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: $779 in Baguio versus $682 in Cauayan City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in Baguio versus $1,053 in Cauayan City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,425 in Cauayan City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 14% more expensive than in Cauayan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Cauayan City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱222

$3.45 ₱211

5.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱822

$13.26 ₱812

1.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱164

$2.60 ₱159

3.46%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.34 ₱143

0.85%

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

$0.66 ₱40.38

$0.33 ₱20.31

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱22.96

$0.33 ₱20.29

15.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱84.9

$1.04 ₱63.9

33.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱118

$1.73 ₱106

12.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.73 ₱106

5.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱73.8

$1.21 ₱74.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.8

$0.91 ₱55.9

17.58%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱139

$1.45 ₱89.0

57.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱559

$5.11 ₱313

78.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱237

$3.75 ₱230

3.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱518

$7.26 ₱444

16.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱168

$2.07 ₱127

32.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱113

$0.77 ₱47.32

138.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱145

$2.07 ₱127

14.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.9

$0.74 ₱45.06

56.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$0.86 ₱52.4

111.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.30 ₱79.9

74.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.91

$0.71 ₱43.47

-4.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.38

$0.72 ₱44.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.61 ₱160

28.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱562

$9.08 ₱556

1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.1

$1.02 ₱62.4

5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱139

$2.15 ₱132

5.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.34

$0.28 ₱17.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱639

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.6

$0.91 ₱55.6

-5.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.38

$0.24 ₱14.78

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱149

$2.43 ₱149

0.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.4

$1.15 ₱70.4

-2.61%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

81.04%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

1.83%

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

$149 ₱9,108

$88.9 ₱5,439

67.44%

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

$34.55 ₱2,115

$34.99 ₱2,142

-1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,613

$26.49 ₱1,622

-0.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,337

$34.32 ₱2,101

-36.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱249

$4.50 ₱276

-9.56%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱359

$4.24 ₱259

38.44%

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

$149 ₱9,109

$53.0 ₱3,247

180.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱286.7K

$1,753 ₱107.3K

167.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,930

$26.34 ₱1,612

81.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,661

$21.07 ₱1,289

28.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,608

$52.8 ₱3,234

42.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,822

$45.82 ₱2,805

0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.6K

$263 ₱16.1K

27.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,677

$178 ₱10.9K

-20.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱34.0K

$589 ₱36.0K

-5.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$400 ₱24.5K

-34.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.4K

$2,583 ₱158.1K

-6.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱56.2K

$1,048 ₱64.1K

-12.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.5K

$213 ₱13.0K

-11.90%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cauayan City: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $263 in Cauayan City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cauayan City pays 14% 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 Cauayan City. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $166, with Cauayan City 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 Cauayan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cauayan City wins on cost – living expenses run 14% 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.

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Cauayan City. 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: $336 in Baguio versus $263 in Cauayan City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% 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 $682 in Cauayan City – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 14% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.