Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Cavite Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Cavite

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $609 in Cavite.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $998 in Cavite.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,490 in Baguio versus $1,387 in Cavite.

Living in Baguio is roughly 29% more expensive than Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Cavite 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱217

$2.63 ₱160

35.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.22 ₱802

$13.21 ₱802

0.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.65 ₱161

$2.52 ₱153

5.16%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱143

$1.89 ₱114

24.87%

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

$0.69 ₱41.93

$0.68 ₱41.36

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.55

$0.31 ₱18.71

19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.21 ₱73.6

19.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.73 ₱105

9.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.64 ₱99.4

15.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱74.8

$1.23 ₱74.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.3

$1.06 ₱64.1

1.89%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱137

$2.23 ₱136

1.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱555

$7.36 ₱447

24.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ₱237

$3.72 ₱226

5.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 ₱531

$7.20 ₱437

21.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 ₱160

$2.71 ₱164

-2.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱109

$1.29 ₱78.6

39.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱140

$2.39 ₱145

-3.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.2

$1.16 ₱70.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$1.82 ₱111

1.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱139

$1.63 ₱99.1

40.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱40.39

$0.61 ₱36.84

9.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.15

$0.61 ₱37.03

24.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ₱203

$2.37 ₱144

40.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.91 ₱541

$4.75 ₱288

87.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱63.1

$1.02 ₱61.8

1.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱141

$1.46 ₱88.6

58.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.11

$0.26 ₱15.64

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

$3.14 ₱191

236.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱51.7

$0.69 ₱42.16

23.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.32

$0.22 ₱13.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ₱143

$2.44 ₱148

-3.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.1

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

$31.9K ₱1.9M

$32.0K ₱1.9M

-0.37%

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

$20.5K ₱1.2M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

0.68%

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

$146 ₱8,846

$49.46 ₱3,003

194.56%

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

$35.30 ₱2,143

$17.79 ₱1,080

98.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.09 ₱1,584

$26.51 ₱1,610

-1.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.90 ₱1,330

$34.29 ₱2,082

-36.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ₱246

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱353

$5.78 ₱351

0.69%

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

$154 ₱9,378

$149 ₱9,051

3.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,658 ₱282.9K

$4,787 ₱290.6K

-2.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.66 ₱2,955

$41.53 ₱2,521

17.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.00 ₱1,700

$26.99 ₱1,639

3.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 ₱4,624

$73.9 ₱4,488

3.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.62 ₱2,831

$47.02 ₱2,855

-0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ₱20.7K

$161 ₱9,800

110.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,635

$124 ₱7,549

14.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$552 ₱33.5K

$262 ₱15.9K

110.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.1K

$401 ₱24.4K

-34.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ₱145.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱56.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 ₱11.2K

$224 ₱13.6K

-17.52%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Cavite: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Baguio and $161 in Cavite. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cavite pays 21% 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 Cavite. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $177, with Cavite 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 Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cavite wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cavite the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Cavite earns 21% 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: $340 in Baguio versus $161 in Cavite. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $609 in Cavite – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cavite runs roughly 237% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cavite 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 Cavite 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 Cavite gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.