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: $726 in San Fernando, La Union versus $766 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,095 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,168 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,464 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,570 in Baguio.

Living in San Fernando, La Union costs roughly 5% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Fernando, La Union 47% lower, Baguio 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.76 ₱236

$4.03 ₱253

-6.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.97 ₱941

$16.53 ₱1,039

-9.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.09 ₱194

$2.77 ₱174

11.55%

Cappuccino

$2.50 ₱157

$1.84 ₱116

35.87%

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

$0.55 ₱34.56

$0.60 ₱37.82

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₱18.83

$0.33 ₱20.87

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.9

$1.03 ₱64.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₱111

$1.57 ₱98.5

12.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ₱105

$1.66 ₱105

0.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱81.2

$1.15 ₱72.3

12.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱60.0

$1.01 ₱63.4

-5.94%

Eggs

$2.15 ₱135

$2.02 ₱127

6.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.47 ₱343

$4.99 ₱313

9.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$3.47 ₱218

35.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.02 ₱441

$7.80 ₱490

-10.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 ₱166

$2.31 ₱145

14.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₱93.3

$1.53 ₱96.0

-2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 ₱154

$2.30 ₱145

6.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 ₱79.0

$1.04 ₱65.3

21.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.65 ₱104

23.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 ₱140

$1.77 ₱111

25.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ₱56.1

$0.67 ₱41.82

32.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.74

$0.52 ₱32.95

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ₱154

$2.98 ₱187

-18.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.31 ₱459

$8.49 ₱534

-13.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₱51.3

$0.96 ₱60.3

-14.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱134

$2.04 ₱128

4.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱16.83

$0.23 ₱14.39

17.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.01 ₱629

$12.81 ₱805

-21.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₱42.56

$0.81 ₱51.0

-16.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.77

$0.23 ₱14.39

4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱136

$1.88 ₱118

14.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$1.20 ₱75.2

-15.83%

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

$20.2K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-6.09%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

1.61%

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

$138 ₱8,647

$138 ₱8,673

-0.30%

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

$13.86 ₱871

$17.68 ₱1,111

-21.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.57 ₱1,418

$23.45 ₱1,473

-3.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.83 ₱2,000

$21.64 ₱1,359

47.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.34 ₱335

$5.27 ₱331

1.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.57 ₱287

$5.13 ₱322

-10.92%

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

$129 ₱8,087

$131 ₱8,244

-1.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,412 ₱528.5K

$10.8K ₱675.8K

-21.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.11 ₱1,892

$29.37 ₱1,845

2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.03 ₱1,258

$19.10 ₱1,200

4.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 ₱4,510

$72.9 ₱4,577

-1.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 ₱3,541

$56.0 ₱3,516

0.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₱16.7K

$399 ₱25.1K

-33.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ₱10.8K

$200 ₱12.6K

-14.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.7K

$853 ₱53.6K

-42.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₱22.0K

$463 ₱29.1K

-24.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,732 ₱171.6K

$2,603 ₱163.5K

4.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,146 ₱72.0K

$928 ₱58.3K

23.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱11.3K

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 San Fernando, La Union: September 14, 2026

Last update for Baguio: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in San Fernando, La Union and $399 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in San Fernando, La Union vs $17.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $174, with Baguio cheaper for home cooking.

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 6% 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 $1,089 in San Fernando, La Union and $1,149 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: $267 in San Fernando, La Union versus $399 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $726 per month in San Fernando, La Union versus $766 in Baguio – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando, La Union runs roughly 28% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 6% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.