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: $447 in Tuguegarao versus $477 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $733 in Tuguegarao versus $735 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,018 in Tuguegarao versus $993 in Arak.

Living in Tuguegarao costs roughly 6% less than in Arak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tuguegarao 68% lower, Arak 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.56 ₱98.0

$3.58 $3.58

-56.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.89 ₱1,059

$13.09 $13.09

29.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.79 ₱175

$4.09 $4.09

-31.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 $0.81

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 $0.57

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₱116

$1.30 $1.30

42.31%

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

$0.47 ₱29.35

$0.48 $0.48

-2.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₱17.46

$1.68 $1.68

-83.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ₱63.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₱97.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱102

$0.55 $0.55

196.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 ₱73.1

$0.52 $0.52

125.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 ₱46.31

$1.94 $1.94

-61.86%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$1.27 $1.27

57.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.23 ₱328

$2.23 $2.23

134.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.61 $2.61

34.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 ₱487

$9.76 $9.76

-20.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 ₱140

$0.78 $0.78

185.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₱99.8

$0.98 $0.98

62.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 ₱153

$0.68 $0.68

258.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱65.1

$0.49 $0.49

112.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$0.41 $0.41

329.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$0.41 $0.41

329.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₱38.18

$0.52 $0.52

17.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.93

$0.29 $0.29

82.76%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 ₱118

$2.45 $2.45

-22.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.69 ₱545

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₱56.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₱129

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 $0.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.71 $7.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.06

$0.23 $0.23

234.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.33

$0.11 $0.11

109.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 ₱119

$0.99 $0.99

90.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.08 $0.08

1325.00%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$49.3K $49.3K

-56.64%

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

$19.2K ₱1.2M

$35.6K $35.6K

-46.14%

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

$32.48 ₱2,036

$10.08 $10.08

222.22%

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

$17.60 ₱1,103

$1.48 $1.48

1089.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.04 ₱1,444

$3.74 $3.74

516.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.27 ₱1,522

$10.05 $10.05

141.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.69 ₱294

$24.78 $24.78

-81.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.24 ₱329

$1.07 $1.07

389.72%

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

$134 ₱8,397

$85.5 $85.5

56.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K ₱680.6K

$2,383 $2,383

355.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.00 ₱1,818

$13.59 $13.59

113.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.17 ₱1,202

$8.70 $8.70

120.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.31 ₱2,465

$80.6 $80.6

-51.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.81 ₱1,492

$51.1 $51.1

-53.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$127 ₱7,966

$285 $285

-55.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$62.6 ₱3,922

$200 $200

-68.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$188 ₱11.8K

$674 $674

-72.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$129 ₱8,101

$338 $338

-61.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,326 $1,326

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$534 $534

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$205 ₱12.9K

$372 $372

-44.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

18.5

-63.51%

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

Last update for Tuguegarao: September 6, 2026

Last update for Arak: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $127 in Tuguegarao and $285 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arak pays 81% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $17.00 in Tuguegarao vs $13.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $95.0 per month, with Arak 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

Tuguegarao vs Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tuguegarao is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 81% lower in Arak. 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: $127 in Tuguegarao versus $285 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $134 in Tuguegarao versus $85.5 in Arak. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tuguegarao – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $13.00 in Arak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Arak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.