Cost of Living Comparison Between Nueva Ecija and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Nueva Ecija and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $657 in Nueva Ecija versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,061 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,465 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,490 in Baguio.

Living in Nueva Ecija costs roughly 17% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nueva Ecija 51% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.46 ₱271

$3.57 ₱217

24.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.59 ₱2,161

$13.22 ₱802

169.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.65 ₱161

23.02%

Cappuccino

$1.35 ₱82.0

$2.36 ₱143

-42.80%

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

$0.76 ₱46.43

$0.69 ₱41.93

10.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₱21.96

$0.37 ₱22.55

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$1.44 ₱87.5

-36.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱136

$1.90 ₱115

17.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.97 ₱180

$1.89 ₱115

57.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 ₱60.8

$1.23 ₱74.8

-18.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱60.6

$1.08 ₱65.3

-7.41%

Eggs

$1.70 ₱103

$2.26 ₱137

-24.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱498

$9.14 ₱555

-10.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 ₱232

$3.91 ₱237

-2.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.33 ₱384

$8.75 ₱531

-27.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 ₱247

$2.64 ₱160

53.79%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 ₱50.6

$1.80 ₱109

-53.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₱113

$2.31 ₱140

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$1.16 ₱70.2

58.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 ₱105

$1.84 ₱112

-5.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$2.29 ₱139

-4.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 ₱139

$0.67 ₱40.39

241.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₱28.58

$0.76 ₱46.15

-38.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₱150

$3.34 ₱203

-26.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.40 ₱267

$8.91 ₱541

-50.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱85.0

$1.04 ₱63.1

34.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₱149

$2.32 ₱141

6.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₱18.02

$0.28 ₱17.11

7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.24 ₱379

$10.58 ₱642

-41.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₱47.77

$0.85 ₱51.7

-7.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.28

$0.22 ₱13.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₱71.8

$2.36 ₱143

-50.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 ₱58.3

$1.10 ₱67.1

-12.73%

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

$18.1K ₱1.1M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-43.42%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

12.61%

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

$87.5 ₱5,313

$146 ₱8,846

-39.94%

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

$32.89 ₱1,997

$35.30 ₱2,143

-6.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ₱1,228

$26.09 ₱1,584

-22.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.01 ₱2,065

$21.90 ₱1,330

55.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.40 ₱267

$4.05 ₱246

8.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱310

$5.82 ₱353

-12.37%

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

$153 ₱9,318

$154 ₱9,378

-0.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,263 ₱258.8K

$4,658 ₱282.9K

-8.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.69 ₱2,774

$48.66 ₱2,955

-6.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.10 ₱2,070

$28.00 ₱1,700

21.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.4 ₱4,214

$76.2 ₱4,624

-8.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₱6,899

$46.62 ₱2,831

143.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$131 ₱7,927

$340 ₱20.7K

-61.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 ₱4,606

$142 ₱8,635

-46.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 ₱11.6K

$552 ₱33.5K

-65.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 ₱8,507

$264 ₱16.1K

-47.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,471 ₱150.0K

$2,390 ₱145.1K

3.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,011 ₱61.4K

$933 ₱56.7K

8.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$196 ₱11.9K

$184 ₱11.2K

6.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

4.5

37.11%

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

Last update for Nueva Ecija: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $131 in Nueva Ecija and $340 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nueva Ecija pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Nueva Ecija vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $206, with Nueva Ecija 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

Nueva Ecija vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nueva Ecija wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nueva Ecija the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Nueva Ecija pays 7% 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: $131 in Nueva Ecija versus $340 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $657 per month in Nueva Ecija versus $788 in Baguio – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 70% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Nueva Ecija 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, Nueva Ecija 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 Nueva Ecija gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.