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: $917 in Pasay versus $766 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,255 in Pasay versus $1,168 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,592 in Pasay versus $1,570 in Baguio.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Pasay 33% lower, Baguio 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 ₱278

$4.03 ₱253

10.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.04 ₱1,194

$16.53 ₱1,037

15.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.84 ₱178

$2.77 ₱174

2.53%

Cappuccino

$2.23 ₱140

$1.84 ₱116

21.20%

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

$0.63 ₱39.26

$0.60 ₱37.76

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱19.24

$0.33 ₱20.84

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₱76.1

$1.03 ₱64.3

17.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₱99.0

$1.57 ₱98.3

0.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₱108

$1.66 ₱104

3.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 ₱73.2

$1.15 ₱72.2

1.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.6

$1.01 ₱63.3

Eggs

$1.96 ₱123

$2.02 ₱127

-2.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 ₱323

$4.99 ₱313

3.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₱269

$3.47 ₱218

23.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 ₱456

$7.80 ₱489

-6.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₱143

$2.31 ₱145

-0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.7

$1.53 ₱95.8

0.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱147

$2.30 ₱145

2.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱73.3

$1.04 ₱65.1

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱149

$1.65 ₱104

43.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 ₱209

$1.77 ₱111

88.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₱78.3

$0.67 ₱41.75

86.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₱55.6

$0.52 ₱32.90

71.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₱186

$2.98 ₱187

-0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.73 ₱485

$8.49 ₱533

-8.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₱61.0

$0.96 ₱60.2

1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₱114

$2.04 ₱128

-10.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 ₱11.64

$0.23 ₱14.36

-17.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.81 ₱803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.52

$0.81 ₱50.9

-6.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.12

$0.23 ₱14.37

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.88 ₱118

4.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.2

$1.20 ₱75.0

-1.67%

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

$21.2K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-1.45%

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

$18.6K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

-2.41%

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

$139 ₱8,713

$138 ₱8,659

0.62%

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

$14.20 ₱890

$17.68 ₱1,109

-19.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.46 ₱1,597

$23.45 ₱1,471

8.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.18 ₱2,959

$21.64 ₱1,357

118.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.27 ₱331

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 ₱326

$5.13 ₱322

1.36%

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

$73.4 ₱4,603

$131 ₱8,230

-44.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,546 ₱159.7K

$10.8K ₱674.6K

-76.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.19 ₱2,270

$29.37 ₱1,842

23.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.34 ₱1,213

$19.10 ₱1,198

1.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 ₱4,397

$72.9 ₱4,569

-3.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.3 ₱4,033

$56.0 ₱3,510

14.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ₱27.1K

$399 ₱25.0K

8.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 ₱19.7K

$200 ₱12.5K

57.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ₱51.5K

$853 ₱53.5K

-3.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 ₱22.6K

$463 ₱29.0K

-22.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,840 ₱115.4K

$2,603 ₱163.3K

-29.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 ₱35.8K

$928 ₱58.2K

-38.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$511 ₱32.0K

$179 ₱11.3K

184.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

3.70%

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

Last update for Pasay: September 13, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Pasay and $399 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasay pays 185% 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: $19.00 in Pasay vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $174 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

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.

Average pay runs 185% higher in Pasay, 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: $432 in Pasay versus $399 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Pasay. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $917 per month in Pasay versus $766 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.