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: $788 in Baguio versus $664 in Dipolog.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,089 in Dipolog.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,513 in Dipolog.

Living in Baguio is roughly 19% more expensive than Dipolog, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Dipolog 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱221

$1.28 ₱78.8

178.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱826

$20.86 ₱1,288

-35.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱163

$3.58 ₱221

-26.26%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$1.97 ₱122

19.80%

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

$0.65 ₱40.18

$0.54 ₱33.21

20.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.20

$0.29 ₱18.20

31.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$0.96 ₱59.0

44.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.73 ₱107

9.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.85 ₱114

1.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.5

$1.21 ₱74.7

-1.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$0.94 ₱57.7

19.15%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.29 ₱141

-3.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱569

$5.94 ₱366

55.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.18 ₱258

-10.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$6.78 ₱418

22.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$3.58 ₱221

-23.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.18 ₱73.1

52.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$3.25 ₱201

-26.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.4

$1.56 ₱96.5

-23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.67 ₱165

-32.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱142

$3.05 ₱188

-24.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.16

$1.69 ₱104

-56.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.29

$0.90 ₱55.8

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$3.21 ₱198

1.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱561

$4.16 ₱257

118.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.32 ₱81.7

-19.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.40 ₱86.5

65.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.93

$0.26 ₱15.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱670

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.69 ₱42.46

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.89

$0.25 ₱15.45

-4.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.58 ₱159

-6.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.04 ₱64.1

7.69%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$24.2K ₱1.5M

31.33%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

4.93%

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

$147 ₱9,096

$64.9 ₱4,006

127.04%

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

$35.37 ₱2,183

$30.64 ₱1,891

15.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,631

$29.60 ₱1,827

-10.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,382

$33.60 ₱2,074

-33.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱258

$4.31 ₱266

-3.02%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$4.53 ₱280

23.62%

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

$154 ₱9,504

$35.96 ₱2,220

328.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.5K

$4,368 ₱269.6K

7.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,950

$45.93 ₱2,835

4.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,672

$22.93 ₱1,416

18.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,694

$60.9 ₱3,760

24.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,827

$26.77 ₱1,652

71.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$263 ₱16.2K

31.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,967

$174 ₱10.7K

-16.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.9K

$591 ₱36.5K

-7.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$399 ₱24.6K

-34.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.2K

$2,123 ₱131.1K

13.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.6K

$977 ₱60.3K

-4.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$241 ₱14.9K

-24.84%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $263 in Dipolog. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dipolog pays 33% 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 $21.00 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 19% 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, Dipolog earns 33% 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: $345 in Baguio versus $263 in Dipolog. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $664 in Dipolog – a 19% 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 19% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.