Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumaguete and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumaguete and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Dumaguete versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,330 in Dumaguete versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,800 in Dumaguete versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Dumaguete is roughly 9% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dumaguete 36% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 ₱198

$3.57 ₱220

-10.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.15 ₱873

$13.38 ₱825

5.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.39 ₱270

$2.64 ₱162

66.29%

Cappuccino

$2.32 ₱143

$2.36 ₱145

-1.69%

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

$0.77 ₱47.19

$0.65 ₱40.14

18.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₱22.29

$0.38 ₱23.18

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$1.39 ₱85.5

-23.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.89 ₱117

13.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ₱107

$1.88 ₱116

-7.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$1.19 ₱73.4

21.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.6

$1.12 ₱68.8

-8.04%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱124

$2.22 ₱137

-9.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱583

$9.21 ₱568

2.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 ₱315

$3.74 ₱231

36.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 ₱493

$8.33 ₱514

-4.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 ₱108

$2.74 ₱169

-35.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.4

$1.80 ₱111

-23.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 ₱250

$2.39 ₱147

69.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.4

$1.20 ₱74.3

15.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 ₱148

$1.81 ₱112

32.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱162

$2.29 ₱141

14.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ₱52.8

$0.73 ₱45.12

17.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₱37.54

$0.72 ₱44.25

-15.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 ₱159

$3.26 ₱201

-20.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱493

$9.08 ₱560

-12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₱75.4

$1.06 ₱65.5

15.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₱121

$2.31 ₱143

-15.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 ₱30.84

$0.26 ₱15.91

92.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.90 ₱549

$10.85 ₱669

-17.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.88

$0.92 ₱57.0

-15.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.83

$0.24 ₱14.88

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱56.1

$2.40 ₱148

-62.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.6

$1.12 ₱69.0

2.68%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-28.67%

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

$38.5K ₱2.4M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

89.40%

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

$74.3 ₱4,580

$147 ₱9,087

-49.60%

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

$44.54 ₱2,747

$35.37 ₱2,181

25.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.05 ₱1,791

$26.43 ₱1,630

9.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.73 ₱1,463

$22.38 ₱1,380

6.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.50 ₱216

$4.18 ₱257

-16.27%

Cinema Ticket

$6.15 ₱379

$5.60 ₱346

9.82%

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

$70.7 ₱4,361

$154 ₱9,495

-54.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,887 ₱116.4K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-59.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 ₱6,646

$47.79 ₱2,947

125.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.97 ₱2,218

$27.10 ₱1,671

32.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 ₱6,799

$76.1 ₱4,690

44.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.5 ₱5,209

$45.80 ₱2,824

84.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 ₱14.9K

$345 ₱21.3K

-29.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 ₱13.1K

$145 ₱8,959

46.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 ₱27.1K

$549 ₱33.8K

-19.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₱25.7K

$261 ₱16.1K

59.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,117 ₱192.2K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

28.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$689 ₱42.5K

$933 ₱57.5K

-26.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 ₱17.5K

$181 ₱11.2K

56.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

4.5

44.44%

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

Last update for Dumaguete: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Dumaguete and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dumaguete pays 56% 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 Dumaguete 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

Dumaguete vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Dumaguete. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Dumaguete pays 56% 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: $242 in Dumaguete versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Dumaguete versus $788 in Baguio – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 22% less than in Dumaguete. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $788 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Dumaguete 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 9% less than in Dumaguete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.