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: $788 in Baguio versus $760 in Pagadian.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,074 in Pagadian.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,389 in Pagadian.

Living in Baguio is roughly 4% more expensive than Pagadian, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Pagadian 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$18.01 ₱1,110

-25.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.20 ₱197

-17.50%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.90 ₱179

-18.62%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.93 ₱57.1

-30.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.43 ₱26.38

-11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.08 ₱66.3

28.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.76 ₱108

7.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.71 ₱106

9.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.07 ₱66.1

11.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.97 ₱59.8

15.46%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.03 ₱125

9.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$8.25 ₱508

11.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.98 ₱307

-24.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$5.85 ₱361

42.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$3.64 ₱224

-24.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.12 ₱69.3

60.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$3.42 ₱211

-30.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.34 ₱82.4

-10.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.65 ₱164

-31.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$3.46 ₱213

-33.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.07 ₱66.1

-31.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.70 ₱43.42

2.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.71 ₱167

20.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$7.91 ₱488

14.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.05 ₱64.6

0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$1.54 ₱94.8

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.26 ₱16.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

$7.18 ₱443

51.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.82 ₱50.9

12.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.24 ₱14.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.10 ₱129

14.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.19 ₱73.2

-5.88%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

18.39%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

0.56%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$96.0 ₱5,919

53.54%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$33.16 ₱2,045

6.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$27.38 ₱1,688

-3.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$33.61 ₱2,072

-33.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.53 ₱279

-7.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$5.95 ₱367

-5.88%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$149 ₱9,190

3.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,359 ₱268.8K

7.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$45.37 ₱2,798

5.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$26.79 ₱1,652

1.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$74.5 ₱4,592

2.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$53.1 ₱3,271

-13.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$113 ₱6,956

206.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$177 ₱10.9K

-17.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$248 ₱15.3K

120.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$150 ₱9,271

73.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

$2,118 ₱130.6K

14.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

$966 ₱59.6K

-3.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $113 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 $205 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

Pagadian wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pagadian the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,182 in Baguio and $1,140 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: $345 in Baguio versus $113 in Pagadian. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $760 in Pagadian – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pagadian runs roughly 51% 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 Pagadian 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 Pagadian gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.