Cost of Living Comparison Between Calapan City and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Calapan City and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Calapan City versus $766 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Calapan City versus $1,168 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,469 in Calapan City versus $1,570 in Baguio.

Living in Calapan City costs roughly 4% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calapan City 46% lower, Baguio 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 ₱230

$4.03 ₱253

-9.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.41 ₱1,031

$16.53 ₱1,039

-0.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.75 ₱173

$2.77 ₱174

-0.72%

Cappuccino

$2.17 ₱137

$1.84 ₱116

17.93%

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

$0.58 ₱36.24

$0.60 ₱37.82

-3.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.79

$0.33 ₱20.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 ₱68.5

$1.03 ₱64.4

5.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.57 ₱98.5

16.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ₱105

$1.66 ₱105

1.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.1

$1.15 ₱72.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.9

$1.01 ₱63.4

-3.96%

Eggs

$1.95 ₱123

$2.02 ₱127

-3.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.63 ₱354

$4.99 ₱313

12.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.21 ₱264

$3.47 ₱218

21.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱452

$7.80 ₱490

-7.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$2.31 ₱145

-1.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₱101

$1.53 ₱96.0

5.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 ₱153

$2.30 ₱145

5.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱73.7

$1.04 ₱65.3

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 ₱134

$1.65 ₱104

29.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 ₱125

$1.77 ₱111

12.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.67 ₱41.82

23.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.24

$0.52 ₱32.95

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.75 ₱172

$2.98 ₱187

-7.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.70 ₱484

$8.49 ₱534

-9.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₱57.3

$0.96 ₱60.3

-5.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱124

$2.04 ₱128

-2.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.66

$0.23 ₱14.39

8.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.93 ₱686

$12.81 ₱805

-14.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.2

$0.81 ₱51.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.23 ₱14.39

4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 ₱108

$1.88 ₱118

-8.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ₱65.7

$1.20 ₱75.2

-12.50%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

1.19%

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

$16.6K ₱1.0M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

-13.11%

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

$121 ₱7,591

$138 ₱8,673

-12.49%

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

$13.91 ₱874

$17.68 ₱1,111

-21.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 ₱1,522

$23.45 ₱1,473

3.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.31 ₱1,967

$21.64 ₱1,359

44.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.21 ₱327

$5.27 ₱331

-1.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 ₱318

$5.13 ₱322

-1.36%

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

$147 ₱9,210

$131 ₱8,244

11.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,840 ₱555.4K

$10.8K ₱675.8K

-17.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.85 ₱1,813

$29.37 ₱1,845

-1.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.95 ₱1,127

$19.10 ₱1,200

-6.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 ₱4,999

$72.9 ₱4,577

9.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.22 ₱3,092

$56.0 ₱3,516

-12.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$305 ₱19.2K

$399 ₱25.1K

-23.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 ₱11.9K

$200 ₱12.6K

-5.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ₱26.9K

$853 ₱53.6K

-49.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 ₱22.7K

$463 ₱29.1K

-21.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,611 ₱164.1K

$2,603 ₱163.5K

0.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,046 ₱65.7K

$928 ₱58.3K

12.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$118 ₱7,386

$179 ₱11.3K

-34.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Calapan City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $305 in Calapan City and $399 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 53% 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: $16.00 in Calapan City vs $17.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $180 vs $174, with Baguio 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

Calapan City vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calapan City wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calapan City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 53% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $305 in Calapan City versus $399 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $732 per month in Calapan City versus $766 in Baguio – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Calapan City runs roughly 17% 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 Calapan City 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, Calapan City 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 Calapan City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.