Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Tuguegarao Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Tuguegarao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Baguio versus $631 in Tuguegarao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Baguio versus $1,012 in Tuguegarao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Baguio versus $1,393 in Tuguegarao.

Living in Baguio is roughly 25% more expensive than Tuguegarao, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$1.74 ₱107

105.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.38 ₱825

$13.16 ₱811

1.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.64 ₱162

$2.60 ₱160

1.54%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.34 ₱144

0.85%

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

$0.65 ₱40.14

$0.51 ₱31.65

27.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.18

$0.33 ₱20.47

15.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱85.5

$1.38 ₱85.2

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.93 ₱119

-2.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.82 ₱112

3.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.25 ₱77.1

-4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$0.81 ₱50.1

38.27%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱137

$2.27 ₱140

-2.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱568

$6.43 ₱397

43.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 ₱231

$3.77 ₱232

-0.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.33 ₱514

$8.62 ₱531

-3.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ₱169

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.79 ₱110

0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱74.3

$1.17 ₱72.0

2.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.12

$0.72 ₱44.68

1.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.25

$0.71 ₱43.70

1.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱201

$2.18 ₱134

49.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 ₱560

$8.81 ₱543

3.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$1.07 ₱66.2

-0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₱143

$2.25 ₱138

2.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.26 ₱15.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.93 ₱57.3

-1.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.24 ₱14.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ₱148

$2.35 ₱145

2.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.14 ₱70.6

-1.75%

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

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-0.17%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

-0.07%

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

$147 ₱9,087

$35.99 ₱2,219

309.47%

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

$35.37 ₱2,181

$17.56 ₱1,083

101.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,630

$26.12 ₱1,611

1.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.38 ₱1,380

$33.28 ₱2,052

-32.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.18 ₱257

$4.46 ₱275

-6.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 ₱346

$5.89 ₱363

-4.92%

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

$154 ₱9,495

$150 ₱9,263

2.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₱290.2K

$4,809 ₱296.5K

-2.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 ₱2,947

$49.65 ₱3,062

-3.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,671

$27.18 ₱1,676

-0.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,690

$45.03 ₱2,777

68.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.80 ₱2,824

$27.05 ₱1,668

69.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₱21.3K

$261 ₱16.1K

32.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,959

$179 ₱11.0K

-18.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₱33.8K

$578 ₱35.7K

-5.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$399 ₱24.6K

-34.52%

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

$212 ₱13.1K

-14.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Baguio and $261 in Tuguegarao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tuguegarao 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 $13.00 in Tuguegarao. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $196, with Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tuguegarao wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tuguegarao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Tuguegarao earns 17% 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 $261 in Tuguegarao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% 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 $631 in Tuguegarao – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.