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 $629 in Tarlac City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in Baguio versus $942 in Tarlac City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,254 in Tarlac City.

Living in Baguio is roughly 24% more expensive than in Tarlac City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Tarlac City 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱222

$2.62 ₱160

38.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱822

$14.97 ₱916

-10.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱164

$3.53 ₱216

-23.80%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$1.58 ₱96.7

49.37%

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

$0.66 ₱40.38

$0.81 ₱49.48

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱22.96

$0.28 ₱17.31

35.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱84.9

$0.99 ₱60.6

40.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱118

$1.74 ₱107

11.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.60 ₱98.0

13.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱73.8

$1.54 ₱94.1

-21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.8

$0.96 ₱58.5

11.46%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱139

$1.98 ₱121

15.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱559

$9.07 ₱555

0.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱237

$3.25 ₱199

19.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱518

$6.19 ₱379

36.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱168

$2.89 ₱177

-4.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱113

$1.62 ₱98.9

13.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱145

$2.14 ₱131

10.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.9

$1.54 ₱94.5

-24.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.45 ₱88.6

25.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.18 ₱72.2

92.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.91

$0.87 ₱53.5

-21.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.38

$0.90 ₱54.9

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.87 ₱176

17.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱562

$3.90 ₱239

135.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.1

$0.82 ₱50.2

31.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.50 ₱91.7

51.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.34

$0.28 ₱17.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱639

$8.03 ₱492

29.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.6

$0.82 ₱50.2

4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.38

$0.22 ₱13.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱149

$2.16 ₱132

12.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.4

$1.12 ₱68.3

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

14.89%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

5.30%

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

$149 ₱9,108

$101 ₱6,186

47.23%

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

$34.55 ₱2,115

$16.05 ₱983

115.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,613

$26.30 ₱1,610

0.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,337

$43.79 ₱2,681

-50.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱249

$17.93 ₱1,098

-77.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱359

$6.07 ₱372

-3.29%

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

$149 ₱9,109

$165 ₱10.1K

-9.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱286.7K

$14.3K ₱874.7K

-67.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,930

$46.33 ₱2,836

3.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,661

$26.60 ₱1,628

2.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,608

$51.9 ₱3,176

45.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,822

$37.02 ₱2,266

24.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.6K

$128 ₱7,824

162.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,677

$103 ₱6,284

38.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱34.0K

$267 ₱16.4K

107.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$180 ₱11.0K

45.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.4K

$373 ₱22.8K

546.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱56.2K

$296 ₱18.1K

209.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.5K

$220 ₱13.5K

-14.71%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $128 in Tarlac City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tarlac City pays 17% 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 $181, 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 24% 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, salaries run 17% lower in Tarlac City. 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: $336 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 $629 in Tarlac City – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tarlac City runs roughly 30% 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 24% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.