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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $759 in Baguio versus $732 in Ligao City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,192 in Baguio versus $1,124 in Ligao City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,624 in Baguio versus $1,515 in Ligao City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 4% more expensive than in Ligao City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 45% lower, Ligao City 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.10 ₱253

$4.05 ₱250

1.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.94 ₱1,044

$16.88 ₱1,041

0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.79 ₱172

$2.93 ₱181

-4.78%

Cappuccino

$1.87 ₱115

$2.18 ₱134

-14.22%

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

$0.61 ₱37.76

$0.63 ₱38.87

-3.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱19.36

$0.35 ₱21.29

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$1.06 ₱65.4

-6.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₱97.9

$1.75 ₱108

-9.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 ₱105

$1.66 ₱103

2.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ₱69.7

$1.14 ₱70.3

-0.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.5

$0.96 ₱59.3

4.17%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱130

$1.93 ₱119

8.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 ₱311

$5.30 ₱327

-4.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$4.14 ₱255

-18.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 ₱497

$7.03 ₱433

14.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.30 ₱142

-2.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₱96.1

$1.64 ₱101

-4.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 ₱152

$2.37 ₱146

3.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.20 ₱73.9

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 ₱109

$2.14 ₱132

-17.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.04 ₱126

-10.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱38.25

$0.80 ₱49.38

-22.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.01

$0.57 ₱35.22

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 ₱190

$2.99 ₱185

3.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.84 ₱545

$8.08 ₱498

9.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₱62.0

$0.93 ₱57.4

8.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₱129

$2.06 ₱127

1.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.42

$0.25 ₱15.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.82 ₱790

$12.28 ₱757

4.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.14

$0.85 ₱52.6

-8.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.45

$0.24 ₱15.04

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.97 ₱121

-2.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱72.7

$1.17 ₱72.2

0.85%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

3.57%

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

$19.8K ₱1.2M

$19.9K ₱1.2M

-0.52%

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

$140 ₱8,640

$124 ₱7,634

13.18%

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

$18.00 ₱1,110

$17.46 ₱1,076

3.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.67 ₱1,459

$24.42 ₱1,506

-3.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.66 ₱1,335

$32.20 ₱1,985

-32.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 ₱326

$4.21 ₱260

25.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 ₱319

$5.42 ₱334

-4.61%

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

$135 ₱8,321

$137 ₱8,445

-1.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱655.0K

$8,009 ₱493.7K

32.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.93 ₱1,845

$29.87 ₱1,842

0.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 ₱1,210

$20.12 ₱1,240

-2.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 ₱4,296

$68.0 ₱4,192

2.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 ₱3,430

$56.6 ₱3,490

-1.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$416 ₱25.6K

$270 ₱16.7K

53.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 ₱12.1K

$175 ₱10.8K

12.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 ₱53.0K

$497 ₱30.6K

73.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₱29.0K

$352 ₱21.7K

33.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,459 ₱151.6K

$2,461 ₱151.7K

-0.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$922 ₱56.9K

$1,027 ₱63.3K

-10.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$279 ₱17.2K

-33.28%

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: August 16, 2026

Last update for Ligao City: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $416 in Baguio and $270 in Ligao City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ligao City pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Ligao City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $180 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 Ligao City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ligao City wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ligao City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Ligao City. 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: $416 in Baguio versus $270 in Ligao City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $759 per month in Baguio versus $732 in Ligao City – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ligao City runs roughly 4% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Ligao 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 Ligao 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 Ligao City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.