Cost of Living Comparison Between Batangas and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Batangas and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $627 in Batangas versus $766 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $917 in Batangas versus $1,168 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,206 in Batangas versus $1,570 in Baguio.

Living in Batangas costs roughly 18% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Batangas 54% lower, Baguio 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.21 ₱138

$4.03 ₱253

-45.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.95 ₱1,189

$16.53 ₱1,037

14.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.66 ₱167

$2.77 ₱174

-3.97%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ₱127

$1.84 ₱116

10.33%

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

$0.41 ₱25.81

$0.60 ₱37.76

-31.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₱18.26

$0.33 ₱20.84

-12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₱66.7

$1.03 ₱64.3

2.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ₱92.7

$1.57 ₱98.3

-5.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ₱109

$1.66 ₱104

4.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ₱71.1

$1.15 ₱72.2

-1.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 ₱49.34

$1.01 ₱63.3

-21.78%

Eggs

$1.64 ₱103

$2.02 ₱127

-18.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.71 ₱358

$4.99 ₱313

14.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₱269

$3.47 ₱218

23.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 ₱456

$7.80 ₱489

-6.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 ₱153

$2.31 ₱145

5.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 ₱86.9

$1.53 ₱95.8

-9.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.30 ₱145

0.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱72.9

$1.04 ₱65.1

11.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.65 ₱104

38.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.41 ₱214

$1.77 ₱111

92.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₱81.4

$0.67 ₱41.75

94.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.5

$0.52 ₱32.90

84.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.49 ₱156

$2.98 ₱187

-16.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 ₱487

$8.49 ₱533

-8.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$0.96 ₱60.2

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₱116

$2.04 ₱128

-9.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 ₱43.63

$0.23 ₱14.36

204.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.59

$0.81 ₱50.9

-6.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.14

$0.23 ₱14.37

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 ₱155

$1.88 ₱118

31.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ₱67.1

$1.20 ₱75.0

-10.83%

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

$20.9K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-2.73%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

0.23%

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

$164 ₱10.3K

$138 ₱8,659

18.85%

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

$14.22 ₱892

$17.68 ₱1,109

-19.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.02 ₱1,569

$23.45 ₱1,471

6.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.28 ₱1,209

$21.64 ₱1,357

-10.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.90 ₱809

$5.27 ₱331

144.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.68 ₱356

$5.13 ₱322

10.72%

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

$73.8 ₱4,628

$131 ₱8,230

-43.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,284 ₱80.6K

$10.8K ₱674.6K

-88.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.20 ₱1,016

$29.37 ₱1,842

-44.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.37 ₱1,403

$19.10 ₱1,198

17.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.3 ₱3,469

$72.9 ₱4,569

-24.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.75 ₱2,493

$56.0 ₱3,510

-28.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱25.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.3 ₱4,410

$200 ₱12.5K

-64.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 ₱9,931

$853 ₱53.5K

-81.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.2 ₱5,971

$463 ₱29.0K

-79.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,592 ₱162.5K

$2,603 ₱163.3K

-0.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,605 ₱100.6K

$928 ₱58.2K

72.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 ₱10.3K

$179 ₱11.3K

-8.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

3.70%

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

Last update for Batangas: September 13, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Baguio pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Batangas vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $174 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

Batangas vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batangas wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Batangas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Baguio. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $627 per month in Batangas versus $766 in Baguio – 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 Batangas 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, Batangas 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 Batangas 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.