Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pagadian Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pagadian

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Baguio versus $776 in Pagadian.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,092 in Pagadian.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,408 in Pagadian.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 2% less than in Pagadian, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Pagadian 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$3.49 ₱215

0.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱822

$17.85 ₱1,099

-25.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$3.22 ₱198

-17.08%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.90 ₱178

-18.97%

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

$0.69 ₱42.28

$0.96 ₱58.8

-28.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.01

$0.46 ₱28.18

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.4

$1.08 ₱66.5

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.73 ₱107

11.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.72 ₱106

11.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.07 ₱66.0

11.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$1.03 ₱63.3

2.91%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$2.05 ₱126

5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱579

$8.19 ₱504

14.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱229

$4.87 ₱300

-23.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱530

$5.85 ₱360

47.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$3.46 ₱213

-21.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.12 ₱68.9

59.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$3.36 ₱207

-30.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$1.38 ₱85.1

-15.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.65 ₱163

-31.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$3.41 ₱210

-35.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.60

$1.10 ₱67.9

-38.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.77

$0.75 ₱46.39

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.60 ₱160

28.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

$8.31 ₱511

4.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.04 ₱64.3

1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.47 ₱90.4

59.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.26

$0.28 ₱17.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

$7.15 ₱440

51.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.77 ₱47.55

19.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.22 ₱13.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.10 ₱129

11.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$1.25 ₱76.9

-11.20%

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

$31.7K ₱1.9M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

18.47%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-0.55%

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

$144 ₱8,877

$93.9 ₱5,784

53.49%

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

$34.02 ₱2,094

$32.31 ₱1,989

5.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,592

$26.98 ₱1,661

-4.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,373

$33.52 ₱2,064

-33.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.31 ₱265

-1.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

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

$151 ₱9,286

$154 ₱9,480

-2.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱285.6K

$4,303 ₱264.9K

7.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,010

$46.08 ₱2,837

6.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,697

$26.28 ₱1,618

4.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,560

$74.2 ₱4,569

-0.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,809

$52.2 ₱3,213

-12.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$112 ₱6,883

212.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,936

$176 ₱10.8K

-17.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.4K

$245 ₱15.1K

121.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$153 ₱9,426

73.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

$2,755 ₱169.6K

-13.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

$908 ₱55.9K

1.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $112 in Pagadian. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $18.00 in Pagadian. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $204, with Pagadian 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 Pagadian: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Pagadian. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,146 in Baguio and $1,165 in Pagadian to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Baguio versus $112 in Pagadian. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $776 in Pagadian – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 51% less than in Pagadian. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio 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 Pagadian 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Pagadian. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.