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 $683 in Cauayan City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,050 in Cauayan City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,417 in Cauayan City.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Cauayan City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$3.62 ₱223

-0.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$13.25 ₱817

1.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$2.71 ₱167

-4.06%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$2.28 ₱141

2.63%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.33 ₱20.48

112.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.31 ₱18.85

29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.03 ₱63.7

41.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.74 ₱107

14.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.69 ₱104

11.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.21 ₱74.5

3.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.93 ₱57.4

19.35%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$1.45 ₱89.4

51.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$5.06 ₱312

79.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$3.76 ₱232

-1.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$7.06 ₱435

19.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$2.14 ₱132

22.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$0.77 ₱47.67

142.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.08 ₱128

8.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$0.68 ₱42.00

73.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$0.87 ₱53.5

109.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$1.35 ₱83.1

69.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$0.69 ₱42.49

4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.69 ₱42.41

11.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$2.55 ₱157

31.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$8.90 ₱549

3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.04 ₱63.9

3.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.19 ₱135

3.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.26 ₱15.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.22 ₱13.50

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.46 ₱152

-0.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.15 ₱71.0

-3.48%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$17.7K ₱1.1M

82.70%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-0.62%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$90.1 ₱5,557

61.71%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$34.63 ₱2,136

-1.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$26.29 ₱1,622

-1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$34.18 ₱2,109

-36.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.36 ₱269

-4.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$4.27 ₱263

38.88%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$52.2 ₱3,222

193.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$1,784 ₱110.0K

160.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$26.94 ₱1,662

82.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$21.45 ₱1,323

27.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$52.7 ₱3,249

44.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$47.29 ₱2,917

-2.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$268 ₱16.5K

29.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$175 ₱10.8K

-18.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$576 ₱35.5K

-5.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$393 ₱24.2K

-32.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,605 ₱160.7K

-7.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$213 ₱13.1K

-12.62%

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 Cauayan City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $268 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 $205 vs $164, 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, Cauayan City earns 14% 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 $268 in Cauayan City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% 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 $683 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.