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: $764 in Baguio versus $624 in Tuguegarao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Baguio versus $1,017 in Tuguegarao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Baguio versus $1,411 in Tuguegarao.

Living in Baguio is roughly 22% more expensive than in Tuguegarao, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 43% lower, Tuguegarao 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$1.82 ₱112

92.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.35 ₱823

$13.26 ₱818

0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.67 ₱165

$2.59 ₱160

3.09%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.31 ₱142

1.73%

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

$0.69 ₱42.35

$0.52 ₱32.01

32.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.05

$0.33 ₱20.59

12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.5

$1.43 ₱88.2

0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.83 ₱113

4.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.4

$1.25 ₱77.1

-4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$0.78 ₱47.89

35.90%

Eggs

$2.17 ₱134

$2.20 ₱136

-1.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 ₱580

$6.39 ₱394

47.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₱230

$3.84 ₱237

-3.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 ₱531

$8.45 ₱521

1.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.65 ₱163

2.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱110

$1.83 ₱113

-2.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.29 ₱141

2.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.2

$1.20 ₱74.1

-2.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.83 ₱113

-1.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱136

$2.28 ₱140

-3.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.67

$0.67 ₱41.07

1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.85

$0.71 ₱43.82

9.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.09 ₱129

59.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱537

$8.76 ₱540

-0.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.36 ₱146

-0.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.26 ₱15.91

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱666

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱56.8

$0.92 ₱56.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$0.22 ₱13.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱145

$2.42 ₱149

-2.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.10 ₱68.0

0.91%

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

$31.7K ₱2.0M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-2.12%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

0.00%

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

$144 ₱8,892

$34.77 ₱2,144

314.70%

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

$34.02 ₱2,098

$17.94 ₱1,106

89.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 ₱1,595

$26.25 ₱1,619

-1.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.30 ₱1,375

$33.76 ₱2,082

-33.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.23 ₱261

$4.49 ₱277

-5.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$5.68 ₱350

1.94%

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

$151 ₱9,302

$151 ₱9,304

-0.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,640 ₱286.1K

$4,781 ₱294.8K

-2.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.90 ₱3,016

$48.24 ₱2,975

1.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 ₱1,700

$27.50 ₱1,696

0.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,568

$44.13 ₱2,722

67.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.63 ₱2,814

$27.10 ₱1,671

68.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ₱21.5K

$270 ₱16.6K

29.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱8,952

$176 ₱10.8K

-17.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ₱33.5K

$593 ₱36.6K

-8.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$401 ₱24.7K

-33.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

$211 ₱13.0K

-13.28%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Baguio and $270 in Tuguegarao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tuguegarao pays 15% 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 $206 vs $195, 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 22% 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, salaries run 15% lower in Tuguegarao. 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: $349 in Baguio versus $270 in Tuguegarao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Baguio versus $624 in Tuguegarao – a 22% 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 22% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.