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: $748 in Baguio versus $730 in Pagadian.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,182 in Baguio versus $1,099 in Pagadian.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,616 in Baguio versus $1,468 in Pagadian.

Living in Baguio is roughly 3% more expensive than in Pagadian, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 46% lower, Pagadian 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱252

$3.82 ₱239

5.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.79 ₱1,050

$17.08 ₱1,068

-1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱173

$2.85 ₱178

-2.81%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₱112

$1.95 ₱122

-8.21%

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

$0.55 ₱34.69

$0.82 ₱51.3

-32.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱21.58

$0.23 ₱14.27

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$1.46 ₱91.1

-30.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱103

$1.92 ₱120

-14.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₱101

$1.71 ₱107

-5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$1.21 ₱75.4

-7.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.90 ₱56.0

8.89%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱132

$1.85 ₱116

14.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.00 ₱313

$4.73 ₱296

5.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 ₱210

$4.16 ₱260

-19.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 ₱508

$6.85 ₱428

18.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₱143

$2.49 ₱156

-8.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₱101

$1.45 ₱90.8

11.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱146

$2.42 ₱151

-3.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.3

$1.13 ₱70.4

-4.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 ₱105

$2.28 ₱143

-26.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 ₱107

$2.23 ₱140

-23.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱39.00

$0.80 ₱49.75

-22.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.59

$0.56 ₱34.76

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱187

$2.94 ₱184

1.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 ₱561

$7.96 ₱498

12.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₱59.6

$0.96 ₱60.3

-1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$2.01 ₱126

4.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.64

$0.25 ₱15.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱793

$11.31 ₱707

12.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.83

$0.69 ₱42.95

10.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.71

$0.23 ₱14.40

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱122

$1.93 ₱120

1.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.05 ₱65.4

14.29%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$24.6K ₱1.5M

-13.01%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-4.99%

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

$144 ₱8,975

$124 ₱7,751

15.80%

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

$17.30 ₱1,082

$16.40 ₱1,026

5.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.28 ₱1,456

$26.48 ₱1,656

-12.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.30 ₱1,332

$31.92 ₱1,996

-33.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.36 ₱335

$4.80 ₱300

11.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.19 ₱325

$5.40 ₱338

-3.89%

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

$131 ₱8,192

$153 ₱9,562

-14.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱663.5K

$7,142 ₱446.7K

48.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.51 ₱1,845

$33.99 ₱2,126

-13.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 ₱1,206

$21.15 ₱1,323

-8.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ₱4,568

$67.9 ₱4,249

7.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 ₱3,466

$60.2 ₱3,762

-7.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.7K

$271 ₱16.9K

51.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.4K

$151 ₱9,456

30.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 ₱53.2K

$503 ₱31.5K

69.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ₱29.1K

$350 ₱21.9K

33.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,650 ₱165.7K

$2,279 ₱142.5K

16.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱57.5K

$1,165 ₱72.9K

-21.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $271 in Pagadian. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Pagadian for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $178 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 Pagadian: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pagadian wins on cost – living expenses run 3% 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 $1,122 in Baguio and $1,095 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: $411 in Baguio versus $271 in Pagadian. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $748 per month in Baguio versus $730 in Pagadian – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pagadian runs roughly 12% 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 3% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.