Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Nueva Ecija Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Nueva Ecija

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $654 in Nueva Ecija.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,058 in Nueva Ecija.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,461 in Nueva Ecija.

Living in Baguio is roughly 19% more expensive than Nueva Ecija, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Nueva Ecija 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$4.53 ₱279

-20.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$35.50 ₱2,189

-61.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.33 ₱205

-21.92%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$1.35 ₱83.4

73.33%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.80 ₱49.13

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.36 ₱22.32

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$0.93 ₱57.5

56.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.21 ₱136

-9.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.98 ₱184

-36.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.00 ₱61.5

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.00 ₱61.6

11.00%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$1.78 ₱109

23.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.84 ₱484

15.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$3.69 ₱228

0.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$6.47 ₱399

30.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$4.23 ₱261

-37.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$0.78 ₱48.08

139.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$1.89 ₱117

19.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.79 ₱110

-34.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.74 ₱107

4.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.19 ₱135

4.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$2.33 ₱144

-69.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.51 ₱31.52

50.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$2.52 ₱156

32.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$4.46 ₱275

105.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.36 ₱83.6

-20.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.55 ₱158

-11.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.32 ₱20.02

-18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

$6.23 ₱384

69.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.81 ₱50.2

7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$1.17 ₱72.4

109.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.01 ₱62.6

9.90%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

83.08%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$23.6K ₱1.5M

-12.97%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$87.6 ₱5,400

66.42%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$32.35 ₱1,996

5.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$20.22 ₱1,247

28.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$33.49 ₱2,065

-35.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

$4.45 ₱275

-6.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$5.04 ₱311

17.66%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$154 ₱9,503

-0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$4,301 ₱265.3K

7.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$45.69 ₱2,818

7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$34.33 ₱2,118

-20.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$67.9 ₱4,191

12.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$114 ₱7,053

-59.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$126 ₱7,802

173.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$74.6 ₱4,602

90.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$197 ₱12.2K

175.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$142 ₱8,774

85.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$2,343 ₱144.5K

3.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$196 ₱12.1K

-5.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.17

-27.07%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nueva Ecija: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $126 in Nueva Ecija. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nueva Ecija pays 6% 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 $35.00 in Nueva Ecija. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $200, with Nueva Ecija 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 Nueva Ecija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nueva Ecija wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nueva Ecija the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Nueva Ecija earns 6% 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 $126 in Nueva Ecija. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $654 in Nueva Ecija – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 70% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Nueva Ecija 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 Nueva Ecija 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 Nueva Ecija gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.