Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pasig Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pasig

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $763 in Baguio versus $718 in Pasig.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,175 in Baguio versus $1,200 in Pasig.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Baguio versus $1,682 in Pasig.

Living in Baguio is roughly 6% more expensive than in Pasig, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 45% lower, Pasig 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₱248

$3.97 ₱249

-0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.48 ₱1,033

$25.72 ₱1,613

-35.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 ₱180

$2.74 ₱172

5.11%

Cappuccino

$1.77 ₱111

$2.31 ₱145

-23.38%

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

$0.61 ₱37.95

$0.66 ₱41.67

-7.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.93

$0.31 ₱19.68

3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₱61.2

$1.14 ₱71.4

-14.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱98.1

$2.69 ₱169

-42.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱106

$1.67 ₱104

1.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱72.6

$1.16 ₱73.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$1.03 ₱64.4

-0.97%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱130

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₱323

$5.70 ₱357

-9.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ₱213

$3.37 ₱211

0.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 ₱507

$7.68 ₱481

5.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$3.20 ₱201

-27.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱98.1

$1.56 ₱97.7

0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.96 ₱186

-18.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$1.70 ₱107

-37.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$2.35 ₱147

-25.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$2.60 ₱163

-31.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱38.90

$2.17 ₱136

-71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.24

$0.55 ₱34.55

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱180

$2.89 ₱181

-0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ₱565

$9.55 ₱599

-5.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.1

$1.35 ₱84.4

-28.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.01 ₱126

4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.71

$0.50 ₱31.12

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱814

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱52.4

$0.77 ₱48.31

9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.69

$0.21 ₱13.11

19.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ₱123

$1.92 ₱121

2.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.14 ₱71.4

0.88%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

-0.25%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

2.71%

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

$139 ₱8,708

$123 ₱7,733

12.61%

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

$17.39 ₱1,090

$17.58 ₱1,102

-1.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 ₱1,482

$23.97 ₱1,503

-1.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 ₱1,338

$30.49 ₱1,911

-30.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱326

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱320

$6.40 ₱401

-20.31%

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

$134 ₱8,395

$133 ₱8,318

0.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱662.1K

$9,084 ₱569.4K

16.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.47 ₱1,785

$34.53 ₱2,165

-17.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.81 ₱1,242

$27.89 ₱1,749

-28.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 ₱4,438

$72.8 ₱4,563

-2.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₱3,547

$54.8 ₱3,437

3.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₱25.7K

$277 ₱17.4K

47.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.4K

$129 ₱8,061

53.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 ₱53.2K

$520 ₱32.6K

63.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₱29.1K

$477 ₱29.9K

-2.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₱166.9K

$3,260 ₱204.3K

-18.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 ₱56.4K

$2,540 ₱159.3K

-64.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

$440 ₱27.6K

-59.21%

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: September 5, 2026

Last update for Pasig: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Baguio and $277 in Pasig. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasig pays 145% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16.00 in Baguio vs $26.00 in Pasig for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $201 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 Pasig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pasig wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pasig the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 145% lower in Pasig. 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: $411 in Baguio versus $277 in Pasig. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $763 per month in Baguio versus $718 in Pasig – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Pasig 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 Pasig 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 Pasig gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.