🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $992 in Taguig City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,567 in Taguig City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $2,143 in Taguig City.
🙂Living in Baguio costs roughly 22% less than in Taguig City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio42% lower, Taguig City26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baguio
Taguig City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59₱222
$4.39₱271
-18.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.50₱833
$26.28₱1,621
-48.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.60₱160
$3.53₱218
-26.35%
Cappuccino
$2.34₱145
$2.62₱162
-10.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70₱43.29
$0.80₱49.63
-12.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₱24.72
$0.48₱29.68
-16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46₱89.9
$1.44₱88.8
1.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00₱123
$2.71₱167
-26.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baguio
Taguig City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₱116
$1.92₱118
-1.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25₱77.3
$1.39₱85.8
-10.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11₱68.6
$1.08₱66.7
2.78%
Eggs
$2.20₱135
$2.06₱127
6.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.08₱560
$9.20₱568
-1.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.70₱228
$5.22₱322
-29.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.42₱519
$8.47₱522
-0.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63₱162
$2.75₱169
-4.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87₱115
$1.87₱116
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.26₱140
$3.08₱190
-26.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.18₱72.6
$1.16₱71.3
1.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82₱112
$1.82₱113
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.29₱141
$3.18₱196
-27.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72₱44.67
$1.81₱112
-60.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77₱47.61
$0.73₱44.85
5.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35₱206
$3.38₱208
-0.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.17₱566
$9.13₱563
0.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08₱66.4
$1.40₱86.5
-22.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26₱140
$2.32₱143
-2.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Baguio
Taguig City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₱15.90
$0.22₱13.48
18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.56₱652
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87₱53.7
$0.93₱57.4
-6.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.54
$0.24₱14.85
-8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.45₱151
$2.19₱135
11.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11₱68.3
$1.12₱69.2
-0.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K₱2.0M
$26.1K₱1.6M
23.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₱1.3M
$20.8K₱1.3M
-1.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baguio
Taguig City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146₱8,987
$126₱7,802
15.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.10₱2,103
$33.15₱2,045
2.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.99₱1,603
$26.52₱1,636
-2.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baguio
Taguig City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.76₱1,342
$42.75₱2,637
-49.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.16₱256
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.93₱366
$6.94₱428
-14.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baguio
Taguig City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153₱9,455
$152₱9,346
1.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,642₱286.3K
$11.6K₱715.6K
-59.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baguio
Taguig City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.11₱3,029
$47.11₱2,906
4.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.25₱1,681
$34.37₱2,120
-20.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.3₱4,706
$67.7₱4,178
12.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.91₱2,832
$46.47₱2,866
-1.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baguio
Taguig City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$346₱21.3K
$580₱35.8K
-40.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$142₱8,777
$314₱19.3K
-54.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$544₱33.6K
$1,956₱120.6K
-72.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$264₱16.3K
$801₱49.4K
-67.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,423₱149.4K
$4,180₱257.8K
-42.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$949₱58.5K
$1,407₱86.8K
-32.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baguio
Taguig City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$186₱11.5K
$452₱27.9K
-58.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
6.17
-27.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026
Last update for Taguig City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $580 in Taguig City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Taguig City pays 143% 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 $26.00 in Taguig City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $226 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 Taguig City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Baguio or Taguig City?
Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Taguig City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Baguio or Taguig City?
On paper, Taguig City earns 143% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baguio vs Taguig City?
Rent for a central apartment: $346 in Baguio versus $580 in Taguig City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Baguio or Taguig City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Taguig City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Baguio compared to Taguig City?
All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $992 in Taguig City – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Baguio or Taguig City?
At $779 in Baguio versus $992 in Taguig City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Baguio but tight or insufficient in Taguig City. The gap between the two cities makes Baguio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Baguio or Taguig City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $779 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.
How safe is Baguio compared to Taguig City?
Safety-wise, Baguio and Taguig City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Taguig City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.