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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $750 in Tagum City versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Tagum City versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,584 in Tagum City versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Tagum City costs roughly 2% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tagum City 44% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 ₱213

$3.51 ₱216

-1.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.17 ₱872

$13.35 ₱822

6.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.70 ₱228

$2.67 ₱165

38.58%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ₱106

$2.35 ₱145

-26.81%

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

$0.82 ₱50.7

$0.69 ₱42.28

18.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.42

$0.37 ₱23.01

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱79.7

$1.44 ₱88.4

-9.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱83.2

$1.93 ₱119

-30.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.92 ₱118

-1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱74.4

$1.19 ₱73.3

1.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱58.1

$1.06 ₱65.3

-11.32%

Eggs

$2.05 ₱126

$2.17 ₱134

-5.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 ₱501

$9.41 ₱579

-13.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 ₱254

$3.72 ₱229

11.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ₱476

$8.61 ₱530

-10.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ₱183

$2.72 ₱168

9.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₱93.7

$1.79 ₱110

-15.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 ₱161

$2.35 ₱145

11.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₱94.5

$1.17 ₱72.1

30.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.33 ₱143

$1.81 ₱112

28.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱161

$2.20 ₱135

19.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$0.68 ₱41.60

55.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱43.96

$0.78 ₱47.77

-8.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 ₱178

$3.33 ₱205

-13.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 ₱536

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱70.9

$1.06 ₱65.4

8.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₱127

$2.34 ₱144

-11.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.28

$0.28 ₱17.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.81 ₱665

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.92 ₱56.7

-16.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.51

$0.22 ₱13.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.35 ₱145

-8.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.6

$1.11 ₱68.1

-0.90%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-15.38%

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

$20.0K ₱1.2M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

-2.28%

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

$110 ₱6,797

$144 ₱8,877

-23.43%

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

$32.99 ₱2,031

$34.02 ₱2,094

-3.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.75 ₱1,708

$25.86 ₱1,592

7.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.31 ₱2,112

$22.30 ₱1,373

53.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.54 ₱280

$4.23 ₱261

7.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$5.79 ₱356

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

$150 ₱9,259

$151 ₱9,286

-0.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,355 ₱268.1K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

-6.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.99 ₱2,770

$48.90 ₱3,010

-8.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.20 ₱1,613

$27.56 ₱1,697

-4.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,719

$74.1 ₱4,560

3.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 ₱3,236

$45.63 ₱2,809

15.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₱16.4K

$349 ₱21.5K

-23.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.9K

$145 ₱8,936

21.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$596 ₱36.7K

$543 ₱33.4K

9.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 ₱24.3K

$265 ₱16.3K

49.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 ₱147.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 ₱57.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$209 ₱12.9K

$183 ₱11.3K

14.09%

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 Tagum City: July 11, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in Tagum City and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tagum City pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Tagum City vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $206, with Tagum City 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

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

Tagum City wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tagum City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 14% higher in Tagum 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: $267 in Tagum City versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Baguio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $750 per month in Tagum City versus $764 in Baguio – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tagum City 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, Tagum 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 Tagum City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.