Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Laoag City Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Laoag City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $798 in Laoag City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,218 in Laoag City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,639 in Laoag City.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 1% less than in Laoag City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Laoag City 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$3.63 ₱224

-1.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$14.98 ₱924

-10.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.30 ₱203

-20.00%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.48 ₱153

-4.84%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.78 ₱48.40

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.40 ₱24.52

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.35 ₱83.2

2.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.14 ₱132

-11.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.89 ₱116

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.26 ₱77.6

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.99 ₱61.0

13.13%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.23 ₱137

-0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$8.17 ₱504

12.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$7.50 ₱462

-50.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.81 ₱482

6.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.97 ₱183

-7.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.58 ₱97.7

13.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.66 ₱164

-10.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.57 ₱96.7

-23.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.20 ₱135

-17.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.59 ₱160

-11.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.11 ₱68.5

-34.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.77 ₱47.23

-6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$3.10 ₱191

5.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$8.15 ₱503

11.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.00 ₱61.9

6.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$2.06 ₱127

12.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.26 ₱15.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.84 ₱51.6

9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.26 ₱16.15

-7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.16 ₱133

11.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.07 ₱66.0

4.67%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.4K ₱1.6M

20.31%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-0.96%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$114 ₱7,042

29.05%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$32.36 ₱1,996

9.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$26.18 ₱1,615

0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$15.18 ₱936

47.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.49 ₱277

-6.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.06 ₱374

-7.59%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$150 ₱9,247

2.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,236 ₱261.2K

11.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$45.02 ₱2,776

6.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$26.19 ₱1,615

3.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$76.2 ₱4,701

-0.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$52.3 ₱3,224

-12.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$270 ₱16.7K

27.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$204 ₱12.6K

-28.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$429 ₱26.5K

27.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$387 ₱23.9K

-32.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$2,479 ₱152.9K

-2.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$1,081 ₱66.6K

-13.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$160 ₱9,882

13.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Laoag City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $270 in Laoag City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 13% 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 $15.00 in Laoag City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $223 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 Laoag City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Laoag City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Baguio pays 13% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $345 in Baguio versus $270 in Laoag City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Laoag City. 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 $798 in Laoag City – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 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 Laoag City 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 1% less than in Laoag City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.