Cost of Living Comparison Between Pasay and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Pasay and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Pasay versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,316 in Pasay versus $1,137 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,700 in Pasay versus $1,495 in Baguio.

Living in Pasay is roughly 20% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pasay 30% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 ₱287

$3.52 ₱212

35.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.29 ₱1,282

$13.18 ₱794

61.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 ₱189

$2.62 ₱158

19.47%

Cappuccino

$2.13 ₱128

$2.38 ₱143

-10.50%

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

$0.60 ₱36.38

$0.65 ₱39.41

-7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₱20.68

$0.37 ₱22.46

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 ₱62.5

$1.39 ₱83.8

-25.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₱92.9

$1.98 ₱119

-22.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱116

$1.84 ₱111

4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱73.3

$1.23 ₱74.4

-0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 ₱56.0

$1.07 ₱64.4

-13.08%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱121

$2.26 ₱136

-11.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.09 ₱307

$9.23 ₱556

-44.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 ₱255

$3.74 ₱225

13.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.56 ₱335

$8.65 ₱521

-35.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 ₱265

$2.64 ₱159

67.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₱92.7

$1.84 ₱111

-16.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 ₱152

$2.33 ₱140

8.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₱98.3

$1.20 ₱72.3

35.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 ₱165

$1.87 ₱113

47.06%

Onion (1kg)

$4.07 ₱245

$2.29 ₱138

77.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 ₱86.9

$0.69 ₱41.45

108.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱56.9

$0.76 ₱45.52

23.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 ₱190

$3.24 ₱195

-2.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.51 ₱452

$8.98 ₱541

-16.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.6

$1.06 ₱64.0

-3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱68.4

$2.27 ₱137

-49.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.26

$0.26 ₱15.65

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.54 ₱635

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₱41.06

$0.85 ₱51.1

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.42

$0.22 ₱13.18

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱125

$2.45 ₱148

-15.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱65.6

$1.12 ₱67.2

-2.68%

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

$12.6K ₱757.1K

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-60.60%

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

$15.9K ₱955.2K

$20.4K ₱1.2M

-22.11%

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

$114 ₱6,880

$147 ₱8,862

-22.36%

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

$32.42 ₱1,953

$34.54 ₱2,080

-6.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.55 ₱1,780

$26.21 ₱1,578

12.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.15 ₱2,177

$22.28 ₱1,342

62.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.20 ₱253

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 ₱373

$5.62 ₱339

10.14%

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

$81.6 ₱4,912

$150 ₱9,027

-45.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 ₱165.8K

$4,770 ₱287.3K

-42.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.47 ₱1,895

$49.05 ₱2,954

-35.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.55 ₱1,057

$27.49 ₱1,656

-36.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 ₱5,059

$74.2 ₱4,470

13.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ₱4,195

$45.80 ₱2,758

52.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₱23.9K

$341 ₱20.5K

16.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ₱18.6K

$146 ₱8,785

111.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,462 ₱88.0K

$545 ₱32.8K

168.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₱24.1K

$263 ₱15.8K

52.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,919 ₱115.6K

$2,494 ₱150.2K

-23.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$603 ₱36.3K

$951 ₱57.3K

-36.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 ₱32.1K

$189 ₱11.4K

181.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

77.78%

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

Last update for Pasay: June 15, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $398 in Pasay and $341 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasay pays 181% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Pasay vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $206, with Pasay 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

Pasay vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Pasay pays 181% more on average, 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: $398 in Pasay versus $341 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Pasay pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Pasay versus $779 in Baguio – a 20% 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, Pasay 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 20% less than in Pasay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.