Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Lapu-Lapu Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Lapu-Lapu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Baguio versus $842 in Lapu-Lapu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,328 in Lapu-Lapu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,813 in Lapu-Lapu.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 9% less than in Lapu-Lapu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Lapu-Lapu 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$4.53 ₱279

-22.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$17.50 ₱1,077

-23.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$4.45 ₱274

-40.00%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.57 ₱158

-8.56%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$0.79 ₱48.73

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$0.45 ₱27.73

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$1.53 ₱94.4

-5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$2.16 ₱133

-10.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.64 ₱101

17.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.38 ₱84.8

-13.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$1.03 ₱63.5

2.91%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$2.33 ₱143

-6.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$12.13 ₱747

-22.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$5.32 ₱328

-30.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$7.81 ₱481

10.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$3.24 ₱199

-16.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.38 ₱84.8

29.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.47 ₱152

-4.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$2.19 ₱135

-46.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.30 ₱142

-21.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$1.83 ₱112

20.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$0.94 ₱57.7

-27.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$0.84 ₱51.6

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$1.79 ₱110

86.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

$3.43 ₱211

153.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.08 ₱66.4

-1.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.27 ₱140

3.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.26

$0.28 ₱17.41

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.86 ₱53.2

6.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.23 ₱14.04

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.65 ₱163

-11.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$1.11 ₱68.2

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

$31.7K ₱1.9M

$24.9K ₱1.5M

26.93%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-37.00%

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

$144 ₱8,877

$95.8 ₱5,899

50.48%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$26.78 ₱1,649

27.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$30.20 ₱1,859

-14.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$45.06 ₱2,774

-50.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$1.79 ₱110

136.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

$6.04 ₱372

-4.14%

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

$151 ₱9,286

$124 ₱7,629

21.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$1,779 ₱109.5K

160.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,010

$47.16 ₱2,903

3.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$22.64 ₱1,394

21.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$75.4 ₱4,639

-1.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$55.8 ₱3,436

-18.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$335 ₱20.6K

4.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,936

$239 ₱14.7K

-39.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$825 ₱50.8K

-34.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$508 ₱31.3K

-47.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

$235 ₱14.5K

-22.25%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Lapu-Lapu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $335 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lapu-Lapu pays 29% 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 $17.00 in Lapu-Lapu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $216 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 Lapu-Lapu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Lapu-Lapu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Lapu-Lapu. 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: $349 in Baguio versus $335 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Lapu-Lapu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $842 in Lapu-Lapu – a 10% 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 Lapu-Lapu 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 10% less than in Lapu-Lapu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.