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: $836 in Pangasinan versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,267 in Pangasinan versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,699 in Pangasinan versus $1,490 in Baguio.

Living in Pangasinan is roughly 6% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pangasinan 38% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.31 ₱79.3

$3.57 ₱217

-63.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.15 ₱920

$13.22 ₱802

14.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.15 ₱191

$2.65 ₱161

18.87%

Cappuccino

$0.94 ₱57.2

$2.36 ₱143

-60.17%

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

$0.42 ₱25.75

$0.69 ₱41.93

-39.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.59

$0.37 ₱22.55

-29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱84.6

$1.44 ₱87.5

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱127

$1.90 ₱115

9.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ₱76.7

$1.89 ₱115

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 ₱53.0

$1.23 ₱74.8

-29.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 ₱49.17

$1.08 ₱65.3

-25.00%

Eggs

$2.24 ₱136

$2.26 ₱137

-0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.23 ₱500

$9.14 ₱555

-9.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱269

$3.91 ₱237

13.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.98 ₱484

$8.75 ₱531

-8.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱278

$2.64 ₱160

73.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱122

$1.80 ₱109

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 ₱163

$2.31 ₱140

16.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.16 ₱70.2

93.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 ₱199

$1.84 ₱112

78.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱174

$2.29 ₱139

24.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱65.7

$0.67 ₱40.39

61.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₱60.9

$0.76 ₱46.15

31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 ₱174

$3.34 ₱203

-14.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.21 ₱498

$8.91 ₱541

-7.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₱75.3

$1.04 ₱63.1

19.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱136

$2.32 ₱141

-3.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.67

$0.28 ₱17.11

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱49.24

$0.85 ₱51.7

-4.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.14 ₱8.36

$0.22 ₱13.32

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱210

$2.36 ₱143

46.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.8

$1.10 ₱67.1

4.55%

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

4.97%

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

$21.8K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

6.21%

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

$173 ₱10.5K

$146 ₱8,846

18.83%

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

$27.38 ₱1,663

$35.30 ₱2,143

-22.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.46 ₱2,153

$26.09 ₱1,584

35.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.45 ₱2,092

$21.90 ₱1,330

57.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.33 ₱263

$4.05 ₱246

6.91%

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 ₱499

$5.82 ₱353

41.24%

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

$151 ₱9,173

$154 ₱9,378

-2.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,392 ₱266.7K

$4,658 ₱282.9K

-5.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ₱3,545

$48.66 ₱2,955

20.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.92 ₱2,181

$28.00 ₱1,700

28.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,190

$76.2 ₱4,624

12.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.8 ₱3,204

$46.62 ₱2,831

13.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.0K

$340 ₱20.7K

-22.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.8K

$142 ₱8,635

24.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₱35.8K

$552 ₱33.5K

6.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₱24.3K

$264 ₱16.1K

51.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,469 ₱149.9K

$2,390 ₱145.1K

3.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$965 ₱58.6K

$933 ₱56.7K

3.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 ₱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 Pangasinan: June 8, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Pangasinan and $340 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Pangasinan vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $206 per month, with Baguio cheaper across the board.

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 6% 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 $1,253 in Pangasinan 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: $263 in Pangasinan versus $340 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Pangasinan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $836 per month in Pangasinan versus $788 in Baguio – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 6% less than in Pangasinan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.