Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Lipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Lipa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $628 in Lipa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,030 in Lipa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,432 in Lipa.

Living in Baguio is roughly 24% more expensive than Lipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Lipa 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$3.62 ₱223

-0.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$17.64 ₱1,088

-23.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.12 ₱192

-16.67%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$2.35 ₱145

-0.43%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.46 ₱28.18

52.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.33 ₱20.54

21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$0.67 ₱41.63

117.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.73 ₱168

-26.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.34 ₱83.0

41.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.12 ₱69.0

11.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.12 ₱69.1

-0.89%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$1.87 ₱115

17.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.08 ₱437

28.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$4.23 ₱261

-12.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$7.14 ₱441

17.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$1.72 ₱106

52.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$1.58 ₱97.2

18.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$1.82 ₱112

24.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.21 ₱74.3

-2.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$0.92 ₱57.0

97.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$1.04 ₱64.1

120.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$0.52 ₱31.95

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$1.01 ₱62.6

-23.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$3.28 ₱202

2.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$9.01 ₱556

1.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$0.90 ₱55.8

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.05 ₱126

10.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.22 ₱13.53

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.77 ₱47.39

12.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.22 ₱13.50

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.11 ₱130

16.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.15 ₱70.7

-3.48%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$25.2K ₱1.6M

27.77%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

1.33%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$81.7 ₱5,040

78.31%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$33.09 ₱2,041

3.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$29.99 ₱1,850

-13.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$26.16 ₱1,614

-16.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$5.83 ₱360

1.72%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$80.4 ₱4,959

90.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$2,744 ₱169.2K

69.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$31.82 ₱1,963

54.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$29.99 ₱1,850

-9.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$98.8 ₱6,095

-22.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$95.1 ₱5,864

-51.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$88.3 ₱5,449

291.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$66.2 ₱4,080

115.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$280 ₱17.3K

94.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$254 ₱15.7K

3.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$235 ₱14.5K

-20.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

8.13

-44.65%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lipa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $88.3 in Lipa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lipa pays 26% 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 $18.00 in Lipa. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $178, with Lipa 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 Lipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lipa wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lipa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Lipa earns 26% 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: $346 in Baguio versus $88.3 in Lipa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $628 in Lipa – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Lipa 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 Lipa 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 Lipa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.