Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangasinan and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangasinan and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $801 in Pangasinan versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,188 in Pangasinan versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in Pangasinan versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in Pangasinan is roughly 5% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pangasinan 42% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.17 ₱73.3

$3.95 ₱248

-70.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.62 ₱854

$16.48 ₱1,033

-17.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.02 ₱252

$2.88 ₱180

39.58%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱170

$1.77 ₱111

53.11%

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

$1.13 ₱71.0

$0.61 ₱37.96

85.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.50

$0.32 ₱19.94

40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.83 ₱52.2

$0.98 ₱61.2

-15.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 ₱195

$1.56 ₱98.1

99.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱68.2

$1.69 ₱106

-35.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$1.16 ₱72.6

-28.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 ₱49.76

$1.02 ₱63.9

-22.55%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$2.07 ₱130

19.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₱465

$5.15 ₱323

44.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 ₱314

$3.40 ₱213

47.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.83 ₱428

$8.09 ₱507

-15.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 ₱143

$2.31 ₱145

-1.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₱122

$1.57 ₱98.1

24.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.30 ₱207

$2.41 ₱151

36.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₱146

$1.07 ₱67.0

117.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.66 ₱230

$1.76 ₱110

107.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.49 ₱219

$1.77 ₱111

97.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₱70.9

$0.62 ₱38.90

82.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱35.28

$0.53 ₱33.25

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 ₱170

$2.87 ₱180

-5.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 ₱513

$9.02 ₱565

-9.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.6

$0.96 ₱60.1

40.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₱129

$2.10 ₱131

-1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.51

$0.25 ₱15.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.08 ₱695

$12.99 ₱814

-14.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.38

$0.84 ₱52.4

-27.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.46

$0.25 ₱15.69

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱121

$1.97 ₱123

-2.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 ₱62.8

$1.15 ₱72.2

-13.04%

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

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

2.87%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

0.00%

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

$154 ₱9,674

$139 ₱8,710

11.06%

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

$15.90 ₱997

$17.39 ₱1,090

-8.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.90 ₱2,000

$23.64 ₱1,483

34.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.12 ₱2,014

$21.34 ₱1,338

50.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.85 ₱304

$5.20 ₱326

-6.73%

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 ₱446

$5.10 ₱320

39.41%

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

$132 ₱8,301

$134 ₱8,397

-1.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,555 ₱473.7K

$10.6K ₱662.2K

-28.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.11 ₱2,013

$28.47 ₱1,785

12.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.51 ₱1,223

$19.81 ₱1,242

-1.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱5,175

$70.8 ₱4,439

16.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.1 ₱3,452

$56.6 ₱3,548

-2.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.5K

$411 ₱25.7K

-35.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 ₱10.7K

$198 ₱12.4K

-13.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 ₱31.9K

$849 ₱53.2K

-40.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 ₱22.1K

$465 ₱29.1K

-24.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,582 ₱161.9K

$2,662 ₱166.9K

-3.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 ₱66.4K

$900 ₱56.4K

17.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Pangasinan: September 7, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Pangasinan and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Pangasinan vs $16.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $178, with Baguio 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

Pangasinan vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Pangasinan. 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 $1,201 in Pangasinan and $1,144 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: $263 in Pangasinan versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $801 per month in Pangasinan versus $763 in Baguio – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 17% less than in Pangasinan. 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, Pangasinan 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 5% less than in Pangasinan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.