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: $718 in Pasig versus $763 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,200 in Pasig versus $1,175 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,682 in Pasig versus $1,586 in Baguio.

Living in Pasig costs roughly 6% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pasig 48% lower, Baguio 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 ₱249

$3.95 ₱248

0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.72 ₱1,613

$16.48 ₱1,033

56.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.74 ₱172

$2.88 ₱180

-4.86%

Cappuccino

$2.31 ₱145

$1.77 ₱111

30.51%

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

$0.66 ₱41.67

$0.61 ₱37.95

8.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱19.68

$0.32 ₱19.93

-3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₱71.4

$0.98 ₱61.2

16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ₱169

$1.56 ₱98.1

72.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ₱104

$1.69 ₱106

-1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.16 ₱72.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.4

$1.02 ₱63.9

0.98%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱130

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.70 ₱357

$5.15 ₱323

10.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 ₱211

$3.40 ₱213

-0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.68 ₱481

$8.09 ₱507

-5.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.31 ₱145

38.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₱97.7

$1.57 ₱98.1

-0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 ₱186

$2.41 ₱151

22.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 ₱107

$1.07 ₱66.9

58.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 ₱147

$1.76 ₱110

33.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 ₱163

$1.77 ₱111

46.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.62 ₱38.90

250.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₱34.55

$0.53 ₱33.24

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₱181

$2.87 ₱180

0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 ₱599

$9.02 ₱565

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.96 ₱60.1

40.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ₱126

$2.10 ₱131

-4.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 ₱31.12

$0.25 ₱15.71

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 ₱814

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.31

$0.84 ₱52.4

-8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.11

$0.25 ₱15.69

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 ₱121

$1.97 ₱123

-2.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱71.4

$1.15 ₱72.2

-0.87%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

0.25%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-2.64%

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

$123 ₱7,733

$139 ₱8,708

-11.20%

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

$17.58 ₱1,102

$17.39 ₱1,090

1.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.97 ₱1,503

$23.64 ₱1,482

1.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.49 ₱1,911

$21.34 ₱1,338

42.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.20 ₱326

Cinema Ticket

$6.40 ₱401

$5.10 ₱320

25.49%

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

$133 ₱8,318

$134 ₱8,395

-0.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,084 ₱569.4K

$10.6K ₱662.1K

-14.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.53 ₱2,165

$28.47 ₱1,785

21.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.89 ₱1,749

$19.81 ₱1,242

40.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.8 ₱4,563

$70.8 ₱4,438

2.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.8 ₱3,437

$56.6 ₱3,547

-3.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 ₱17.4K

$411 ₱25.7K

-32.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$129 ₱8,061

$198 ₱12.4K

-34.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 ₱32.6K

$849 ₱53.2K

-38.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 ₱29.9K

$465 ₱29.1K

2.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,260 ₱204.3K

$2,662 ₱166.9K

22.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,540 ₱159.3K

$900 ₱56.4K

182.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$440 ₱27.6K

$179 ₱11.3K

145.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Pasig: September 6, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Pasig and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasig pays 145% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Pasig vs $16.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $178 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

Pasig wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pasig the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 145% higher in Pasig, 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: $277 in Pasig versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $718 per month in Pasig versus $763 in Baguio – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Pasig 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 Pasig gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.