Cost of Living Comparison Between Tuguegarao and Arak Cost of Living Comparison Between Tuguegarao and Arak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $643 in Tuguegarao versus $430 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,018 in Tuguegarao versus $669 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,393 in Tuguegarao versus $907 in Arak.

Living in Tuguegarao is roughly 49% more expensive than Arak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tuguegarao 52% lower, Arak 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 ₱105

$2.97 $2.97

-42.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.51 ₱827

$13.74 $13.74

-1.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.59 ₱158

$2.56 $2.56

1.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 $0.88

Cappuccino

$2.33 ₱143

$1.27 $1.27

83.46%

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

$0.48 ₱29.56

$0.36 $0.36

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱18.96

$1.04 $1.04

-70.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ₱88.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₱118

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱117

$0.63 $0.63

204.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱72.9

$0.58 $0.58

105.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 ₱49.71

$1.94 $1.94

-58.25%

Eggs

$2.21 ₱135

$1.02 $1.02

116.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.38 ₱391

$1.89 $1.89

237.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 ₱228

$1.93 $1.93

93.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱523

$8.59 $8.59

-0.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$0.88 $0.88

204.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ₱113

$1.11 $1.11

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱144

$0.58 $0.58

305.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱71.7

$0.41 $0.41

185.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 ₱117

$0.39 $0.39

389.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 ₱137

$0.37 $0.37

502.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.17

$0.34 $0.34

111.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱43.01

$0.23 $0.23

204.35%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.03 $1.03

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 ₱132

$1.80 $1.80

20.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.11 ₱557

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱64.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.18

$0.43 $0.43

-34.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 $9.97

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱56.8

$0.37 $0.37

151.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.70

$0.09 $0.09

166.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.38 ₱145

$1.21 $1.21

96.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.2

$0.35 $0.35

217.14%

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

$32.0K ₱2.0M

$43.0K $43.0K

-25.56%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$39.9K $39.9K

-48.61%

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

$35.42 ₱2,167

$10.17 $10.17

248.28%

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

$18.07 ₱1,105

$2.06 $2.06

777.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.83 ₱1,581

$5.69 $5.69

353.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.38 ₱2,042

$13.09 $13.09

155.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.45 ₱272

$16.11 $16.11

-72.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 ₱345

$0.98 $0.98

474.49%

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

$151 ₱9,214

$62.1 $62.1

142.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,743 ₱290.2K

$1,967 $1,967

141.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.53 ₱2,969

$12.86 $12.86

277.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.28 ₱1,669

$8.21 $8.21

232.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.21 ₱2,705

$44.82 $44.82

-1.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.42 ₱1,616

$45.50 $45.50

-41.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.0K

$315 $315

-16.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱11.0K

$192 $192

-6.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₱36.1K

$479 $479

23.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 ₱24.5K

$305 $305

31.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,370 $1,370

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$532 $532

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$217 ₱13.3K

$323 $323

-32.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

18.33

-75.45%

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

Last update for Tuguegarao: April 27, 2026

Last update for Arak: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Tuguegarao and $315 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 49% 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 Tuguegarao vs $14.00 in Arak. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $86.0, with Arak 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

Tuguegarao vs Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Arak earns 49% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Tuguegarao versus $315 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $151 in Tuguegarao versus $62.1 in Arak. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Arak – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $14.00 in Tuguegarao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Arak 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, Tuguegarao and Arak 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 Arak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Tuguegarao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.