Cost of Living Comparison Between Cabanatuan and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Cabanatuan and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $522 in Cabanatuan versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,035 in Cabanatuan versus $1,147 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,548 in Cabanatuan versus $1,514 in Baguio.

Living in Cabanatuan costs roughly 33% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cabanatuan 61% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ₱277

$3.63 ₱223

24.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.99 ₱2,210

$13.43 ₱825

167.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 ₱213

$2.69 ₱165

29.00%

Cappuccino

$2.84 ₱174

$2.36 ₱145

20.34%

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

$0.85 ₱52.2

$0.66 ₱40.50

28.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.42

$0.38 ₱23.03

18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱90.6

$1.39 ₱85.1

6.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 ₱162

$1.94 ₱119

36.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₱126

$1.82 ₱112

13.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ₱95.5

$1.21 ₱74.1

28.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$1.07 ₱66.0

-7.48%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱122

$2.28 ₱140

-12.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.54 ₱217

$9.14 ₱561

-61.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ₱195

$3.87 ₱238

-18.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.74 ₱414

$8.46 ₱519

-20.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 ₱257

$2.75 ₱169

52.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ₱77.5

$1.84 ₱113

-31.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₱121

$2.37 ₱145

-17.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 ₱50.6

$1.16 ₱71.1

-29.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 ₱90.9

$1.82 ₱112

-18.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.7

$2.27 ₱139

-35.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₱63.8

$0.68 ₱42.04

52.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₱50.5

$0.72 ₱44.51

13.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 ₱171

$3.36 ₱206

-16.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.64 ₱346

$9.18 ₱563

-38.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.09

$1.08 ₱66.3

-36.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱106

$2.27 ₱139

-23.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.28

$0.28 ₱17.40

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱641

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 ₱42.91

$0.86 ₱52.8

-18.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.78

$0.22 ₱13.42

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.3

$2.44 ₱150

-61.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.3

$1.12 ₱68.6

3.57%

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

$28.1K ₱1.7M

$32.2K ₱2.0M

-12.73%

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

$18.1K ₱1.1M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-12.14%

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

$58.1 ₱3,570

$149 ₱9,136

-60.92%

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

$20.86 ₱1,281

$34.55 ₱2,121

-39.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.85 ₱1,526

$26.35 ₱1,618

-5.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.25 ₱752

$21.84 ₱1,341

-43.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.35 ₱267

$4.07 ₱250

6.88%

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 ₱420

$5.87 ₱360

16.35%

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

$152 ₱9,308

$149 ₱9,137

1.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,350 ₱267.1K

$4,683 ₱287.5K

-7.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.14 ₱1,605

$47.86 ₱2,939

-45.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.55 ₱2,122

$27.14 ₱1,666

27.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.0 ₱3,747

$75.3 ₱4,622

-18.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.20 ₱2,898

$46.11 ₱2,831

2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.5K

$336 ₱20.6K

-20.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$44.11 ₱2,708

$142 ₱8,704

-68.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 ₱36.8K

$556 ₱34.1K

7.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 ₱24.6K

$262 ₱16.1K

52.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,193 ₱134.7K

$2,408 ₱147.8K

-8.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$967 ₱59.4K

$919 ₱56.4K

5.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$206 ₱12.6K

$188 ₱11.5K

9.54%

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 Cabanatuan: July 28, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $268 in Cabanatuan and $336 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cabanatuan pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Cabanatuan vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $175 vs $206, with Cabanatuan 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

Cabanatuan vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cabanatuan wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cabanatuan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 10% higher in Cabanatuan, 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: $268 in Cabanatuan versus $336 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $522 per month in Cabanatuan versus $779 in Baguio – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cabanatuan 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, Cabanatuan 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 Cabanatuan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.