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: $804 in Dagupan versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Dagupan versus $1,147 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,552 in Dagupan versus $1,514 in Baguio.

Living in Dagupan is roughly 3% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dagupan 40% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 ₱194

$3.63 ₱223

-12.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.47 ₱827

$13.43 ₱825

0.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 ₱295

$2.69 ₱165

78.81%

Cappuccino

$2.84 ₱174

$2.36 ₱145

20.34%

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

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.66 ₱40.50

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.78

$0.38 ₱23.03

-31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₱79.5

$1.39 ₱85.1

-7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ₱183

$1.94 ₱119

53.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₱129

$1.82 ₱112

15.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.0

$1.21 ₱74.1

23.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₱51.5

$1.07 ₱66.0

-21.50%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱134

$2.28 ₱140

-4.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.31 ₱388

$9.14 ₱561

-30.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.41 ₱271

$3.87 ₱238

13.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 ₱487

$8.46 ₱519

-6.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 ₱274

$2.75 ₱169

62.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 ₱119

$1.84 ₱113

5.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱158

$2.37 ₱145

8.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 ₱78.2

$1.16 ₱71.1

9.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 ₱201

$1.82 ₱112

80.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₱181

$2.27 ₱139

29.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.3

$0.68 ₱42.04

58.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱36.37

$0.72 ₱44.51

-18.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 ₱163

$3.36 ₱206

-21.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.80 ₱356

$9.18 ₱563

-36.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.7

$1.08 ₱66.3

-12.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₱134

$2.27 ₱139

-3.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱14.82

$0.28 ₱17.40

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱641

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₱41.48

$0.86 ₱52.8

-20.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.74

$0.22 ₱13.42

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₱222

$2.44 ₱150

47.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.7

$1.12 ₱68.6

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

$33.2K ₱2.0M

$32.2K ₱2.0M

3.10%

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

$22.1K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

7.53%

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

$113 ₱6,944

$149 ₱9,136

-23.99%

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

$27.00 ₱1,658

$34.55 ₱2,121

-21.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.72 ₱1,763

$26.35 ₱1,618

8.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.61 ₱2,309

$21.84 ₱1,341

72.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.39 ₱270

$4.07 ₱250

7.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.81 ₱357

$5.87 ₱360

-1.02%

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

$114 ₱6,997

$149 ₱9,137

-23.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,256 ₱261.3K

$4,683 ₱287.5K

-9.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 ₱3,719

$47.86 ₱2,939

26.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.06 ₱556

$27.14 ₱1,666

-66.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 ₱5,172

$75.3 ₱4,622

11.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.7 ₱3,112

$46.11 ₱2,831

9.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$227 ₱13.9K

$336 ₱20.6K

-32.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.8K

$142 ₱8,704

23.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$535 ₱32.8K

$556 ₱34.1K

-3.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 ₱17.9K

$262 ₱16.1K

11.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$483 ₱29.7K

$919 ₱56.4K

-47.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$243 ₱14.9K

$188 ₱11.5K

29.48%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $227 in Dagupan and $336 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dagupan pays 29% 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: $13.00 in Dagupan vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 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

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 3% 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.

Average pay runs 29% 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: $227 in Dagupan versus $336 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 $804 per month in Dagupan versus $779 in Baguio – a 3% 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 3% less than in Dagupan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.