Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Dumaguete Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Dumaguete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $861 in Dumaguete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,330 in Dumaguete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,800 in Dumaguete.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 8% less than in Dumaguete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Dumaguete 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$3.21 ₱198

11.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$14.15 ₱873

-5.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$4.39 ₱270

-39.86%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.32 ₱143

1.72%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.77 ₱47.19

-15.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.36 ₱22.29

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.07 ₱66.1

29.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.14 ₱132

-11.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.74 ₱107

8.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.44 ₱88.6

-17.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.03 ₱63.6

8.74%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.00 ₱124

11.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$9.46 ₱583

-2.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$5.11 ₱315

-26.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.99 ₱493

4.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$1.76 ₱108

55.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.38 ₱85.4

30.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$4.05 ₱250

-40.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.38 ₱85.4

-13.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.40 ₱148

-24.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.62 ₱162

-12.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$0.86 ₱52.8

-15.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.61 ₱37.54

18.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.59 ₱159

25.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.99 ₱493

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.22 ₱75.4

-13.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.96 ₱121

17.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.50 ₱30.84

-48.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$8.90 ₱549

21.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.78 ₱47.88

17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.27 ₱16.83

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$0.91 ₱56.1

163.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.15 ₱70.6

-2.61%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

40.18%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$38.5K ₱2.4M

-47.20%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$74.3 ₱4,580

98.40%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$44.54 ₱2,747

-20.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$29.05 ₱1,791

-9.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$23.73 ₱1,463

-5.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$3.50 ₱216

19.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.15 ₱379

-8.94%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$70.7 ₱4,361

117.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$1,887 ₱116.4K

149.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$108 ₱6,646

-55.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$35.97 ₱2,218

-24.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$110 ₱6,799

-31.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$84.5 ₱5,209

-45.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$242 ₱14.9K

42.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$213 ₱13.1K

-31.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$439 ₱27.1K

24.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$417 ₱25.7K

-37.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$3,117 ₱192.2K

-22.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$689 ₱42.5K

35.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$283 ₱17.5K

-35.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.5

-30.77%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $242 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dumaguete pays 56% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $14.00 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $211 per month, with Baguio cheaper across the board.

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 Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Dumaguete. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Dumaguete earns 56% 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 $242 in Dumaguete. 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 $861 in Dumaguete – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 22% less than in Dumaguete. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $788 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Baguio and Dumaguete 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Dumaguete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.