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: $602 in Bataan versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $998 in Bataan versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,393 in Bataan versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Bataan costs roughly 23% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bataan 55% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.45 ₱88.9

$3.59 ₱220

-59.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.40 ₱1,065

$13.50 ₱826

28.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.11 ₱190

$2.60 ₱159

19.62%

Cappuccino

$1.55 ₱94.8

$2.34 ₱143

-33.76%

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

$0.83 ₱50.8

$0.70 ₱42.94

18.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.73

$0.40 ₱24.52

-35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱90.4

$1.46 ₱89.2

1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱160

$2.00 ₱122

30.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ₱113

$1.89 ₱115

-2.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ₱86.0

$1.25 ₱76.6

12.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$1.11 ₱68.1

-16.22%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱122

$2.20 ₱134

-9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 ₱494

$9.08 ₱555

-11.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.14 ₱253

$3.70 ₱226

11.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.46 ₱640

$8.42 ₱515

24.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 ₱176

$2.63 ₱161

9.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.87 ₱114

16.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.26 ₱138

60.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ₱85.9

$1.18 ₱72.0

18.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₱84.4

$1.82 ₱111

-24.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱160

$2.29 ₱140

14.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱65.5

$0.72 ₱44.31

48.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.06

$0.77 ₱47.22

-29.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ₱149

$3.35 ₱205

-27.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.07 ₱555

$9.17 ₱561

-1.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₱66.4

$1.08 ₱65.8

0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₱153

$2.26 ₱138

10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.82

$0.26 ₱15.77

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.12 ₱252

$10.56 ₱646

-60.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.76

$0.87 ₱53.3

-10.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.70

$0.22 ₱13.43

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 ₱127

$2.45 ₱150

-15.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.7

$1.11 ₱67.8

3.60%

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

$28.1K ₱1.7M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-12.86%

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

$28.9K ₱1.8M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

40.87%

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

$53.6 ₱3,277

$146 ₱8,914

-63.24%

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

$23.22 ₱1,421

$34.10 ₱2,086

-31.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.98 ₱1,589

$25.99 ₱1,590

-0.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.19 ₱2,091

$21.76 ₱1,331

57.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.39 ₱269

$4.16 ₱254

5.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.29 ₱385

$5.93 ₱363

6.07%

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

$75.0 ₱4,589

$153 ₱9,378

-51.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,365 ₱267.0K

$4,642 ₱284.0K

-5.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.82 ₱2,803

$49.11 ₱3,005

-6.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.61 ₱2,056

$27.25 ₱1,667

23.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 ₱4,198

$76.3 ₱4,667

-10.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₱6,936

$45.91 ₱2,809

146.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$95.7 ₱5,856

$346 ₱21.2K

-72.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.7 ₱3,531

$142 ₱8,706

-59.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$305 ₱18.7K

$544 ₱33.3K

-43.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ₱10.5K

$264 ₱16.1K

-34.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱148.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$414 ₱25.3K

$186 ₱11.4K

122.64%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $95.7 in Bataan and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bataan pays 123% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Bataan vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $205 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 29% 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 123% 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: $95.7 in Bataan versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $602 per month in Bataan versus $779 in Baguio – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bataan runs roughly 156% 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 29% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.