Cost of Living Comparison Between Lipa and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Lipa and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $630 in Lipa versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,034 in Lipa versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,438 in Lipa versus $1,490 in Baguio.

Living in Lipa costs roughly 20% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lipa 53% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 ₱216

$3.57 ₱217

-0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.88 ₱1,086

$13.22 ₱802

35.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.65 ₱161

15.09%

Cappuccino

$2.31 ₱140

$2.36 ₱143

-2.12%

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

$0.43 ₱26.01

$0.69 ₱41.93

-37.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱18.77

$0.37 ₱22.55

-16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.70 ₱42.46

$1.44 ₱87.5

-51.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₱165

$1.90 ₱115

43.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 ₱82.4

$1.89 ₱115

-28.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 ₱70.9

$1.23 ₱74.8

-4.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.0

$1.08 ₱65.3

3.70%

Eggs

$1.94 ₱118

$2.26 ₱137

-14.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.14 ₱433

$9.14 ₱555

-21.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₱261

$3.91 ₱237

9.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 ₱433

$8.75 ₱531

-18.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 ₱106

$2.64 ₱160

-34.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₱92.4

$1.80 ₱109

-15.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 ₱105

$2.31 ₱140

-25.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 ₱74.2

$1.16 ₱70.2

5.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 ₱56.1

$1.84 ₱112

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.3

$2.29 ₱139

-52.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₱33.63

$0.67 ₱40.39

-17.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₱61.5

$0.76 ₱46.15

32.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₱191

$3.34 ₱203

-5.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 ₱533

$8.91 ₱541

-1.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₱52.4

$1.04 ₱63.1

-17.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ₱122

$2.32 ₱141

-13.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.35

$0.28 ₱17.11

-21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱49.95

$0.85 ₱51.7

-3.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.62

$0.22 ₱13.32

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱133

$2.36 ₱143

-7.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.0

$1.10 ₱67.1

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

$25.3K ₱1.5M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-20.74%

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

$20.1K ₱1.2M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

-1.82%

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

$81.6 ₱4,955

$146 ₱8,846

-43.98%

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

$32.42 ₱1,969

$35.30 ₱2,143

-8.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 ₱1,804

$26.09 ₱1,584

13.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.12 ₱1,647

$21.90 ₱1,330

23.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ₱246

Cinema Ticket

$5.81 ₱353

$5.82 ₱353

-0.17%

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

$82.6 ₱5,017

$154 ₱9,378

-46.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,786 ₱169.1K

$4,658 ₱282.9K

-40.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.75 ₱1,928

$48.66 ₱2,955

-34.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.33 ₱1,781

$28.00 ₱1,700

4.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.5 ₱5,856

$76.2 ₱4,624

26.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.9 ₱5,641

$46.62 ₱2,831

99.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$89.5 ₱5,435

$340 ₱20.7K

-73.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.7 ₱4,108

$142 ₱8,635

-52.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 ₱16.6K

$552 ₱33.5K

-50.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 ₱15.7K

$264 ₱16.1K

-2.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ₱145.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 ₱56.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$226 ₱13.7K

$184 ₱11.2K

22.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.13

4.5

80.67%

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

Last update for Lipa: June 6, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $89.5 in Lipa and $340 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lipa pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Lipa vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $178 vs $206, with Lipa 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

Lipa vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lipa wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lipa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Lipa pays 23% 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: $89.5 in Lipa versus $340 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $630 per month in Lipa versus $788 in Baguio – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Lipa 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, Lipa 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 Lipa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.