Cost of Living Comparison Between Tuguegarao and Sambalpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Tuguegarao and Sambalpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $624 in Tuguegarao versus $325 in Sambalpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Tuguegarao versus $524 in Sambalpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,411 in Tuguegarao versus $722 in Sambalpur.

Living in Tuguegarao is roughly 92% more expensive than in Sambalpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tuguegarao 53% lower, Sambalpur 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tuguegarao
Sambalpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82 ₱112
$2.26 ₹218
-19.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.26 ₱816
$9.19 ₹885
44.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.59 ₱160
$2.35 ₹226
10.21%
Cappuccino
$2.31 ₱142
$1.54 ₹148
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₱31.96
$0.22 ₹21.07
136.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₱20.56
$0.16 ₹15.29
106.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ₱88.1
$1.38 ₹133
3.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 ₱119
$3.46 ₹333
-44.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tuguegarao
Sambalpur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ₱113
$0.56 ₹54.3
226.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 ₱77.0
$0.48 ₹46.66
160.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 ₱47.81
$0.56 ₹53.6
39.29%
Eggs
$2.20 ₱136
$0.94 ₹90.9
134.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.39 ₱394
$3.81 ₹366
67.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 ₱237
$1.73 ₹166
121.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.45 ₱520
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ₱163
$2.21 ₹213
19.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₱113
$0.60 ₹58.0
205.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ₱141
$0.92 ₹88.3
148.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 ₱74.0
$0.28 ₹26.82
328.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 ₱113
$0.36 ₹34.40
408.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 ₱140
$0.30 ₹29.10
660.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ₱41.00
$0.44 ₹42.26
52.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₱43.75
$0.30 ₹28.91
136.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09 ₱129
$4.19 ₹403
-50.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.76 ₱539
$7.91 ₹762
10.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₱65.4
$1.44 ₹139
-26.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 ₱145
$2.95 ₹284
-20.00%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.94 ₹668
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tuguegarao
Sambalpur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱15.89
$0.37 ₹35.21
-29.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$5.65 ₹544
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 ₱56.6
$1.18 ₹114
-22.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.45
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ₱149
$2.29 ₹220
5.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₱67.9
$0.90 ₹86.6
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K ₱2.0M
$9,321 ₹897.4K
246.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₱1.3M
$19.7K ₹1.9M
3.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tuguegarao
Sambalpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.77 ₱2,141
$37.42 ₹3,603
-7.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.94 ₱1,104
$3.31 ₹319
441.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.25 ₱1,616
$5.71 ₹550
359.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tuguegarao
Sambalpur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.76 ₱2,079
$17.35 ₹1,671
94.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.49 ₱276
$5.87 ₹565
-23.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68 ₱349
$3.51 ₹338
61.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tuguegarao
Sambalpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$151 ₱9,289
$29.15 ₹2,807
417.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,781 ₱294.4K
$2,056 ₹198.0K
132.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tuguegarao
Sambalpur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.24 ₱2,970
$23.39 ₹2,252
106.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.50 ₱1,693
$29.03 ₹2,795
-5.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.13 ₱2,717
$52.7 ₹5,072
-16.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.10 ₱1,669
$19.37 ₹1,865
39.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tuguegarao
Sambalpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 ₱16.6K
$64.5 ₹6,214
318.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 ₱10.8K
$40.87 ₹3,935
329.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 ₱36.5K
$175 ₹16.9K
238.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 ₱24.7K
$122 ₹11.8K
227.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$586 ₹56.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$202 ₹19.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tuguegarao
Sambalpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$211 ₱13.0K
$360 ₹34.6K
-41.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
8.33
-45.98%

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

Last update for Tuguegarao: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sambalpur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Tuguegarao and $64.5 in Sambalpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sambalpur pays 70% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Tuguegarao vs $9.00 in Sambalpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $92.0 per month, with Sambalpur 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 Sambalpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sambalpur cheaper than Tuguegarao?
Sambalpur is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tuguegarao or Sambalpur?
On paper, salaries run 70% lower in Sambalpur. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tuguegarao and Sambalpur?
Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Tuguegarao versus $64.5 in Sambalpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $151 in Tuguegarao versus $29.15 in Sambalpur. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Tuguegarao or in Sambalpur?
Dining out is cheaper in Sambalpur – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $13.00 in Tuguegarao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Tuguegarao or Sambalpur?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sambalpur gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Tuguegarao or in Sambalpur?
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.
Which city is safer, Tuguegarao or Sambalpur?
Safety-wise, Tuguegarao and Sambalpur are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sambalpur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Tuguegarao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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