Cost of Living Comparison Between Pasig and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Pasig and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $876 in Pasig versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in Pasig versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,939 in Pasig versus $1,490 in Baguio.

Living in Pasig is roughly 11% more expensive than Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pasig 35% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ₱271

$3.57 ₱217

25.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.77 ₱1,625

$13.22 ₱802

102.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.28 ₱199

$2.65 ₱161

23.77%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱159

$2.36 ₱143

11.02%

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

$0.66 ₱39.90

$0.69 ₱41.93

-4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.42

$0.37 ₱22.55

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱90.4

$1.44 ₱87.5

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ₱158

$1.90 ₱115

36.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.89 ₱115

1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱84.5

$1.23 ₱74.8

13.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.2

$1.08 ₱65.3

-0.93%

Eggs

$2.19 ₱133

$2.26 ₱137

-3.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 ₱553

$9.14 ₱555

-0.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 ₱251

$3.91 ₱237

5.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.29 ₱504

$8.75 ₱531

-5.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱212

$2.64 ₱160

32.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱112

$1.80 ₱109

2.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 ₱219

$2.31 ₱140

55.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 ₱106

$1.16 ₱70.2

50.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 ₱166

$1.84 ₱112

48.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.06 ₱186

$2.29 ₱139

33.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$0.67 ₱40.39

201.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱43.31

$0.76 ₱46.15

-6.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱198

$3.34 ₱203

-2.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.70 ₱589

$8.91 ₱541

8.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.3

$1.04 ₱63.1

38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₱135

$2.32 ₱141

-4.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.02

$0.28 ₱17.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.04 ₱367

$10.58 ₱642

-42.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱52.6

$0.85 ₱51.7

2.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.34

$0.22 ₱13.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱132

$2.36 ₱143

-7.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.10 ₱67.1

5.45%

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

$26.7K ₱1.6M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-16.30%

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

1.39%

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

$134 ₱8,150

$146 ₱8,846

-7.87%

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

$35.30 ₱2,143

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.34 ₱1,660

$26.09 ₱1,584

4.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.96 ₱2,062

$21.90 ₱1,330

55.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.47 ₱271

$4.05 ₱246

10.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.56 ₱398

$5.82 ₱353

12.71%

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

$152 ₱9,223

$154 ₱9,378

-1.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,799 ₱291.4K

$4,658 ₱282.9K

3.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.37 ₱2,937

$48.66 ₱2,955

-0.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.10 ₱2,131

$28.00 ₱1,700

25.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 ₱4,647

$76.2 ₱4,624

0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.02 ₱2,794

$46.62 ₱2,831

-1.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₱21.2K

$340 ₱20.7K

2.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 ₱12.1K

$142 ₱8,635

39.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 ₱35.2K

$552 ₱33.5K

5.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 ₱30.5K

$264 ₱16.1K

89.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,353 ₱203.6K

$2,390 ₱145.1K

40.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,527 ₱153.4K

$933 ₱56.7K

170.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$442 ₱26.9K

$184 ₱11.2K

139.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Pasig: June 7, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $350 in Pasig and $340 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasig pays 140% 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: $27.00 in Pasig vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 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

Pasig vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Pasig. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Pasig pays 140% 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: $350 in Pasig versus $340 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $876 per month in Pasig versus $788 in Baguio – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 75% less than in Pasig. 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, Pasig 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 11% less than in Pasig. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.