Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Lucena Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Lucena

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $639 in Lucena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,033 in Lucena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,427 in Lucena.

Living in Baguio is roughly 20% more expensive than in Lucena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Lucena 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$1.45 ₱91.1

177.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,037

$19.05 ₱1,195

-13.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$1.64 ₱103

68.90%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$1.32 ₱82.7

39.39%

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

$0.60 ₱37.76

$0.33 ₱20.80

81.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.84

$0.29 ₱18.27

13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$1.37 ₱85.7

-24.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$1.32 ₱82.8

18.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.17 ₱73.1

-1.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$0.89 ₱56.1

13.48%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.82 ₱114

10.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$6.58 ₱413

-24.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$4.27 ₱268

-18.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$7.28 ₱457

7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$4.03 ₱253

-42.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.8

$1.44 ₱90.2

6.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$3.53 ₱221

-34.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.14 ₱71.3

-8.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$2.37 ₱149

-30.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$3.48 ₱219

-49.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.75

$1.42 ₱88.8

-52.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.90

$0.99 ₱61.8

-47.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.70 ₱170

10.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱533

$7.75 ₱486

9.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.2

$1.35 ₱84.6

-28.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.84 ₱115

10.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.25 ₱15.50

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

$11.63 ₱729

10.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.82 ₱51.5

-1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.21 ₱13.11

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$2.47 ₱155

-23.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.13 ₱70.9

6.19%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-1.00%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$18.6K ₱1.2M

2.48%

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

$138 ₱8,659

$48.09 ₱3,016

187.09%

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

$17.68 ₱1,109

$6.27 ₱393

181.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,471

$11.25 ₱706

108.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,357

$31.65 ₱1,985

-31.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

$5.28 ₱331

-0.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$7.18 ₱451

-28.55%

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

$131 ₱8,230

$73.6 ₱4,614

78.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.6K

$2,455 ₱154.0K

338.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,842

$35.64 ₱2,236

-17.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,198

$22.87 ₱1,434

-16.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,569

$78.7 ₱4,935

-7.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,510

$76.7 ₱4,809

-27.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$269 ₱16.8K

48.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$173 ₱10.9K

15.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$499 ₱31.3K

70.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$350 ₱22.0K

32.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.3K

$2,340 ₱146.7K

11.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$1,019 ₱63.9K

-8.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$317 ₱19.9K

-43.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

-3.57%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lucena: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $269 in Lucena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lucena pays 76% 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 $19.00 in Lucena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $208 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 Lucena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lucena wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lucena the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Lucena. 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 $269 in Lucena. 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 $639 in Lucena – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lucena runs roughly 10% 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 Lucena 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 Lucena 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 Lucena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.