Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and San Fernando, La Union

For one person, living costs are similar in Baguio and in San Fernando, La Union: $734 and $721 a month, rent and utilities included.

Baguio, Philippines
San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
Baguio
🇵🇭 Philippines
$734
/mo nomad
San Fernando, La Union
🇵🇭 Philippines
$721
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baguio and in San Fernando, La Union

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baguio and in San Fernando, La Union actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Baguio versus $721 in San Fernando, La Union.

  • Baguio $734
  • San Fernando, La Union $721

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,206 in Baguio versus $1,102 in San Fernando, La Union.

  • Baguio $1,206
  • San Fernando, La Union $1,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Baguio versus $1,484 in San Fernando, La Union.

  • Baguio $1,677
  • San Fernando, La Union $1,484

Monthly costs are close between Baguio and San Fernando, La Union; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 46% lower, San Fernando, La Union 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.10 ₱197
$3.97 ₱253
-21.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.95 ₱1,523
$16.71 ₱1,062
43.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.71 ₱173
$2.69 ₱171
0.74%
Cappuccino
$1.69 ₱108
$2.14 ₱136
-21.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.70
$0.69 ₱43.67
-2.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₱24.55
$0.33 ₱21.23
18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ₱72.4
$1.19 ₱75.4
-4.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₱122
$2.06 ₱131
-7.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 ₱113
$1.65 ₱105
7.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.88 ₱55.8
$1.09 ₱69.6
-19.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 ₱61.4
$0.89 ₱56.7
8.99%
Eggs
$1.83 ₱117
$1.90 ₱121
-3.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.75 ₱302
$5.52 ₱351
-13.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 ₱205
$4.09 ₱260
-21.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.01 ₱446
$7.11 ₱452
-1.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.58 ₱164
$2.39 ₱152
7.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 ₱135
$1.57 ₱99.6
35.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 ₱177
$2.33 ₱148
19.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 ₱58.2
$1.17 ₱74.6
-21.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ₱88.4
$2.06 ₱131
-32.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ₱87.0
$2.30 ₱146
-40.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ₱41.46
$1.08 ₱68.8
-39.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₱22.27
$0.53 ₱33.65
-33.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 ₱179
$2.82 ₱180
-0.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.99 ₱444
$7.54 ₱479
-7.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₱48.92
$0.99 ₱62.9
-22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 ₱190
$1.93 ₱122
54.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱16.00
$0.22 ₱13.92
13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.49 ₱921
$12.52 ₱796
15.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 ₱63.8
$0.80 ₱51.0
25.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱14.00
$0.20 ₱12.72
10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.86 ₱118
$1.91 ₱122
-2.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ₱82.8
$1.03 ₱65.7
26.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$20.8K ₱1.3M
0.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
-0.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.4 ₱6,003
$119 ₱7,589
-20.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.64 ₱1,058
$15.64 ₱994
6.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.88 ₱1,963
$23.84 ₱1,515
29.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.58 ₱1,754
$31.64 ₱2,012
-12.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.74 ₱492
$5.16 ₱328
50.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.72 ₱300
$5.22 ₱332
-9.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,019 ₱64.8K
$130 ₱8,240
686.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,258 ₱334.3K
$7,895 ₱501.9K
-33.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.98 ₱3,178
$33.12 ₱2,106
50.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.84 ₱2,406
$19.07 ₱1,213
98.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ₱4,567
$69.2 ₱4,402
3.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8 ₱5,072
$55.4 ₱3,520
44.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 ₱24.6K
$251 ₱16.0K
54.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 ₱12.4K
$167 ₱10.6K
16.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,031 ₱65.6K
$490 ₱31.1K
110.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$513 ₱32.6K
$350 ₱22.3K
46.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,025 ₱255.9K
$2,657 ₱168.9K
51.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,526 ₱97.0K
$1,125 ₱71.5K
35.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baguio
San Fernando, La Union
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$180 ₱11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
6.92
1.16%

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

Last update for Baguio: November 2, 2026

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Baguio
$195
San Fernando, La Union
$167 14.4% $28
Groceries & Markets
Baguio
$168
San Fernando, La Union
$179 6.4% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
$142
San Fernando, La Union
$159 11.9% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
$108
San Fernando, La Union
$80 26.2% $28
Eating Out
Baguio
$67
San Fernando, La Union
$80 18.9% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
$37
San Fernando, La Union
$42 13.7% $5.1
Getting Around
Baguio
$18
San Fernando, La Union
$15 13.7% $2.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Baguio and $251 in San Fernando, La Union. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24 in Baguio vs $17 in San Fernando, La Union. Groceries flip the comparison at $168 vs $179, with Baguio cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Baguio
🇵🇭 San Fernando, La Union
🕒 Local time
04:15 4:15 AM
04:15 4:15 AM
Same time as Baguio
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
366,358
83,003
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 63.58 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.57 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Baguio San Fernando, La Union 37 km
From you
  • Baguio
  • San Fernando, La Union

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 San Fernando, La Union: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Baguio and in San Fernando, La Union?
You’d need roughly $1,102 in Baguio and $1,082 in San Fernando, La Union 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baguio compared to San Fernando, La Union?
Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Baguio versus $251 in San Fernando, La Union. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Baguio compared to San Fernando, La Union?
A monthly transit pass in San Fernando, La Union runs roughly 14% less than in Baguio. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Are groceries more expensive in Baguio or in San Fernando, La Union?
Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Baguio or in San Fernando, La Union?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though San Fernando, La Union gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Baguio or San Fernando, La Union?
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.
How safe is Baguio compared to San Fernando, La Union?
Safety-wise, Baguio and San Fernando, La Union are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Baguio vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?