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: $779 in Baguio versus $898 in Pasay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,290 in Pasay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,682 in Pasay.

Living in Baguio costs roughly 13% less than in Pasay, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Pasay 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱222

$4.71 ₱291

-23.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱833

$20.86 ₱1,287

-35.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.12 ₱192

-16.67%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱145

$2.22 ₱137

5.41%

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

$0.70 ₱43.29

$0.58 ₱35.65

20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.72

$0.38 ₱23.16

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱89.9

$1.08 ₱66.3

35.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.48 ₱91.4

35.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.01 ₱124

-5.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.3

$1.25 ₱77.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.92 ₱56.5

20.65%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱135

$2.02 ₱124

8.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱560

$5.02 ₱310

80.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱228

$4.28 ₱264

-13.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱519

$5.62 ₱347

49.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱162

$4.46 ₱275

-41.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱115

$1.60 ₱98.4

16.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$2.44 ₱151

-7.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.69 ₱104

-30.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.77 ₱171

-34.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$4.09 ₱252

-44.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.67

$1.41 ₱86.9

-48.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.92 ₱56.8

-16.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱206

$3.11 ₱192

7.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱566

$7.52 ₱464

21.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.03 ₱63.4

4.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱140

$1.19 ₱73.4

89.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.90

$0.22 ₱13.60

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.7

$0.70 ₱43.06

24.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.27 ₱16.78

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.17 ₱134

12.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.09 ₱67.2

1.83%

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

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$12.3K ₱761.5K

161.25%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$16.1K ₱992.5K

27.42%

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

$146 ₱8,987

$111 ₱6,831

31.56%

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

$34.10 ₱2,103

$32.86 ₱2,027

3.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,603

$30.37 ₱1,873

-14.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,342

$34.88 ₱2,151

-37.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱366

$6.06 ₱374

-2.15%

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

$153 ₱9,455

$82.4 ₱5,080

86.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱286.3K

$2,774 ₱171.1K

67.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱3,029

$32.10 ₱1,980

52.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,681

$17.71 ₱1,092

53.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,706

$84.5 ₱5,212

-9.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,832

$70.0 ₱4,317

-34.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.3K

$400 ₱24.7K

-13.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,777

$311 ₱19.2K

-54.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.6K

$1,493 ₱92.1K

-63.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.3K

$403 ₱24.9K

-34.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

$1,976 ₱121.9K

22.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

$583 ₱35.9K

62.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.5K

$528 ₱32.6K

-64.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-43.75%

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

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for Pasay: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $400 in Pasay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasay pays 184% 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: $13.00 in Baguio vs $21.00 in Pasay. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $204, with Pasay 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 Pasay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 15% 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, Pasay earns 184% 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 $400 in Pasay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Pasay pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $898 in Pasay – a 15% 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 15% less than in Pasay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.