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: $748 in Dagupan versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Dagupan versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,455 in Dagupan versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in Dagupan costs roughly 2% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dagupan 46% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.95 ₱185

$3.95 ₱248

-25.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.80 ₱740

$16.48 ₱1,033

-28.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.39 ₱275

$2.88 ₱180

52.43%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$1.77 ₱111

41.81%

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

$0.47 ₱29.40

$0.61 ₱37.95

-22.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₱14.34

$0.32 ₱19.93

-28.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₱76.0

$0.98 ₱61.2

23.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱166

$1.56 ₱98.1

69.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ₱110

$1.69 ₱106

4.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱76.6

$1.16 ₱72.6

5.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 ₱55.3

$1.02 ₱63.9

-13.73%

Eggs

$1.92 ₱120

$2.07 ₱130

-7.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.91 ₱370

$5.15 ₱323

14.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 ₱299

$3.40 ₱213

40.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.09 ₱445

$8.09 ₱507

-12.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 ₱250

$2.31 ₱145

72.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.57 ₱98.1

24.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.41 ₱151

12.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ₱71.9

$1.07 ₱66.9

7.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 ₱184

$1.76 ₱110

66.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$1.77 ₱111

95.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 ₱66.2

$0.62 ₱38.90

70.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱35.98

$0.53 ₱33.24

7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 ₱149

$2.87 ₱180

-17.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.70 ₱357

$9.02 ₱565

-36.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₱55.9

$0.96 ₱60.1

-7.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱118

$2.10 ₱131

-10.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.80

$0.25 ₱15.71

-12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱814

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 ₱39.05

$0.84 ₱52.4

-26.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.13

$0.25 ₱15.69

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.97 ₱123

-5.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$1.15 ₱72.2

-10.43%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

1.86%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

0.44%

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

$102 ₱6,389

$139 ₱8,708

-26.64%

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

$16.17 ₱1,014

$17.39 ₱1,090

-7.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.43 ₱1,657

$23.64 ₱1,482

11.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.09 ₱2,074

$21.34 ₱1,338

55.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱326

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 ₱318

$5.10 ₱320

-0.59%

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

$785 ₱49.2K

$134 ₱8,395

486.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,457 ₱467.5K

$10.6K ₱662.1K

-29.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.8 ₱3,812

$28.47 ₱1,785

113.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.76 ₱486

$19.81 ₱1,242

-60.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 ₱5,050

$70.8 ₱4,438

13.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ₱6,395

$56.6 ₱3,547

80.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 ₱12.1K

$411 ₱25.7K

-52.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$161 ₱10.1K

$198 ₱12.4K

-18.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$362 ₱22.7K

$849 ₱53.2K

-57.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.5K

$465 ₱29.1K

-43.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₱166.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$481 ₱30.1K

$900 ₱56.4K

-46.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$242 ₱15.2K

$179 ₱11.3K

34.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Dagupan: September 6, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $193 in Dagupan and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dagupan pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Dagupan vs $16.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $178, 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 2% 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.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Dagupan, 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: $193 in Dagupan versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $748 per month in Dagupan versus $763 in Baguio – a 2% 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 2% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.