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: $766 in Baguio versus $598 in Lipa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $935 in Lipa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,273 in Lipa.

Living in Baguio is roughly 28% more expensive than in Lipa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Lipa 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$3.11 ₱195

29.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,037

$16.07 ₱1,008

2.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.72 ₱171

1.84%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$1.78 ₱112

3.37%

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

$0.60 ₱37.76

$0.46 ₱28.57

30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.84

$0.33 ₱20.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$0.95 ₱59.3

8.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$1.63 ₱103

-3.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.47 ₱92.1

12.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.10 ₱69.2

4.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.85 ₱53.5

18.82%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.69 ₱106

19.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$5.14 ₱322

-2.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$3.50 ₱219

-0.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$7.70 ₱483

1.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.27 ₱143

1.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.8

$1.61 ₱101

-4.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.29 ₱144

0.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.07 ₱67.0

-2.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$1.74 ₱109

-5.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.79 ₱112

-1.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.75

$0.61 ₱38.34

9.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.90

$0.49 ₱31.02

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.96 ₱185

0.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱533

$8.59 ₱539

-1.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.2

$0.97 ₱60.7

-1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.98 ₱124

3.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.25 ₱15.64

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

$4.63 ₱290

176.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.70 ₱44.09

15.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.23 ₱14.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.87 ₱117

0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.10 ₱69.1

9.09%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

1.11%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$15.7K ₱985.1K

21.32%

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

$138 ₱8,659

$139 ₱8,688

-0.34%

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

$17.68 ₱1,109

$17.67 ₱1,108

0.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,471

$23.60 ₱1,480

-0.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,357

$32.31 ₱2,026

-33.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

$4.00 ₱251

31.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$5.11 ₱320

0.39%

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

$131 ₱8,230

$132 ₱8,297

-0.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.6K

$10.6K ₱662.9K

1.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,842

$28.93 ₱1,815

1.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,198

$19.58 ₱1,228

-2.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,569

$72.4 ₱4,539

0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,510

$55.7 ₱3,493

0.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$79.8 ₱5,005

400.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$61.2 ₱3,837

226.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$244 ₱15.3K

249.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$184 ₱11.5K

151.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$220 ₱13.8K

-18.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

12.50%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lipa: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $79.8 in Lipa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lipa pays 23% 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 $16.00 in Lipa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $171 per month, with Lipa 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 Lipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lipa wins on cost – living expenses run 28% 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, salaries run 23% lower in Lipa. 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: $399 in Baguio versus $79.8 in Lipa. 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 $598 in Lipa – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lipa runs roughly 177% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 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 28% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.