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: $788 in Baguio versus $487 in Lucena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $848 in Lucena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,208 in Lucena.

Living in Baguio is roughly 62% more expensive than Lucena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Lucena 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$1.65 ₱102

116.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$9.04 ₱557

48.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$1.82 ₱112

45.05%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$1.06 ₱65.5

122.64%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.67 ₱41.13

-2.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.35 ₱21.33

8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.00 ₱61.6

39.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.44 ₱89.1

31.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.68 ₱104

11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.26 ₱77.7

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.94 ₱57.7

19.15%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.02 ₱124

9.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$7.00 ₱432

31.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$1.46 ₱90.2

156.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$2.74 ₱169

204.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$0.87 ₱53.8

214.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.03 ₱63.6

74.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$0.91 ₱56.4

162.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$0.69 ₱42.82

73.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.04 ₱64.3

74.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$1.17 ₱72.0

95.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.27 ₱78.3

-42.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.70 ₱42.91

2.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$3.15 ₱194

3.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.42 ₱457

22.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.63 ₱100

-34.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$0.93 ₱57.1

148.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.29 ₱17.61

-10.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.76 ₱47.06

21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.25 ₱15.27

-4.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.09 ₱129

14.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.10 ₱67.6

1.82%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

21.65%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

-1.85%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$62.4 ₱3,847

136.25%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$7.24 ₱447

388.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$12.53 ₱772

110.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$34.43 ₱2,123

-35.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.99 ₱431

-19.89%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$81.3 ₱5,015

89.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$2,829 ₱174.5K

66.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$32.39 ₱1,997

47.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$29.34 ₱1,809

-7.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$53.7 ₱3,310

41.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$92.8 ₱5,724

-50.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$131 ₱8,084

163.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$79.3 ₱4,891

83.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$597 ₱36.8K

-8.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$391 ₱24.1K

-33.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$321 ₱19.8K

-43.46%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lucena: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $131 in Lucena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lucena pays 77% 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 $9.00 in Lucena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $139 per month, with Lucena 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 62% 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, Lucena earns 77% 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: $345 in Baguio versus $131 in Lucena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $487 in Lucena – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 62% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.