Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Dasmarinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Dasmarinas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $546 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,141 in Baguio versus $990 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,494 in Baguio versus $1,434 in Dasmarinas.

Living in Baguio is roughly 44% more expensive than Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Dasmarinas 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 ₱218

$3.51 ₱212

2.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱810

$13.37 ₱809

0.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱160

$2.70 ₱163

-2.22%

Cappuccino

$2.46 ₱149

$1.62 ₱98.3

51.85%

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

$0.69 ₱41.56

$0.53 ₱32.21

30.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.69

$0.30 ₱18.40

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ₱87.9

$1.03 ₱62.6

40.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.35 ₱81.8

40.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 ₱111

$1.63 ₱98.9

12.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₱72.6

$1.10 ₱66.8

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱64.7

$0.84 ₱51.1

27.38%

Eggs

$2.29 ₱139

$1.99 ₱120

15.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 ₱560

$5.52 ₱334

67.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₱229

$3.84 ₱232

-1.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 ₱513

$7.80 ₱472

8.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$2.69 ₱163

-0.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱111

$1.40 ₱84.6

30.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ₱137

$1.74 ₱105

30.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱72.7

$0.69 ₱41.95

73.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 ₱114

$1.04 ₱62.9

81.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 ₱139

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱43.61

$0.73 ₱44.29

-1.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱43.65

$0.43 ₱25.77

67.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱203

$2.08 ₱126

61.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ₱563

$9.19 ₱556

1.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.7

$1.07 ₱64.7

-4.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱137

$2.37 ₱143

-4.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱16.96

$0.26 ₱15.69

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.52 ₱637

$4.50 ₱273

133.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱56.4

$0.87 ₱52.9

6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.58

$0.24 ₱14.60

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 ₱147

$2.36 ₱143

2.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.2

$1.11 ₱67.4

4.50%

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

$31.8K ₱1.9M

$32.1K ₱1.9M

-0.90%

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

0.17%

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

$144 ₱8,728

$44.14 ₱2,671

226.78%

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

$34.34 ₱2,078

$34.55 ₱2,091

-0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.06 ₱1,577

$26.15 ₱1,582

-0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.83 ₱1,321

$11.79 ₱713

85.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.12 ₱249

$4.52 ₱274

-8.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.80 ₱351

$5.78 ₱350

0.35%

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

$152 ₱9,184

$149 ₱9,017

1.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,819 ₱291.6K

$4,807 ₱290.9K

0.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ₱2,980

$48.47 ₱2,933

1.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.23 ₱1,648

$27.44 ₱1,660

-0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 ₱4,468

$75.8 ₱4,585

-2.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.95 ₱2,841

$46.97 ₱2,842

-0.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱20.9K

$265 ₱16.0K

30.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,622

$82.8 ₱5,008

72.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 ₱33.2K

$592 ₱35.8K

-7.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱15.8K

$389 ₱23.5K

-32.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,505 ₱151.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$953 ₱57.7K

$407 ₱24.6K

134.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 ₱11.6K

$379 ₱22.9K

-49.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.4

-29.69%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 22, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $265 in Dasmarinas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dasmarinas pays 97% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13 in Baguio vs $13 in Dasmarinas. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $174, with Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dasmarinas wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dasmarinas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Dasmarinas earns 97% 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 $265 in Dasmarinas. 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 $546 in Dasmarinas – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dasmarinas runs roughly 134% 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 Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.