Cost of Living Comparison Between Lapu-Lapu and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Lapu-Lapu and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $871 in Lapu-Lapu versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,325 in Lapu-Lapu versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,779 in Lapu-Lapu versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Lapu-Lapu is roughly 10% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lapu-Lapu 35% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ₱271

$3.57 ₱220

22.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.85 ₱1,100

$13.38 ₱825

33.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.40 ₱271

$2.64 ₱162

66.67%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱160

$2.36 ₱145

10.17%

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

$0.80 ₱49.56

$0.65 ₱40.14

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.90

$0.38 ₱23.18

18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₱93.3

$1.39 ₱85.5

8.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.89 ₱117

11.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₱102

$1.88 ₱116

-12.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$1.19 ₱73.4

21.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.0

$1.12 ₱68.8

-4.46%

Eggs

$2.30 ₱142

$2.22 ₱137

3.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 ₱749

$9.21 ₱568

31.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 ₱326

$3.74 ₱231

41.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 ₱469

$8.33 ₱514

-8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ₱200

$2.74 ₱169

18.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.2

$1.80 ₱111

-23.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 ₱150

$2.39 ₱147

1.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.20 ₱74.3

82.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.81 ₱112

24.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 ₱114

$2.29 ₱141

-19.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₱56.4

$0.73 ₱45.12

24.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.5

$0.72 ₱44.25

15.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 ₱110

$3.26 ₱201

-45.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.42 ₱211

$9.08 ₱560

-62.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₱63.6

$1.06 ₱65.5

-2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$2.31 ₱143

-1.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.27

$0.26 ₱15.91

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.85 ₱669

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.1

$0.92 ₱57.0

-9.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.17

$0.24 ₱14.88

-4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.40 ₱148

7.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱68.1

$1.12 ₱69.0

-1.79%

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

$24.6K ₱1.5M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-22.57%

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

$32.6K ₱2.0M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

60.05%

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

$98.3 ₱6,059

$147 ₱9,087

-33.32%

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

$26.52 ₱1,636

$35.37 ₱2,181

-25.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 ₱1,829

$26.43 ₱1,630

12.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.48 ₱2,681

$22.38 ₱1,380

94.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.81 ₱112

$4.18 ₱257

-56.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 ₱359

$5.60 ₱346

4.11%

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

$125 ₱7,727

$154 ₱9,495

-18.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,743 ₱107.5K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-62.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.92 ₱2,893

$47.79 ₱2,947

-1.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.05 ₱1,421

$27.10 ₱1,671

-14.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,729

$76.1 ₱4,690

0.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.2 ₱3,467

$45.80 ₱2,824

22.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 ₱20.8K

$345 ₱21.3K

-2.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ₱15.0K

$145 ₱8,959

67.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$842 ₱51.9K

$549 ₱33.8K

53.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 ₱31.1K

$261 ₱16.1K

93.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,417 ₱149.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 ₱13.3K

$181 ₱11.2K

19.09%

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 Lapu-Lapu: June 2, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Lapu-Lapu and $345 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lapu-Lapu pays 19% 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: $18.00 in Lapu-Lapu vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 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

Lapu-Lapu vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Lapu-Lapu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Lapu-Lapu pays 19% 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: $337 in Lapu-Lapu versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Lapu-Lapu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $871 per month in Lapu-Lapu versus $788 in Baguio – a 10% 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, Lapu-Lapu 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 10% less than in Lapu-Lapu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.