Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Caloocan Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Caloocan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $675 in Caloocan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,053 in Caloocan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,432 in Caloocan.

Living in Baguio is roughly 15% more expensive than Caloocan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Caloocan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$3.56 ₱220

0.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$13.50 ₱832

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$2.71 ₱167

-4.06%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$1.13 ₱70.0

107.08%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.47 ₱29.00

48.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.37 ₱22.87

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.35 ₱83.4

8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.96 ₱121

2.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.90 ₱117

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.19 ₱73.4

5.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.04 ₱64.3

6.73%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$2.01 ₱124

9.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$2.17 ₱134

318.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$2.81 ₱173

31.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$5.50 ₱340

53.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$2.05 ₱127

28.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$1.10 ₱67.7

70.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.34 ₱144

-3.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.22 ₱75.5

-3.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.22 ₱75.2

49.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$0.72 ₱44.52

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.59 ₱36.23

30.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$3.18 ₱196

5.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$4.98 ₱307

84.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.08 ₱66.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.28 ₱141

-0.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.22 ₱13.60

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.79 ₱48.55

10.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.24 ₱14.82

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.32 ₱143

5.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.11 ₱68.2

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-0.79%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

-0.89%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$61.0 ₱3,763

138.81%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$10.60 ₱654

221.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$26.26 ₱1,620

-1.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$5.20 ₱321

318.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.41 ₱272

-5.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$5.84 ₱360

1.54%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$150 ₱9,272

1.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$4,807 ₱296.5K

-3.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$48.06 ₱2,964

2.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$27.23 ₱1,679

0.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$53.2 ₱3,281

43.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$47.05 ₱2,902

-2.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$284 ₱17.5K

21.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$264 ₱16.3K

-46.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$592 ₱36.5K

-8.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$526 ₱32.4K

-49.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,325 ₱143.4K

4.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$275 ₱16.9K

-32.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for Caloocan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $284 in Caloocan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caloocan pays 48% 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 $13.00 in Caloocan. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $151, with Caloocan 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 Caloocan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Caloocan wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Caloocan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Caloocan earns 48% 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: $346 in Baguio versus $284 in Caloocan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% 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 $675 in Caloocan – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Caloocan 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 Caloocan 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 Caloocan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.