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: $776 in Baguio versus $686 in Dipolog.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,142 in Baguio versus $1,103 in Dipolog.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,507 in Baguio versus $1,521 in Dipolog.

Living in Baguio is roughly 13% more expensive than in Dipolog, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱224

$1.27 ₱78.3

185.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.20 ₱815

$21.68 ₱1,337

-39.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.70 ₱167

$3.53 ₱218

-23.51%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₱152

$1.96 ₱121

26.02%

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

$0.69 ₱42.76

$0.53 ₱32.93

30.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.82

$0.30 ₱18.33

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ₱85.2

$1.02 ₱62.8

35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱119

$1.72 ₱106

12.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱113

$1.78 ₱110

2.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₱73.9

$1.26 ₱77.5

-4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.7

$0.95 ₱58.7

11.58%

Eggs

$2.21 ₱136

$2.19 ₱135

0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.02 ₱556

$6.03 ₱372

49.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 ₱242

$4.15 ₱256

-5.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 ₱523

$7.03 ₱433

20.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 ₱169

$3.71 ₱229

-26.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱109

$1.18 ₱72.9

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$3.26 ₱201

-26.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.53 ₱94.6

-21.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$2.65 ₱164

-27.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$3.09 ₱191

-26.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ₱43.87

$1.67 ₱103

-57.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱43.97

$0.91 ₱56.2

-21.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 ₱197

$3.25 ₱201

-1.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.87 ₱547

$4.10 ₱253

116.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱64.0

$1.29 ₱79.3

-19.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.38 ₱85.2

69.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.00

$0.28 ₱17.28

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.1

$0.72 ₱44.54

19.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.50

$0.25 ₱15.43

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 ₱152

$2.72 ₱168

-9.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.09 ₱67.1

2.75%

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

$32.5K ₱2.0M

$24.1K ₱1.5M

34.79%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$19.9K ₱1.2M

1.94%

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

$145 ₱8,918

$65.2 ₱4,022

121.72%

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

$34.50 ₱2,129

$31.73 ₱1,958

8.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.42 ₱1,630

$29.61 ₱1,827

-10.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.14 ₱1,366

$34.40 ₱2,122

-35.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ₱250

$4.38 ₱270

-7.53%

Cinema Ticket

$5.61 ₱346

$4.49 ₱277

24.94%

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

$150 ₱9,227

$36.09 ₱2,226

314.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,634 ₱285.9K

$4,397 ₱271.3K

5.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.95 ₱3,020

$45.20 ₱2,789

8.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.80 ₱1,715

$23.29 ₱1,437

19.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$61.1 ₱3,770

25.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.78 ₱2,886

$26.60 ₱1,641

75.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 ₱21.1K

$267 ₱16.4K

28.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,919

$178 ₱11.0K

-18.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₱33.3K

$597 ₱36.9K

-9.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.7K

$397 ₱24.5K

-32.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,477 ₱152.9K

$2,542 ₱156.8K

-2.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$927 ₱57.2K

$861 ₱53.1K

7.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$187 ₱11.6K

$246 ₱15.2K

-23.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-43.75%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 19, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $342 in Baguio and $267 in Dipolog. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dipolog pays 31% 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 $22.00 in Dipolog. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $198, 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 13% 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 31% 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: $342 in Baguio versus $267 in Dipolog. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $776 per month in Baguio versus $686 in Dipolog – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 13% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.