Cost of Living Comparison Between Pampanga and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Pampanga and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $648 in Pampanga versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,107 in Pampanga versus $1,147 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,565 in Pampanga versus $1,514 in Baguio.

Living in Pampanga costs roughly 17% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 ₱184

$3.63 ₱222

-17.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.48 ₱1,070

$13.43 ₱822

30.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.17 ₱194

$2.69 ₱164

17.84%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱166

$2.36 ₱145

15.25%

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

$0.43 ₱26.05

$0.66 ₱40.38

-34.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₱21.70

$0.38 ₱22.96

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₱70.5

$1.39 ₱84.9

-17.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱144

$1.94 ₱118

21.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₱87.8

$1.82 ₱111

-21.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 ₱69.5

$1.21 ₱73.8

-5.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₱51.5

$1.07 ₱65.8

-21.50%

Eggs

$1.44 ₱88.4

$2.28 ₱139

-36.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.30 ₱263

$9.14 ₱559

-52.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.98 ₱183

$3.87 ₱237

-23.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.43 ₱455

$8.46 ₱518

-12.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.75 ₱168

-23.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ₱63.6

$1.84 ₱113

-43.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 ₱137

$2.37 ₱145

-5.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 ₱61.6

$1.16 ₱70.9

-12.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 ₱100

$1.82 ₱111

-9.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 ₱110

$2.27 ₱139

-20.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₱55.9

$0.68 ₱41.91

33.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱40.63

$0.72 ₱44.38

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 ₱127

$3.36 ₱206

-38.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.02 ₱369

$9.18 ₱562

-34.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₱45.56

$1.08 ₱66.1

-31.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱85.5

$2.27 ₱139

-38.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱16.40

$0.28 ₱17.34

-3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 ₱710

$10.43 ₱639

11.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.5

$0.86 ₱52.6

-3.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.49

$0.22 ₱13.38

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.44 ₱149

-11.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.0

$1.12 ₱68.4

3.57%

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

$17.6K ₱1.1M

$32.2K ₱2.0M

-45.40%

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

$17.6K ₱1.1M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-14.39%

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

$130 ₱7,962

$149 ₱9,108

-12.58%

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

$27.07 ₱1,657

$34.55 ₱2,115

-21.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.10 ₱1,597

$26.35 ₱1,613

-0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 ₱3,122

$21.84 ₱1,337

133.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.40 ₱269

$4.07 ₱249

8.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 ₱275

$5.87 ₱359

-23.51%

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

$124 ₱7,581

$149 ₱9,109

-16.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,749 ₱107.1K

$4,683 ₱286.7K

-62.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.98 ₱1,774

$47.86 ₱2,930

-39.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.22 ₱1,605

$27.14 ₱1,661

-3.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.9 ₱3,664

$75.3 ₱4,608

-20.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.28 ₱2,527

$46.11 ₱2,822

-10.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 ₱9,115

$336 ₱20.6K

-55.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.9 ₱5,992

$142 ₱8,677

-30.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 ₱36.3K

$556 ₱34.0K

6.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 ₱26.1K

$262 ₱16.1K

62.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,444 ₱149.6K

$2,408 ₱147.4K

1.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$964 ₱59.0K

$919 ₱56.2K

4.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$298 ₱18.2K

$188 ₱11.5K

58.63%

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 Pampanga: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $149 in Pampanga and $336 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pampanga pays 59% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Pampanga vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $154 vs $206, with Pampanga 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

Pampanga vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 59% higher in Pampanga, 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: $149 in Pampanga versus $336 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $648 per month in Pampanga versus $779 in Baguio – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pampanga runs roughly 11% 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 Pampanga 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, Pampanga 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 Pampanga 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.