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: $853 in Lapu-Lapu versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,208 in Lapu-Lapu versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,563 in Lapu-Lapu versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Lapu-Lapu is roughly 14% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lapu-Lapu 38% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 ₱187

$4.03 ₱252

-25.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.95 ₱997

$16.79 ₱1,050

-5.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 ₱254

$2.77 ₱173

46.93%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₱154

$1.79 ₱112

37.99%

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

$0.58 ₱35.98

$0.55 ₱34.69

5.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱22.03

$0.35 ₱21.57

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ₱78.5

$1.02 ₱63.9

22.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₱144

$1.64 ₱103

40.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₱108

$1.62 ₱101

6.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.4

$1.12 ₱69.9

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.98 ₱61.3

Eggs

$2.05 ₱128

$2.11 ₱132

-2.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.56 ₱347

$5.00 ₱313

11.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 ₱285

$3.36 ₱210

35.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.58 ₱474

$8.12 ₱508

-6.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 ₱211

$2.29 ₱143

47.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 ₱88.6

$1.62 ₱101

-12.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.33 ₱146

3.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ₱94.0

$1.08 ₱67.3

38.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 ₱149

$1.68 ₱105

42.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 ₱120

$1.71 ₱107

12.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$0.62 ₱39.00

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.57

$0.49 ₱30.59

34.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 ₱99.2

$2.99 ₱187

-46.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.90 ₱244

$8.98 ₱561

-56.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$0.95 ₱59.6

9.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₱94.8

$2.11 ₱132

-27.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.38

$0.25 ₱15.64

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 ₱792

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.5

$0.76 ₱47.83

6.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.25 ₱15.71

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 ₱235

$1.96 ₱122

91.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₱80.0

$1.20 ₱75.0

6.67%

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

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

1.04%

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

$19.5K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-0.49%

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

$124 ₱7,732

$144 ₱8,974

-13.84%

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

$14.71 ₱920

$17.30 ₱1,082

-14.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.39 ₱1,775

$23.28 ₱1,456

21.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.06 ₱817

$21.30 ₱1,332

-38.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.36 ₱335

Cinema Ticket

$5.59 ₱350

$5.19 ₱325

7.71%

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

$104 ₱6,528

$131 ₱8,191

-20.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,983 ₱499.2K

$10.6K ₱663.5K

-24.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.30 ₱3,020

$29.51 ₱1,845

63.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.03 ₱1,565

$19.29 ₱1,206

29.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.07 ₱1,505

$73.0 ₱4,568

-67.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.7 ₱3,673

$55.4 ₱3,466

5.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ₱27.2K

$411 ₱25.7K

5.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₱19.7K

$198 ₱12.4K

58.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,266 ₱79.2K

$851 ₱53.2K

48.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ₱30.2K

$466 ₱29.1K

3.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,650 ₱165.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱57.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$230 ₱14.4K

$180 ₱11.2K

27.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Lapu-Lapu: September 1, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $434 in Lapu-Lapu and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lapu-Lapu pays 28% 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: $16.00 in Lapu-Lapu vs $17.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $175, 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

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

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 14% 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.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Lapu-Lapu, 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: $434 in Lapu-Lapu versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Lapu-Lapu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $853 per month in Lapu-Lapu versus $748 in Baguio – a 14% 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 14% less than in Lapu-Lapu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.