Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Tagum City Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Tagum City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $754 in Tagum City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,162 in Tagum City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,571 in Tagum City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 5% more expensive than Tagum City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Tagum City 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$3.56 ₱220

0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$14.14 ₱872

-5.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$3.75 ₱231

-29.60%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$1.63 ₱101

44.79%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.76 ₱46.87

-14.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.39 ₱24.06

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.36 ₱83.7

2.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.36 ₱84.1

38.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.90 ₱117

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.22 ₱75.5

-2.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.95 ₱58.4

17.89%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$1.98 ₱122

12.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$8.18 ₱504

12.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$4.24 ₱261

-11.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$7.89 ₱486

5.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.85 ₱176

-3.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.57 ₱97.1

14.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.59 ₱160

-7.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.60 ₱98.5

-25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.22 ₱137

-18.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.60 ₱160

-11.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$1.07 ₱66.1

-31.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.71 ₱43.60

1.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.90 ₱179

12.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.19 ₱73.7

-10.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$2.00 ₱123

15.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.26 ₱16.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.83 ₱51.0

10.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.08 ₱128

15.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.09 ₱67.1

2.75%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

19.40%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-1.51%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$111 ₱6,847

32.72%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$33.26 ₱2,051

6.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$27.67 ₱1,706

-4.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$33.83 ₱2,086

-33.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.39 ₱271

-4.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$6.00 ₱370

-6.67%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$149 ₱9,201

3.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,361 ₱268.9K

7.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$46.04 ₱2,839

3.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$26.94 ₱1,661

0.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$74.4 ₱4,585

2.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$53.2 ₱3,278

-13.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$271 ₱16.7K

27.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$179 ₱11.0K

-18.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$597 ₱36.8K

-8.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$398 ₱24.5K

-34.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

$206 ₱12.7K

-12.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Tagum City: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $271 in Tagum City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tagum City pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $14.00 in Tagum City. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $189, with Tagum City 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 Tagum City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tagum City wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tagum City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Tagum City earns 14% 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: $345 in Baguio versus $271 in Tagum City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Baguio versus $754 in Tagum City – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tagum City 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 Tagum 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.

Expats usually find Tagum City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.