Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Vigan Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Vigan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $697 in Vigan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in Baguio versus $1,100 in Vigan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,504 in Vigan.

Living in Baguio is roughly 12% more expensive than in Vigan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Vigan 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱222

$3.60 ₱220

0.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱822

$13.12 ₱803

2.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱164

$1.82 ₱111

47.80%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$1.81 ₱111

30.39%

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

$0.66 ₱40.38

$0.69 ₱42.29

-4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱22.96

$0.38 ₱23.25

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱84.9

$1.20 ₱73.6

15.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱118

$1.74 ₱106

11.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.84 ₱113

-1.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱73.8

$1.19 ₱73.1

1.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.8

$0.76 ₱46.47

40.79%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱139

$2.19 ₱134

4.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱559

$8.99 ₱551

1.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱237

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱518

$7.27 ₱445

16.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱168

$2.63 ₱161

4.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱113

$1.61 ₱98.6

14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱145

$2.30 ₱141

3.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.9

$1.16 ₱70.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.64 ₱101

10.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$2.15 ₱131

5.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.91

$0.72 ₱43.78

-5.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.38

$0.76 ₱46.75

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.27 ₱139

48.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱562

$8.83 ₱541

3.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.1

$1.08 ₱66.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.73 ₱106

31.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.34

$0.28 ₱17.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱639

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.6

$0.68 ₱41.88

26.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.38

$0.17 ₱10.33

29.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱149

$2.45 ₱150

-0.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.4

$1.11 ₱68.1

0.90%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$14.0K ₱858.2K

129.96%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$16.2K ₱990.4K

27.13%

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

$149 ₱9,108

$53.6 ₱3,280

177.70%

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

$34.55 ₱2,115

$34.00 ₱2,081

1.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,613

$26.25 ₱1,607

0.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,337

$34.16 ₱2,091

-36.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱249

$4.51 ₱276

-9.76%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱359

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

$149 ₱9,109

$36.00 ₱2,203

313.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱286.7K

$4,816 ₱294.8K

-2.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,930

$47.88 ₱2,931

-0.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,661

$27.04 ₱1,655

0.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,608

$61.4 ₱3,758

22.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,822

$46.45 ₱2,843

-0.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.6K

$262 ₱16.0K

28.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,677

$175 ₱10.7K

-19.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱34.0K

$594 ₱36.3K

-6.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$398 ₱24.4K

-34.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.4K

$2,167 ₱132.7K

11.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱56.2K

$904 ₱55.4K

1.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.5K

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 27, 2026

Last update for Vigan: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $262 in Vigan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $13.00 in Vigan. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $196, with Vigan 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 Vigan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vigan wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vigan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,169 in Baguio and $1,045 in Vigan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $336 in Baguio versus $262 in Vigan. 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 $779 per month in Baguio versus $697 in Vigan – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Vigan 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 Vigan 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 Vigan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.