Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Dagupan Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Dagupan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $730 in Dagupan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,096 in Dagupan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,463 in Dagupan.

Living in Baguio is roughly 5% more expensive than in Dagupan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$2.84 ₱178

41.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,037

$12.05 ₱756

37.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$4.50 ₱283

-38.44%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.51 ₱158

-26.69%

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

$0.60 ₱37.76

$0.49 ₱31.02

22.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.84

$0.23 ₱14.35

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$1.18 ₱74.0

-12.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$2.64 ₱166

-40.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.75 ₱110

-5.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.28 ₱80.4

-10.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.96 ₱60.3

5.21%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.91 ₱120

5.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$5.59 ₱351

-10.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$4.66 ₱292

-25.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$7.03 ₱441

10.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$4.00 ₱251

-42.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.8

$1.96 ₱123

-21.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.79 ₱175

-17.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.14 ₱71.4

-8.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$2.92 ₱183

-43.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$3.42 ₱215

-48.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.75

$1.05 ₱65.7

-36.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.90

$0.54 ₱33.99

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.41 ₱151

23.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱533

$5.65 ₱354

50.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.2

$0.83 ₱52.2

15.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.96 ₱123

4.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.22 ₱13.81

4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.67 ₱41.86

20.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.21 ₱13.16

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.86 ₱116

1.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.02 ₱64.1

17.65%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

0.84%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

-1.18%

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

$138 ₱8,659

$104 ₱6,531

32.58%

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

$17.68 ₱1,109

$16.12 ₱1,011

9.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,471

$25.59 ₱1,605

-8.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,357

$33.43 ₱2,097

-35.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$5.04 ₱316

1.79%

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

$131 ₱8,230

$800 ₱50.2K

-83.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.6K

$7,373 ₱462.4K

45.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,842

$60.8 ₱3,813

-51.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,198

$7.83 ₱491

143.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,569

$82.0 ₱5,140

-11.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,510

$103 ₱6,440

-45.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$190 ₱11.9K

110.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$158 ₱9,909

26.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$361 ₱22.6K

136.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$265 ₱16.6K

74.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$470 ₱29.5K

97.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$237 ₱14.9K

-24.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.5

-10.00%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Dagupan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $190 in Dagupan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dagupan pays 32% 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 $12.00 in Dagupan. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $197, with Baguio 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 Dagupan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dagupan wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dagupan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Dagupan. 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 $190 in Dagupan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $730 in Dagupan – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Dagupan 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 Dagupan 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 Dagupan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.