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: $628 in Lipa versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,030 in Lipa versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,432 in Lipa versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Lipa costs roughly 19% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lipa 53% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 ₱223

$3.59 ₱222

0.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.64 ₱1,088

$13.50 ₱833

30.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.12 ₱192

$2.60 ₱160

20.00%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.34 ₱145

0.43%

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

$0.46 ₱28.18

$0.70 ₱43.29

-34.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.54

$0.40 ₱24.72

-17.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 ₱41.63

$1.46 ₱89.9

-54.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.00 ₱123

36.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱83.0

$1.89 ₱116

-29.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.25 ₱77.3

-10.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.11 ₱68.6

0.90%

Eggs

$1.87 ₱115

$2.20 ₱135

-15.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.08 ₱437

$9.08 ₱560

-22.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 ₱261

$3.70 ₱228

14.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 ₱441

$8.42 ₱519

-15.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.72 ₱106

$2.63 ₱162

-34.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₱97.2

$1.87 ₱115

-15.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$2.26 ₱140

-19.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱74.3

$1.18 ₱72.6

2.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$1.82 ₱112

-49.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 ₱64.1

$2.29 ₱141

-54.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 ₱31.95

$0.72 ₱44.67

-27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₱62.6

$0.77 ₱47.61

31.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₱202

$3.35 ₱206

-2.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.01 ₱556

$9.17 ₱566

-1.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₱55.8

$1.08 ₱66.4

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱126

$2.26 ₱140

-9.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.53

$0.26 ₱15.90

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.39

$0.87 ₱53.7

-11.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.50

$0.22 ₱13.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.45 ₱151

-13.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.7

$1.11 ₱68.3

3.60%

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

$25.2K ₱1.6M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-21.74%

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

$20.2K ₱1.2M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-1.31%

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

$81.7 ₱5,040

$146 ₱8,987

-43.92%

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

$33.09 ₱2,041

$34.10 ₱2,103

-2.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.99 ₱1,850

$25.99 ₱1,603

15.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.16 ₱1,614

$21.76 ₱1,342

20.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱256

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 ₱360

$5.93 ₱366

-1.69%

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

$80.4 ₱4,959

$153 ₱9,455

-47.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,744 ₱169.2K

$4,642 ₱286.3K

-40.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.82 ₱1,963

$49.11 ₱3,029

-35.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.99 ₱1,850

$27.25 ₱1,681

10.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 ₱6,095

$76.3 ₱4,706

29.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.1 ₱5,864

$45.91 ₱2,832

107.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$88.3 ₱5,449

$346 ₱21.3K

-74.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.2 ₱4,080

$142 ₱8,777

-53.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 ₱17.3K

$544 ₱33.6K

-48.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 ₱15.7K

$264 ₱16.3K

-3.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱149.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$235 ₱14.5K

$186 ₱11.5K

26.23%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $88.3 in Lipa and $346 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lipa pays 26% 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 $205, 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 24% 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 26% 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: $88.3 in Lipa versus $346 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 $628 per month in Lipa versus $779 in Baguio – a 24% 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 24% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.