Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $678 in San Fernando, La Union versus $788 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,028 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,139 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,379 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,490 in Baguio.

Living in San Fernando, La Union costs roughly 14% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Fernando, La Union 50% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱218

$3.57 ₱217

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.79 ₱1,081

$13.22 ₱802

34.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.23 ₱196

$2.65 ₱161

21.89%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱143

$2.36 ₱143

-0.42%

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

$0.78 ₱47.55

$0.69 ₱41.93

13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.17

$0.37 ₱22.55

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ₱81.8

$1.44 ₱87.5

-6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.90 ₱115

13.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.04 ₱184

$1.89 ₱115

60.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱74.6

$1.23 ₱74.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ₱58.0

$1.08 ₱65.3

-11.11%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱123

$2.26 ₱137

-10.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 ₱485

$9.14 ₱555

-12.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱266

$3.91 ₱237

12.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 ₱473

$8.75 ₱531

-11.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 ₱172

$2.64 ₱160

7.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₱95.9

$1.80 ₱109

-12.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱164

$2.31 ₱140

16.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 ₱98.5

$1.16 ₱70.2

39.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱135

$1.84 ₱112

21.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 ₱158

$2.29 ₱139

13.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱65.1

$0.67 ₱40.39

59.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.18

$0.76 ₱46.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 ₱168

$3.34 ₱203

-17.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.95 ₱544

$8.91 ₱541

0.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₱70.9

$1.04 ₱63.1

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱123

$2.32 ₱141

-12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.60

$0.28 ₱17.11

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.58 ₱642

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱49.59

$0.85 ₱51.7

-3.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.28

$0.22 ₱13.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱133

$2.36 ₱143

-7.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₱72.1

$1.10 ₱67.1

8.18%

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

$27.1K ₱1.6M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-15.18%

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

$20.1K ₱1.2M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

-2.00%

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

$111 ₱6,726

$146 ₱8,846

-23.97%

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

$32.33 ₱1,963

$35.30 ₱2,143

-8.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.70 ₱1,682

$26.09 ₱1,584

6.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.55 ₱823

$21.90 ₱1,330

-38.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.49 ₱272

$4.05 ₱246

10.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ₱362

$5.82 ₱353

2.41%

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

$153 ₱9,309

$154 ₱9,378

-0.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,749 ₱349.1K

$4,658 ₱282.9K

23.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.68 ₱2,773

$48.66 ₱2,955

-6.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.28 ₱1,596

$28.00 ₱1,700

-6.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.87 ₱2,178

$76.2 ₱4,624

-52.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.08 ₱2,434

$46.62 ₱2,831

-14.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$134 ₱8,137

$340 ₱20.7K

-60.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 ₱7,522

$142 ₱8,635

-12.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 ₱14.9K

$552 ₱33.5K

-55.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.0K

$264 ₱16.1K

-19.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,759 ₱167.5K

$2,390 ₱145.1K

15.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,034 ₱62.8K

$933 ₱56.7K

10.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 ₱11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: June 6, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $134 in San Fernando, La Union and $340 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in San Fernando, La Union vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 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

San Fernando, La Union vs Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Fernando, La Union wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Fernando, La Union the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,017 in San Fernando, La Union and $1,182 in Baguio to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $134 in San Fernando, La Union versus $340 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baguio pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $678 per month in San Fernando, La Union versus $788 in Baguio – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though San Fernando, La Union 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, San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.