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: $836 in Dagupan versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,222 in Dagupan versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,609 in Dagupan versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Dagupan is roughly 7% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dagupan 38% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.23 ₱199

$3.59 ₱222

-10.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.54 ₱835

$13.50 ₱833

0.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 ₱297

$2.60 ₱160

85.00%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ₱170

$2.34 ₱145

17.95%

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

$0.51 ₱31.26

$0.70 ₱43.29

-27.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₱17.28

$0.40 ₱24.72

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 ₱82.9

$1.46 ₱89.9

-8.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ₱184

$2.00 ₱123

49.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.89 ₱116

11.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$1.25 ₱77.3

15.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ₱55.2

$1.11 ₱68.6

-19.82%

Eggs

$2.19 ₱135

$2.20 ₱135

-0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.49 ₱401

$9.08 ₱560

-28.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 ₱272

$3.70 ₱228

18.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱482

$8.42 ₱519

-7.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 ₱271

$2.63 ₱162

67.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱122

$1.87 ₱115

5.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$2.26 ₱140

19.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 ₱77.5

$1.18 ₱72.6

6.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 ₱194

$1.82 ₱112

73.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 ₱183

$2.29 ₱141

29.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱67.7

$0.72 ₱44.67

52.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱36.52

$0.77 ₱47.61

-23.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 ₱169

$3.35 ₱206

-18.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.69 ₱351

$9.17 ₱566

-37.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₱61.7

$1.08 ₱66.4

-7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₱131

$2.26 ₱140

-6.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱14.82

$0.26 ₱15.90

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱42.32

$0.87 ₱53.7

-20.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ₱23.45

$0.22 ₱13.54

72.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 ₱214

$2.45 ₱151

41.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.11 ₱68.3

0.90%

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

$33.5K ₱2.1M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

4.00%

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

$22.3K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

8.60%

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

$113 ₱6,987

$146 ₱8,987

-22.26%

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

$26.87 ₱1,658

$34.10 ₱2,103

-21.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.55 ₱1,822

$25.99 ₱1,603

13.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.99 ₱2,282

$21.76 ₱1,342

69.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱359

$5.93 ₱366

-1.85%

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

$328 ₱20.2K

$153 ₱9,455

113.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,806 ₱481.5K

$4,642 ₱286.3K

68.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ₱3,657

$49.11 ₱3,029

20.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.77 ₱541

$27.25 ₱1,681

-67.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ₱5,249

$76.3 ₱4,706

11.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,507

$45.91 ₱2,832

165.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 ₱13.5K

$346 ₱21.3K

-36.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₱10.7K

$142 ₱8,777

21.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₱32.6K

$544 ₱33.6K

-2.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 ₱18.2K

$264 ₱16.3K

12.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$500 ₱30.8K

$949 ₱58.5K

-47.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$242 ₱14.9K

$186 ₱11.5K

30.40%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Dagupan and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dagupan pays 30% 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: $14.00 in Dagupan vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $205 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

Dagupan vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Dagupan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Dagupan pays 30% 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: $218 in Dagupan versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Dagupan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $836 per month in Dagupan versus $779 in Baguio – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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, 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Dagupan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.