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: $766 in Baguio versus $586 in Caloocan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $916 in Caloocan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,247 in Caloocan.

Living in Baguio is roughly 31% more expensive than in Caloocan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Caloocan 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$2.41 ₱151

67.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,037

$16.60 ₱1,041

-0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.27 ₱142

22.03%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$0.94 ₱59.2

95.74%

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

$0.60 ₱37.76

$0.43 ₱26.89

39.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.84

$0.31 ₱19.15

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$0.94 ₱59.0

9.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$1.61 ₱101

-2.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.61 ₱101

3.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.15 ₱72.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.93 ₱58.2

8.60%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.77 ₱111

14.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$1.86 ₱117

168.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$2.57 ₱161

35.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$5.14 ₱322

51.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$1.84 ₱115

25.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.8

$1.02 ₱64.3

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.04 ₱128

12.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.07 ₱67.3

-2.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$1.13 ₱70.8

46.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.71 ₱107

3.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.75

$0.67 ₱42.10

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.90

$0.52 ₱32.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.85 ₱179

4.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱533

$4.64 ₱291

82.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.2

$0.96 ₱60.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$2.00 ₱125

2.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.22 ₱13.65

4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.75 ₱46.95

8.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.23 ₱14.40

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$0.90 ₱56.6

33.33%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-0.43%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

-0.11%

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

$138 ₱8,659

$53.0 ₱3,321

160.74%

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

$17.68 ₱1,109

$9.76 ₱612

81.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,471

$23.11 ₱1,449

1.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,357

$4.83 ₱303

348.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$5.02 ₱315

2.19%

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

$131 ₱8,230

$132 ₱8,289

-0.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.6K

$10.5K ₱661.4K

2.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,842

$29.19 ₱1,831

0.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,198

$19.37 ₱1,215

-1.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,569

$49.35 ₱3,095

47.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,510

$42.84 ₱2,687

30.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$266 ₱16.7K

49.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$235 ₱14.8K

-15.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$526 ₱33.0K

62.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$468 ₱29.4K

-1.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$267 ₱16.8K

-32.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Caloocan: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $266 in Caloocan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caloocan pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Caloocan. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $135, 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 31% 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, salaries run 49% lower in Caloocan. 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: $399 in Baguio versus $266 in Caloocan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $586 in Caloocan – a 31% 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 31% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.