Cost of Living Comparison Between Dipolog and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Dipolog and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $664 in Dipolog versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,089 in Dipolog versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,513 in Dipolog versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Dipolog costs roughly 16% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dipolog 50% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.28 ₱78.8

$3.57 ₱221

-64.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.86 ₱1,288

$13.38 ₱826

55.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.64 ₱163

35.61%

Cappuccino

$1.97 ₱122

$2.36 ₱145

-16.53%

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

$0.54 ₱33.21

$0.65 ₱40.18

-16.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₱18.20

$0.38 ₱23.20

-23.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 ₱59.0

$1.39 ₱85.5

-30.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱107

$1.89 ₱117

-8.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ₱114

$1.88 ₱116

-1.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$1.19 ₱73.5

1.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱57.7

$1.12 ₱68.9

-16.07%

Eggs

$2.29 ₱141

$2.22 ₱137

3.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 ₱366

$9.21 ₱569

-35.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 ₱258

$3.74 ₱231

11.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 ₱418

$8.33 ₱514

-18.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.74 ₱169

30.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ₱73.1

$1.80 ₱111

-34.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 ₱201

$2.39 ₱147

35.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ₱96.5

$1.20 ₱74.4

30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱165

$1.81 ₱112

47.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱188

$2.29 ₱142

33.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₱104

$0.73 ₱45.16

131.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₱55.8

$0.72 ₱44.29

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.21 ₱198

$3.26 ₱201

-1.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.16 ₱257

$9.08 ₱561

-54.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱81.7

$1.06 ₱65.5

24.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱86.5

$2.31 ₱143

-39.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.98

$0.26 ₱15.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱670

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱42.46

$0.92 ₱57.0

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.45

$0.24 ₱14.89

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 ₱159

$2.40 ₱148

7.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ₱64.1

$1.12 ₱69.1

-7.14%

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

$24.2K ₱1.5M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-23.86%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

-4.70%

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

$64.9 ₱4,006

$147 ₱9,096

-55.95%

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

$30.64 ₱1,891

$35.37 ₱2,183

-13.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.60 ₱1,827

$26.43 ₱1,631

11.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.60 ₱2,074

$22.38 ₱1,382

50.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.31 ₱266

$4.18 ₱258

3.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.53 ₱280

$5.60 ₱346

-19.11%

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

$35.96 ₱2,220

$154 ₱9,504

-76.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,368 ₱269.6K

$4,706 ₱290.5K

-7.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.93 ₱2,835

$47.79 ₱2,950

-3.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.93 ₱1,416

$27.10 ₱1,672

-15.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.9 ₱3,760

$76.1 ₱4,694

-19.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.77 ₱1,652

$45.80 ₱2,827

-41.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$345 ₱21.3K

-23.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₱10.7K

$145 ₱8,967

19.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₱36.5K

$549 ₱33.9K

7.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱24.6K

$261 ₱16.1K

52.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,123 ₱131.1K

$2,417 ₱149.2K

-12.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$977 ₱60.3K

$933 ₱57.6K

4.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 ₱14.9K

$181 ₱11.2K

33.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

77.78%

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

Last update for Dipolog: May 30, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Dipolog and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dipolog pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Dipolog vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $205, with Dipolog 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

Dipolog vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dipolog wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dipolog the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Dipolog pays 33% 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: $263 in Dipolog versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $664 per month in Dipolog versus $788 in Baguio – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Dipolog 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, Dipolog 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 Dipolog gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.