Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pasay Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pasay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Baguio versus $917 in Pasay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,168 in Baguio versus $1,255 in Pasay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Baguio versus $1,592 in Pasay.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 16% less than in Pasay, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 44% lower, Pasay 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱253

$4.44 ₱278

-9.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.53 ₱1,037

$19.04 ₱1,194

-13.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.77 ₱174

$2.84 ₱178

-2.46%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$2.23 ₱140

-17.49%

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

$0.60 ₱37.76

$0.63 ₱39.26

-4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.84

$0.31 ₱19.24

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$1.21 ₱76.1

-14.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₱98.3

$1.58 ₱99.0

-0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱104

$1.72 ₱108

-3.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.17 ₱73.2

-1.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$1.01 ₱63.6

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$1.96 ₱123

3.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 ₱313

$5.15 ₱323

-3.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₱218

$4.29 ₱269

-19.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱489

$7.26 ₱456

7.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.29 ₱143

0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱95.8

$1.54 ₱96.7

-0.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.35 ₱147

-2.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$1.17 ₱73.3

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱104

$2.37 ₱149

-30.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$3.33 ₱209

-46.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.75

$1.25 ₱78.3

-46.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.90

$0.89 ₱55.6

-41.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.97 ₱186

0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ₱533

$7.73 ₱485

9.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.2

$0.97 ₱61.0

-1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.82 ₱114

12.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.19 ₱11.64

21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.76 ₱47.52

6.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.21 ₱13.12

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.96 ₱123

-4.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.18 ₱74.2

1.69%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

1.47%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$18.6K ₱1.2M

2.47%

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

$138 ₱8,659

$139 ₱8,713

-0.62%

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

$17.68 ₱1,109

$14.20 ₱890

24.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.45 ₱1,471

$25.46 ₱1,597

-7.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.64 ₱1,357

$47.18 ₱2,959

-54.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱322

$5.20 ₱326

-1.35%

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

$131 ₱8,230

$73.4 ₱4,603

78.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₱674.6K

$2,546 ₱159.7K

322.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,842

$36.19 ₱2,270

-18.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 ₱1,198

$19.34 ₱1,213

-1.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ₱4,569

$70.1 ₱4,397

3.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,510

$64.3 ₱4,033

-12.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

$432 ₱27.1K

-7.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.5K

$315 ₱19.7K

-36.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ₱53.5K

$821 ₱51.5K

3.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 ₱29.0K

$361 ₱22.6K

28.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 ₱163.3K

$1,840 ₱115.4K

41.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$928 ₱58.2K

$571 ₱35.8K

62.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$511 ₱32.0K

-64.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

-3.57%

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

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Last update for Pasay: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Baguio and $432 in Pasay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasay pays 185% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $17.00 in Baguio vs $19.00 in Pasay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $189 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 Pasay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Pasay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 185% lower in Pasay. 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: $399 in Baguio versus $432 in Pasay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Pasay. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Baguio versus $917 in Pasay – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 Pasay 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 20% less than in Pasay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.