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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $616 in Tarlac City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,137 in Baguio versus $948 in Tarlac City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,495 in Baguio versus $1,280 in Tarlac City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 27% more expensive than Tarlac City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Tarlac City 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.52 ₱212

$2.69 ₱162

30.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.18 ₱794

$14.85 ₱894

-11.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.62 ₱158

$3.53 ₱213

-25.78%

Cappuccino

$2.38 ₱143

$1.62 ₱97.8

46.91%

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

$0.65 ₱39.41

$0.83 ₱49.89

-21.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.46

$0.26 ₱15.64

42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱83.8

$0.99 ₱59.4

40.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱119

$1.74 ₱105

13.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 ₱111

$1.60 ₱96.2

15.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱74.4

$1.53 ₱92.0

-19.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱64.4

$1.01 ₱61.0

5.94%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱136

$2.06 ₱124

9.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.23 ₱556

$8.68 ₱523

6.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱225

$3.26 ₱197

14.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.65 ₱521

$6.02 ₱363

43.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 ₱159

$2.96 ₱178

-10.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱111

$1.58 ₱95.1

16.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱140

$2.16 ₱130

7.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱72.3

$1.52 ₱91.7

-21.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ₱113

$1.37 ₱82.8

36.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱138

$1.12 ₱67.6

104.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ₱41.45

$0.87 ₱52.1

-20.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱45.52

$0.88 ₱53.2

-13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.24 ₱195

$2.80 ₱169

15.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 ₱541

$3.81 ₱229

135.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱64.0

$0.83 ₱50.2

27.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱137

$1.50 ₱90.3

51.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.65

$0.28 ₱17.01

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.54 ₱635

$7.95 ₱479

32.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱51.1

$0.83 ₱49.86

2.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.18

$0.22 ₱13.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱148

$2.10 ₱126

16.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱67.2

$1.11 ₱66.7

0.90%

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

$31.9K ₱1.9M

$28.9K ₱1.7M

10.40%

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

$20.4K ₱1.2M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

5.12%

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

$147 ₱8,862

$100 ₱6,034

46.85%

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

$34.54 ₱2,080

$15.96 ₱961

116.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.21 ₱1,578

$26.80 ₱1,614

-2.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.28 ₱1,342

$44.14 ₱2,658

-49.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.20 ₱253

$17.48 ₱1,052

-75.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 ₱339

$6.12 ₱369

-8.17%

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

$150 ₱9,027

$167 ₱10.1K

-10.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,770 ₱287.3K

$14.1K ₱851.1K

-66.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.05 ₱2,954

$45.60 ₱2,746

7.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.49 ₱1,656

$26.80 ₱1,614

2.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ₱4,470

$52.3 ₱3,152

41.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,758

$37.23 ₱2,242

23.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 ₱20.5K

$128 ₱7,691

166.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 ₱8,785

$100 ₱6,031

45.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱32.8K

$263 ₱15.8K

107.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱15.8K

$178 ₱10.7K

47.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,494 ₱150.2K

$379 ₱22.8K

557.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$951 ₱57.3K

$301 ₱18.1K

215.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$189 ₱11.4K

$220 ₱13.2K

-13.93%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $341 in Baguio and $128 in Tarlac City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tarlac City pays 16% 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 $15.00 in Tarlac City. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $180, with Tarlac 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 Tarlac City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tarlac City wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tarlac City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Tarlac City earns 16% 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: $341 in Baguio versus $128 in Tarlac City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $616 in Tarlac City – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tarlac City runs roughly 33% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Tarlac 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 Tarlac 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 Tarlac City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.