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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $720 in Cauayan City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,092 in Cauayan City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,465 in Cauayan City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 6% more expensive than in Cauayan City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Cauayan City 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$3.94 ₱248

2.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,039

$16.62 ₱1,044

-0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.73 ₱172

1.47%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$1.76 ₱111

4.55%

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

$0.60 ₱37.82

$0.56 ₱35.43

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.87

$0.31 ₱19.44

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.4

$0.96 ₱60.1

7.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.5

$1.61 ₱101

-2.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱105

$1.63 ₱102

1.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.3

$1.14 ₱71.9

0.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.4

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.98 ₱125

2.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$5.19 ₱326

-3.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$3.31 ₱208

4.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱490

$7.69 ₱483

1.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱96.0

$1.61 ₱101

-4.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.40 ₱151

-4.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.3

$1.02 ₱64.3

1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$1.73 ₱109

-4.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.73 ₱108

2.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.82

$0.67 ₱41.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.95

$0.53 ₱33.21

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.98 ₱188

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱534

$8.93 ₱561

-4.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.3

$0.93 ₱58.2

3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$2.08 ₱131

-1.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.27 ₱17.14

-14.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱805

$10.51 ₱660

21.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.0

$0.80 ₱50.4

1.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.25 ₱15.78

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.2

$0.97 ₱60.8

23.71%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-0.38%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

-1.57%

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

$138 ₱8,673

$140 ₱8,792

-1.34%

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

$17.68 ₱1,111

$10.54 ₱662

67.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,473

$22.34 ₱1,403

4.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,359

$29.51 ₱1,854

-26.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

$4.09 ₱257

28.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$5.29 ₱333

-3.02%

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

$131 ₱8,244

$134 ₱8,432

-2.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱675.8K

$10.9K ₱684.5K

-1.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,845

$29.17 ₱1,833

0.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,200

$19.20 ₱1,206

-0.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,577

$56.2 ₱3,531

29.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,516

$55.1 ₱3,459

1.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.1K

$251 ₱15.8K

58.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.6K

$168 ₱10.5K

19.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.6K

$469 ₱29.5K

81.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.1K

$328 ₱20.6K

41.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.5K

$2,867 ₱180.1K

-9.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.3K

$1,123 ₱70.6K

-17.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

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 Cauayan City: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $251 in Cauayan City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Cauayan City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $175 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 Cauayan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cauayan City wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cauayan City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,149 in Baguio and $1,080 in Cauayan City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $399 in Baguio versus $251 in Cauayan City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $720 in Cauayan City – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cauayan City runs roughly 22% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cauayan 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 Cauayan 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 Cauayan City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.