Cost of Living Comparison Between Quezon City and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Quezon City and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $873 in Quezon City versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,383 in Quezon City versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,893 in Quezon City versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Quezon City is roughly 17% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quezon City 36% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.42 ₱277

$4.03 ₱252

9.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.35 ₱1,210

$16.79 ₱1,050

15.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.83 ₱177

$2.77 ₱173

2.17%

Cappuccino

$2.68 ₱168

$1.79 ₱112

49.72%

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

$0.75 ₱46.63

$0.55 ₱34.69

36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₱16.75

$0.35 ₱21.57

-22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 ₱92.1

$1.02 ₱63.9

44.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱171

$1.64 ₱103

66.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ₱109

$1.62 ₱101

7.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$1.12 ₱69.9

0.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 ₱53.0

$0.98 ₱61.3

-13.27%

Eggs

$1.78 ₱111

$2.11 ₱132

-15.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 ₱424

$5.00 ₱313

35.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 ₱259

$3.36 ₱210

22.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.92 ₱433

$8.12 ₱508

-14.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.87 ₱242

$2.29 ₱143

69.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₱87.3

$1.62 ₱101

-13.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.62 ₱226

$2.33 ₱146

55.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 ₱74.5

$1.08 ₱67.3

10.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ₱143

$1.68 ₱105

36.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.49 ₱218

$1.71 ₱107

104.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₱87.2

$0.62 ₱39.00

124.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₱57.9

$0.49 ₱30.59

89.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 ₱174

$2.99 ₱187

-7.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.81 ₱488

$8.98 ₱561

-13.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₱83.2

$0.95 ₱59.6

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 ₱112

$2.11 ₱132

-15.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₱24.62

$0.25 ₱15.64

56.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.47 ₱1,217

$12.67 ₱792

53.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.83

$0.76 ₱47.83

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.41

$0.25 ₱15.71

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 ₱164

$1.96 ₱122

34.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₱74.7

$1.20 ₱75.0

-0.83%

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

$21.9K ₱1.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

2.17%

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

$19.0K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-2.90%

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

$165 ₱10.3K

$144 ₱8,974

14.66%

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

$14.61 ₱914

$17.30 ₱1,082

-15.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.24 ₱1,578

$23.28 ₱1,456

8.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.85 ₱2,429

$21.30 ₱1,332

82.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.35 ₱209

$5.36 ₱335

-37.50%

Cinema Ticket

$7.18 ₱449

$5.19 ₱325

38.34%

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

$73.2 ₱4,579

$131 ₱8,191

-44.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,493 ₱155.9K

$10.6K ₱663.5K

-76.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.64 ₱2,291

$29.51 ₱1,845

24.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.54 ₱1,410

$19.29 ₱1,206

16.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 ₱4,937

$73.0 ₱4,568

8.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.6 ₱4,665

$55.4 ₱3,466

34.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₱19.7K

$411 ₱25.7K

-23.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 ₱12.0K

$198 ₱12.4K

-3.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$747 ₱46.7K

$851 ₱53.2K

-12.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$527 ₱32.9K

$466 ₱29.1K

13.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,319 ₱145.0K

$2,650 ₱165.7K

-12.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,463 ₱91.5K

$919 ₱57.5K

59.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$442 ₱27.6K

$180 ₱11.2K

146.06%

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 Quezon City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $314 in Quezon City and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quezon City pays 146% 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 Quezon City vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $175 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

Quezon City vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Quezon City. 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 146% higher in Quezon City, 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: $314 in Quezon City versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $873 per month in Quezon City versus $748 in Baguio – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 54% less than in Quezon City. 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 work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $748 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Quezon City 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 17% less than in Quezon City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.