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: $793 in Calapan City versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,233 in Calapan City versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,672 in Calapan City versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Calapan City is roughly 4% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calapan City 41% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 ₱225

$3.51 ₱216

3.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.92 ₱1,103

$13.35 ₱822

34.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.33 ₱205

$2.67 ₱165

24.72%

Cappuccino

$2.44 ₱150

$2.35 ₱145

3.83%

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

$0.76 ₱46.90

$0.69 ₱42.28

10.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.66

$0.37 ₱23.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱80.3

$1.44 ₱88.4

-9.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.93 ₱119

13.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ₱114

$1.92 ₱118

-3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ₱78.5

$1.19 ₱73.3

6.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.1

$1.06 ₱65.3

-3.77%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱122

$2.17 ₱134

-8.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.11 ₱499

$9.41 ₱579

-13.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 ₱259

$3.72 ₱229

12.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.63 ₱470

$8.61 ₱530

-11.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ₱174

$2.72 ₱168

4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₱94.6

$1.79 ₱110

-13.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$2.35 ₱145

15.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ₱96.1

$1.17 ₱72.1

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.81 ₱112

28.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 ₱154

$2.20 ₱135

14.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$0.68 ₱41.60

64.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱43.54

$0.78 ₱47.77

-8.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 ₱170

$3.33 ₱205

-17.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.21 ₱506

$8.71 ₱536

-5.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱70.6

$1.06 ₱65.4

8.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₱127

$2.34 ₱144

-11.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.31

$0.28 ₱17.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.11 ₱869

$10.81 ₱665

30.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.22

$0.92 ₱56.7

-16.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.46

$0.22 ₱13.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.35 ₱145

-11.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.6

$1.11 ₱68.1

1.80%

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

$26.4K ₱1.6M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-16.45%

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

$20.2K ₱1.2M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-1.28%

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

$112 ₱6,884

$144 ₱8,878

-22.46%

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

$32.42 ₱1,996

$34.02 ₱2,094

-4.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.99 ₱1,661

$25.86 ₱1,592

4.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.28 ₱2,049

$22.30 ₱1,373

49.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.39 ₱270

$4.23 ₱261

3.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.05 ₱372

$5.79 ₱356

4.49%

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

$151 ₱9,278

$151 ₱9,287

-0.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,286 ₱263.9K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-7.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.48 ₱2,862

$48.90 ₱3,011

-4.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.67 ₱1,642

$27.56 ₱1,697

-3.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 ₱4,645

$74.1 ₱4,560

1.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.0 ₱3,266

$45.63 ₱2,809

16.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.6K

$349 ₱21.5K

-22.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱11.1K

$145 ₱8,937

23.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 ₱35.7K

$543 ₱33.4K

6.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₱24.5K

$265 ₱16.3K

50.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,361 ₱145.4K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

-1.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 ₱60.2K

$925 ₱57.0K

5.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$119 ₱7,324

$183 ₱11.3K

-35.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Calapan City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Calapan City and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baguio pays 54% 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 Calapan City vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $206, with Calapan City 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

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Calapan City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 54% 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: $269 in Calapan City versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $793 per month in Calapan City versus $764 in Baguio – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 31% less than in Calapan City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Baguio 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Calapan City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.