Cost of Living Comparison Between Dagupan and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Dagupan and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $784 in Dagupan versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,173 in Dagupan versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,563 in Dagupan versus $1,490 in Baguio.

Living in Dagupan costs roughly 1% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dagupan 42% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 ₱188

$3.57 ₱217

-13.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.05 ₱792

$13.22 ₱802

-1.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 ₱292

$2.65 ₱161

81.89%

Cappuccino

$2.85 ₱173

$2.36 ₱143

20.76%

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

$0.55 ₱33.53

$0.69 ₱41.93

-20.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₱17.08

$0.37 ₱22.55

-24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 ₱80.1

$1.44 ₱87.5

-8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₱182

$1.90 ₱115

57.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₱128

$1.89 ₱115

11.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱91.3

$1.23 ₱74.8

21.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₱49.73

$1.08 ₱65.3

-24.07%

Eggs

$2.09 ₱127

$2.26 ₱137

-7.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.43 ₱390

$9.14 ₱555

-29.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 ₱279

$3.91 ₱237

17.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 ₱475

$8.75 ₱531

-10.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 ₱264

$2.64 ₱160

64.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱120

$1.80 ₱109

10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.31 ₱140

13.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 ₱80.0

$1.16 ₱70.2

13.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 ₱199

$1.84 ₱112

78.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 ₱176

$2.29 ₱139

27.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱69.3

$0.67 ₱40.39

70.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₱36.99

$0.76 ₱46.15

-19.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 ₱160

$3.34 ₱203

-20.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 ₱354

$8.91 ₱541

-34.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.8

$1.04 ₱63.1

-1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₱126

$2.32 ₱141

-10.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱14.60

$0.28 ₱17.11

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱41.81

$0.85 ₱51.7

-18.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.30

$0.22 ₱13.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱220

$2.36 ₱143

53.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.0

$1.10 ₱67.1

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

$33.2K ₱2.0M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

4.15%

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

$22.0K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

7.30%

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

$114 ₱6,934

$146 ₱8,846

-21.61%

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

$26.78 ₱1,626

$35.30 ₱2,143

-24.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.18 ₱1,772

$26.09 ₱1,584

11.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.67 ₱2,227

$21.90 ₱1,330

67.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.34 ₱263

$4.05 ₱246

7.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 ₱337

$5.82 ₱353

-4.64%

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

$111 ₱6,742

$154 ₱9,378

-28.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,347 ₱263.9K

$4,658 ₱282.9K

-6.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 ₱3,666

$48.66 ₱2,955

24.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.65 ₱525

$28.00 ₱1,700

-69.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 ₱5,101

$76.2 ₱4,624

10.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.3 ₱3,051

$46.62 ₱2,831

7.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 ₱13.3K

$340 ₱20.7K

-35.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₱10.5K

$142 ₱8,635

21.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 ₱31.7K

$552 ₱33.5K

-5.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 ₱18.2K

$264 ₱16.1K

13.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,678 ₱162.6K

$2,390 ₱145.1K

12.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$997 ₱60.6K

$933 ₱56.7K

6.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 ₱15.0K

$184 ₱11.2K

33.88%

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 Dagupan: June 6, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $219 in Dagupan and $340 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dagupan pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Dagupan vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $206, 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

Dagupan vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dagupan wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dagupan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Dagupan pays 34% 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: $219 in Dagupan versus $340 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $784 per month in Dagupan versus $788 in Baguio – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Dagupan 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, Dagupan 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 Dagupan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.