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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $616 in Tarlac City versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $948 in Tarlac City versus $1,137 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,280 in Tarlac City versus $1,495 in Baguio.

Living in Tarlac City costs roughly 21% less than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tarlac City 54% lower, Baguio 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.69 ₱162

$3.52 ₱212

-23.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.85 ₱894

$13.18 ₱794

12.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.53 ₱213

$2.62 ₱158

34.73%

Cappuccino

$1.62 ₱97.8

$2.38 ₱143

-31.93%

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

$0.83 ₱49.89

$0.65 ₱39.41

27.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.64

$0.37 ₱22.46

-29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₱59.4

$1.39 ₱83.8

-28.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₱105

$1.98 ₱119

-12.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ₱96.2

$1.84 ₱111

-13.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱92.0

$1.23 ₱74.4

24.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱61.0

$1.07 ₱64.4

-5.61%

Eggs

$2.06 ₱124

$2.26 ₱136

-8.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.68 ₱523

$9.23 ₱556

-5.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 ₱197

$3.74 ₱225

-12.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.02 ₱363

$8.65 ₱521

-30.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 ₱178

$2.64 ₱159

12.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₱95.1

$1.84 ₱111

-14.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ₱130

$2.33 ₱140

-7.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$1.20 ₱72.3

26.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 ₱82.8

$1.87 ₱113

-26.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.6

$2.29 ₱138

-51.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ₱52.1

$0.69 ₱41.45

26.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₱53.2

$0.76 ₱45.52

15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 ₱169

$3.24 ₱195

-13.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.81 ₱229

$8.98 ₱541

-57.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱50.2

$1.06 ₱64.0

-21.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₱90.3

$2.27 ₱137

-33.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.01

$0.26 ₱15.65

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.95 ₱479

$10.54 ₱635

-24.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱49.86

$0.85 ₱51.1

-2.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.20

$0.22 ₱13.18

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱126

$2.45 ₱148

-14.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱66.7

$1.12 ₱67.2

-0.89%

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

$28.9K ₱1.7M

$31.9K ₱1.9M

-9.42%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$20.4K ₱1.2M

-4.87%

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

$100 ₱6,034

$147 ₱8,862

-31.90%

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

$15.96 ₱961

$34.54 ₱2,080

-53.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.80 ₱1,614

$26.21 ₱1,578

2.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.14 ₱2,658

$22.28 ₱1,342

98.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.48 ₱1,052

$4.20 ₱253

316.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.12 ₱369

$5.62 ₱339

8.90%

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

$167 ₱10.1K

$150 ₱9,027

11.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₱851.1K

$4,770 ₱287.3K

196.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.60 ₱2,746

$49.05 ₱2,954

-7.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.80 ₱1,614

$27.49 ₱1,656

-2.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.3 ₱3,152

$74.2 ₱4,470

-29.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.23 ₱2,242

$45.80 ₱2,758

-18.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$128 ₱7,691

$341 ₱20.5K

-62.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 ₱6,031

$146 ₱8,785

-31.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱15.8K

$545 ₱32.8K

-51.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₱10.7K

$263 ₱15.8K

-32.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$379 ₱22.8K

$2,494 ₱150.2K

-84.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$301 ₱18.1K

$951 ₱57.3K

-68.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$220 ₱13.2K

$189 ₱11.4K

16.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

4.5

37.11%

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

Last update for Tarlac City: June 15, 2026

Last update for Baguio: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $128 in Tarlac City and $341 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tarlac City pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Tarlac City vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $180 vs $206, with Tarlac 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

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

Tarlac City wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tarlac City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Tarlac City pays 16% more on average, 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: $128 in Tarlac City versus $341 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $616 per month in Tarlac City versus $779 in Baguio – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tarlac City runs roughly 33% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Tarlac 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, Tarlac 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 Tarlac City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.