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: $845 in Pangasinan versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,252 in Pangasinan versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,658 in Pangasinan versus $1,500 in Baguio.

Living in Pangasinan is roughly 9% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pangasinan 37% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.35 ₱82.6

$3.59 ₱220

-62.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.91 ₱912

$13.50 ₱826

10.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 ₱185

$2.60 ₱159

16.54%

Cappuccino

$0.94 ₱57.4

$2.34 ₱143

-59.83%

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

$0.46 ₱28.16

$0.70 ₱42.94

-34.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.88

$0.40 ₱24.52

-35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₱82.9

$1.46 ₱89.2

-6.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₱132

$2.00 ₱122

8.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 ₱74.0

$1.89 ₱115

-35.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 ₱56.8

$1.25 ₱76.6

-25.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 ₱50.6

$1.11 ₱68.1

-25.23%

Eggs

$2.27 ₱139

$2.20 ₱134

3.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ₱485

$9.08 ₱555

-12.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱268

$3.70 ₱226

18.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ₱474

$8.42 ₱515

-8.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 ₱273

$2.63 ₱161

69.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱122

$1.87 ₱114

6.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱158

$2.26 ₱138

14.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱140

$1.18 ₱72.0

93.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₱207

$1.82 ₱111

86.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 ₱174

$2.29 ₱140

24.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$0.72 ₱44.31

56.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₱61.5

$0.77 ₱47.22

29.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 ₱181

$3.35 ₱205

-11.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.04 ₱492

$9.17 ₱561

-12.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.5

$1.08 ₱65.8

15.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₱141

$2.26 ₱138

1.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.26 ₱15.77

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱646

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.99

$0.87 ₱53.3

-11.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.67

$0.22 ₱13.43

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₱214

$2.45 ₱150

42.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.8

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

$33.3K ₱2.0M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

3.34%

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

$22.1K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

7.62%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$146 ₱8,914

18.63%

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

$26.91 ₱1,646

$34.10 ₱2,086

-21.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.75 ₱2,187

$25.99 ₱1,590

37.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.68 ₱2,060

$21.76 ₱1,331

54.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.50 ₱276

$4.16 ₱254

8.17%

Cinema Ticket

$8.01 ₱490

$5.93 ₱363

35.08%

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

$153 ₱9,370

$153 ₱9,378

-0.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,366 ₱267.1K

$4,642 ₱284.0K

-5.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 ₱3,710

$49.11 ₱3,005

23.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.42 ₱2,167

$27.25 ₱1,667

29.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ₱5,183

$76.3 ₱4,667

11.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.4 ₱3,265

$45.91 ₱2,809

16.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.6K

$346 ₱21.2K

-21.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱11.0K

$142 ₱8,706

26.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₱36.0K

$544 ₱33.3K

7.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₱24.5K

$264 ₱16.1K

51.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,066 ₱126.4K

$2,423 ₱148.2K

-14.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱58.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.4K

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Pangasinan and $346 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 $218 vs $205 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 9% 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 $1,268 in Pangasinan and $1,168 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: $271 in Pangasinan versus $346 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Pangasinan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $845 per month in Pangasinan versus $779 in Baguio – a 9% 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 9% less than in Pangasinan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.