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: $760 in Pagadian versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,074 in Pagadian versus $1,154 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,389 in Pagadian versus $1,520 in Baguio.

Living in Pagadian costs roughly 4% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pagadian 43% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.01 ₱1,110

$13.38 ₱825

34.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.20 ₱197

$2.64 ₱162

21.21%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ₱179

$2.36 ₱145

22.88%

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

$0.93 ₱57.1

$0.65 ₱40.14

43.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.38

$0.38 ₱23.18

13.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₱66.3

$1.39 ₱85.5

-22.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₱108

$1.89 ₱117

-6.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ₱106

$1.88 ₱116

-9.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$1.19 ₱73.4

-10.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱59.8

$1.12 ₱68.8

-13.39%

Eggs

$2.03 ₱125

$2.22 ₱137

-8.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 ₱508

$9.21 ₱568

-10.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 ₱307

$3.74 ₱231

33.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.85 ₱361

$8.33 ₱514

-29.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 ₱224

$2.74 ₱169

32.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ₱69.3

$1.80 ₱111

-37.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ₱211

$2.39 ₱147

43.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ₱82.4

$1.20 ₱74.3

11.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 ₱164

$1.81 ₱112

46.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.46 ₱213

$2.29 ₱141

51.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.73 ₱45.12

46.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱43.42

$0.72 ₱44.25

-2.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 ₱167

$3.26 ₱201

-16.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.91 ₱488

$9.08 ₱560

-12.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱64.6

$1.06 ₱65.5

-0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₱94.8

$2.31 ₱143

-33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.03

$0.26 ₱15.91

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.18 ₱443

$10.85 ₱669

-33.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.9

$0.92 ₱57.0

-10.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.87

$0.24 ₱14.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.40 ₱148

-12.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₱73.2

$1.12 ₱69.0

6.25%

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

$26.9K ₱1.7M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-15.53%

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

$20.2K ₱1.2M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

-0.56%

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

$96.0 ₱5,919

$147 ₱9,087

-34.87%

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

$33.16 ₱2,045

$35.37 ₱2,181

-6.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.38 ₱1,688

$26.43 ₱1,630

3.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.61 ₱2,072

$22.38 ₱1,380

50.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.53 ₱279

$4.18 ₱257

8.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.95 ₱367

$5.60 ₱346

6.25%

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

$149 ₱9,190

$154 ₱9,495

-3.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,359 ₱268.8K

$4,706 ₱290.2K

-7.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.37 ₱2,798

$47.79 ₱2,947

-5.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ₱1,652

$27.10 ₱1,671

-1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 ₱4,592

$76.1 ₱4,690

-2.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.1 ₱3,271

$45.80 ₱2,824

15.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 ₱6,956

$345 ₱21.3K

-67.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.9K

$145 ₱8,959

21.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₱15.3K

$549 ₱33.8K

-54.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 ₱9,271

$261 ₱16.1K

-42.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,118 ₱130.6K

$2,417 ₱149.1K

-12.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$966 ₱59.6K

$933 ₱57.5K

3.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 ₱11.2K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $113 in Pagadian and $345 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 $205, 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

Pagadian wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pagadian the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,140 in Pagadian and $1,182 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: $113 in Pagadian versus $345 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $760 per month in Pagadian versus $788 in Baguio – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pagadian 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 Pagadian gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.