Cost of Living Comparison Between Bataan and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Bataan and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $599 in Bataan versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $990 in Bataan versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,381 in Bataan versus $1,490 in Baguio.

Living in Bataan costs roughly 24% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bataan 55% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.46 ₱88.5

$3.57 ₱217

-59.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.76 ₱1,078

$13.22 ₱802

34.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 ₱184

$2.65 ₱161

14.34%

Cappuccino

$1.53 ₱93.1

$2.36 ₱143

-35.17%

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

$0.88 ₱53.3

$0.69 ₱41.93

27.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.64

$0.37 ₱22.55

-29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱90.3

$1.44 ₱87.5

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₱164

$1.90 ₱115

42.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₱114

$1.89 ₱115

-1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ₱85.6

$1.23 ₱74.8

14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱61.4

$1.08 ₱65.3

-6.48%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱121

$2.26 ₱137

-11.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.22 ₱499

$9.14 ₱555

-10.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.17 ₱253

$3.91 ₱237

6.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 ₱637

$8.75 ₱531

19.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ₱180

$2.64 ₱160

12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.80 ₱109

21.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.51 ₱213

$2.31 ₱140

51.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₱83.9

$1.16 ₱70.2

18.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ₱84.1

$1.84 ₱112

-24.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 ₱161

$2.29 ₱139

15.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱67.8

$0.67 ₱40.39

67.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱31.37

$0.76 ₱46.15

-31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ₱154

$3.34 ₱203

-23.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.67 ₱527

$8.91 ₱541

-2.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱69.4

$1.04 ₱63.1

9.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₱153

$2.32 ₱141

8.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.19

$0.28 ₱17.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.20 ₱255

$10.58 ₱642

-60.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱49.78

$0.85 ₱51.7

-3.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.66

$0.22 ₱13.32

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱133

$2.36 ₱143

-7.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.6

$1.10 ₱67.1

5.45%

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

$28.1K ₱1.7M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-11.87%

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

$28.4K ₱1.7M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

38.81%

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

$53.0 ₱3,216

$146 ₱8,846

-63.64%

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

$23.36 ₱1,419

$35.30 ₱2,143

-33.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.45 ₱1,606

$26.09 ₱1,584

1.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.15 ₱2,074

$21.90 ₱1,330

55.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.55 ₱276

$4.05 ₱246

12.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ₱380

$5.82 ₱353

7.56%

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

$74.4 ₱4,515

$154 ₱9,378

-51.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,398 ₱267.1K

$4,658 ₱282.9K

-5.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.18 ₱2,804

$48.66 ₱2,955

-5.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.61 ₱2,041

$28.00 ₱1,700

20.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.7 ₱4,174

$76.2 ₱4,624

-9.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₱7,049

$46.62 ₱2,831

149.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$95.6 ₱5,806

$340 ₱20.7K

-71.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.4 ₱3,543

$142 ₱8,635

-58.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 ₱18.9K

$552 ₱33.5K

-43.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.6K

$264 ₱16.1K

-33.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ₱145.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱56.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$395 ₱24.0K

$184 ₱11.2K

114.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

4.5

37.11%

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

Last update for Bataan: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $95.6 in Bataan and $340 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bataan pays 114% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bataan vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $206 per month, with Baguio cheaper across the board.

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

Bataan vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bataan wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bataan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Bataan pays 114% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $95.6 in Bataan versus $340 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $599 per month in Bataan versus $788 in Baguio – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bataan runs roughly 152% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bataan 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, Bataan and Baguio 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 Bataan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.