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: $766 in Baguio versus $744 in Laoag City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,103 in Laoag City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,463 in Laoag City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 3% more expensive than in Laoag City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Laoag City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$3.71 ₱233

8.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,036

$13.59 ₱851

21.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.87 ₱180

-3.48%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.30 ₱144

-20.00%

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

$0.60 ₱37.72

$0.59 ₱36.78

1.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.82

$0.31 ₱19.36

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.2

$1.13 ₱70.9

-8.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.2

$1.83 ₱115

-14.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.59 ₱99.8

4.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.1

$1.11 ₱69.6

3.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.98 ₱61.3

3.06%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$2.09 ₱131

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱312

$6.03 ₱378

-17.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$6.95 ₱436

-50.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$6.88 ₱431

13.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$2.27 ₱142

1.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.7

$1.63 ₱102

-6.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱144

$2.41 ₱151

-4.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.12 ₱70.0

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$2.01 ₱126

-17.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.87 ₱117

-5.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.71

$0.82 ₱51.2

-18.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.87

$0.51 ₱32.24

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.78 ₱174

7.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱532

$7.92 ₱496

7.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.1

$0.92 ₱57.7

4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.93 ₱121

5.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.35

$0.25 ₱15.74

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

$10.40 ₱652

23.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.82 ₱51.5

-1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.22 ₱13.70

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$0.96 ₱60.2

25.00%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

0.06%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-2.58%

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

$138 ₱8,651

$124 ₱7,749

11.65%

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

$17.68 ₱1,108

$15.64 ₱980

13.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,470

$24.22 ₱1,518

-3.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,356

$13.61 ₱853

59.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱330

$4.23 ₱265

24.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱321

$5.10 ₱319

0.59%

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

$131 ₱8,223

$134 ₱8,400

-2.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.0K

$8,856 ₱555.0K

21.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,840

$32.02 ₱2,006

-8.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,197

$19.82 ₱1,242

-3.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,565

$72.4 ₱4,534

0.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,507

$56.6 ₱3,547

-1.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$263 ₱16.5K

51.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$182 ₱11.4K

9.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$375 ₱23.5K

127.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$352 ₱22.1K

31.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.1K

$2,614 ₱163.8K

-0.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$898 ₱56.3K

3.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.2K

$158 ₱9,925

13.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Laoag City: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $263 in Laoag City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 13% 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: $17.00 in Baguio vs $14.00 in Laoag City. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $193, with Baguio 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 Laoag City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Laoag City wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Laoag City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Baguio, 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: $399 in Baguio versus $263 in Laoag City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $744 in Laoag City – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Laoag City runs roughly 23% 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 Laoag City 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 Laoag City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.