Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Dipolog Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Dipolog

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $763 in Baguio versus $614 in Dipolog.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,175 in Baguio versus $840 in Dipolog.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Baguio versus $1,066 in Dipolog.

Living in Baguio is roughly 24% more expensive than in Dipolog, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 45% lower, Dipolog 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₱246

$1.38 ₱86.1

186.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.48 ₱1,027

$18.95 ₱1,181

-13.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 ₱179

$2.80 ₱175

2.86%

Cappuccino

$1.77 ₱110

$2.04 ₱127

-13.24%

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

$0.61 ₱37.75

$0.66 ₱40.94

-7.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.83

$0.29 ₱18.20

10.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₱60.9

$1.06 ₱66.0

-7.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱97.5

$1.72 ₱108

-9.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱105

$1.64 ₱102

3.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱72.2

$0.78 ₱48.39

48.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.6

$0.82 ₱51.1

24.39%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱129

$1.86 ₱116

11.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₱321

$6.13 ₱382

-15.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ₱212

$4.15 ₱259

-18.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 ₱504

$5.55 ₱346

45.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$1.63 ₱102

41.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱97.6

$1.08 ₱67.4

45.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱150

$2.97 ₱185

-18.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$1.41 ₱87.8

-24.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$1.87 ₱117

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱110

$2.70 ₱168

-34.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱38.69

$1.47 ₱91.6

-57.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.07

$0.67 ₱41.77

-20.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱179

$3.09 ₱193

-7.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ₱562

$3.94 ₱246

128.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱59.8

$1.10 ₱68.6

-12.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.31 ₱81.8

60.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.63

$0.27 ₱16.88

-7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱810

$10.14 ₱632

28.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱52.2

$0.76 ₱47.14

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.61

$0.36 ₱22.76

-30.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ₱123

$2.33 ₱145

-15.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.8

$0.88 ₱54.9

30.68%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

-0.47%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-0.16%

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

$139 ₱8,662

$63.6 ₱3,967

118.38%

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

$17.39 ₱1,085

$7.86 ₱490

121.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 ₱1,474

$24.35 ₱1,519

-2.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 ₱1,331

$32.39 ₱2,020

-34.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱324

$4.74 ₱296

9.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱318

$4.65 ₱290

9.68%

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

$134 ₱8,351

$31.38 ₱1,957

326.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱658.6K

$8,969 ₱559.3K

17.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.47 ₱1,775

$31.68 ₱1,976

-10.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.81 ₱1,235

$19.42 ₱1,211

2.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 ₱4,415

$55.3 ₱3,449

28.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₱3,529

$23.90 ₱1,490

136.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.6K

$161 ₱10.1K

154.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.3K

$171 ₱10.7K

15.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 ₱52.9K

$506 ₱31.5K

67.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₱29.0K

$137 ₱8,531

239.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₱166.0K

$2,660 ₱165.9K

0.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 ₱56.1K

$1,166 ₱72.7K

-22.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

$242 ₱15.1K

-25.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.33

-7.91%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $161 in Dipolog. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dipolog pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16.00 in Baguio vs $19.00 in Dipolog. Groceries flip the comparison at $178 vs $165, with Dipolog 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 Dipolog: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dipolog wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dipolog the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Dipolog. 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: $411 in Baguio versus $161 in Dipolog. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $763 per month in Baguio versus $614 in Dipolog – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dipolog runs roughly 28% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Dipolog 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 Dipolog 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 Dipolog gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.