Cost of Living Comparison Between Pagadian and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Pagadian and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $776 in Pagadian versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,092 in Pagadian versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,408 in Pagadian versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Pagadian is roughly 2% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pagadian 42% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 ₱215

$3.51 ₱216

-0.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.85 ₱1,099

$13.35 ₱822

33.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.22 ₱198

$2.67 ₱165

20.60%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ₱178

$2.35 ₱145

23.40%

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

$0.96 ₱58.8

$0.69 ₱42.28

39.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₱28.18

$0.37 ₱23.01

24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$1.44 ₱88.4

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱107

$1.93 ₱119

-10.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₱106

$1.92 ₱118

-10.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 ₱66.0

$1.19 ₱73.3

-10.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.3

$1.06 ₱65.3

-2.83%

Eggs

$2.05 ₱126

$2.17 ₱134

-5.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱504

$9.41 ₱579

-12.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 ₱300

$3.72 ₱229

30.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.85 ₱360

$8.61 ₱530

-32.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱213

$2.72 ₱168

27.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$1.79 ₱110

-37.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.36 ₱207

$2.35 ₱145

42.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.1

$1.17 ₱72.1

17.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.81 ₱112

46.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.41 ₱210

$2.20 ₱135

55.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$0.68 ₱41.60

61.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₱46.39

$0.78 ₱47.77

-3.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.33 ₱205

-21.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.31 ₱511

$8.71 ₱536

-4.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱64.3

$1.06 ₱65.4

-1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 ₱90.4

$2.34 ₱144

-37.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.28 ₱17.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.15 ₱440

$10.81 ₱665

-33.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.55

$0.92 ₱56.7

-16.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.53

$0.22 ₱13.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.35 ₱145

-10.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.11 ₱68.1

12.61%

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

$26.7K ₱1.6M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-15.59%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

0.55%

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

$93.9 ₱5,784

$144 ₱8,877

-34.85%

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

$32.31 ₱1,989

$34.02 ₱2,094

-5.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.98 ₱1,661

$25.86 ₱1,592

4.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.52 ₱2,064

$22.30 ₱1,373

50.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.31 ₱265

$4.23 ₱261

1.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱356

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

$154 ₱9,480

$151 ₱9,286

2.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,303 ₱264.9K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-7.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.08 ₱2,837

$48.90 ₱3,010

-5.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.28 ₱1,618

$27.56 ₱1,697

-4.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ₱4,569

$74.1 ₱4,560

0.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.2 ₱3,213

$45.63 ₱2,809

14.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$112 ₱6,883

$349 ₱21.5K

-67.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.8K

$145 ₱8,936

21.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 ₱15.1K

$543 ₱33.4K

-54.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 ₱9,426

$265 ₱16.3K

-42.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,755 ₱169.6K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

15.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$908 ₱55.9K

$925 ₱57.0K

-1.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 ₱11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Pagadian: July 13, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $112 in Pagadian and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Pagadian vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $206, with Pagadian 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

Pagadian vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Pagadian. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,165 in Pagadian and $1,146 in Baguio to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $112 in Pagadian versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $776 per month in Pagadian versus $764 in Baguio – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 51% less than in Pagadian. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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, Pagadian 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 2% less than in Pagadian. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.