Cost of living in Philippines

Compare the cost of your home country to the actual living costs in the Philippines, simply select your home currency and see the difference!

All data is kept up to date by local members and actual students. Our latest update was on: 30th of June 2020

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Food			Price in ₱
12 eggs dozen, large			12.50 PHP
1 beer pint in local shops, markets			7 PHP
1 kg of tomatoes			8.50 PHP
Full chicken 2kg			38.75 PHP
1litre 100% fruit juice			8.50 PHP
1 package of cigarettes imported brands			25 PHP
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples			7.50 PHP
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality			48.95 PHP
2.5 liters of Coca-Cola			0.95 PHP
1 Bread loaf standard			9.50 PHP
Whole fat Yogurt. 500ml			12 PHP
1x6 pack Dardanelle tuna			18.50 PHP
Heinz baked beans 1 tin			8 PHP
1.5 kg Sugar			10 PHP
2 liter cooking oil			20 PHP
Yum-yum noodles per pack			2.00 PHP
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes			5.50 PHP
1 liter milk			8.50 PHP
Fast food restaurant large serving/ take away			25 PHP
Housing
Utilities per month (water, electricity, gas) for 2 people in flat			165 PHP
Wi-Fi monthly fee 8 Mbps (1 month)			145 PHP
Laundry detergent (bleach, sunlight liquid, washing surf… altogether)			58.50 PHP
House Cleaning fee per day			105 PHP
Large Gas heater price range upwards.			200 PHP
Original branded Electric Fans			200 PHP
Original branded Electric kettle.			120 PHP
40 inches Beko flat screen HD TV set			2000 PHP
Single bed Blankets			120 PHP
Personal Care
Avon for women and men cologne			100 PHP
Ladies hair plaiting.			60 PHP
Ladies Sanitaryware (Pads and Tampoons)			18 PHP
Men's haircut			40 PHP
Ibuprofen, Panadol, Grandpa Pain killers box of 12 dosses			24.50 PHP
Mobile package local network providers’ talk-time, data and messages			65 PHP
1 month of gym subscription.			105 PHP
Earphones original (Samsung. iPhone)			90 PHP
Unisex Loris perfume			30 PHP
Gadgets maintenance and repairs (cellphone, laptops, tablets...) starting price.			100 PHP
Smart phones (Samsung, Xiaomi, HTC, IPhone) price range upwards			1000 PHP
Laptops (Samsung, Lenovo, Hp, Monster, Dell etc.) price range upwards			3000 PHP
Entertainment
Boat cruise with refreshments and finger snacks			120 PHP
Go carting 30mins			120 PHP
Movie House 3d cinema			30 PHP
Summer Festivals (jet, bumper cars, lucky deep ...(per ticket)			15 PHP
Photo shoot			120 PHP
Cappuccino / expresso/ coffee			12.50 PHP
3 course dinner local restaurant two people			96.50 PHP
3 course dinner classy, exotic restaurant two people			150 PHP
Play station 4 console without games.			2000 PHP
Spalding Basketball			200 PHP
Original branded Racket and Wilson’s tennis balls			500 PHP
Transportation
Taxi fare on average 5-10km			45 PHP
Public transport per trip one way maximum fare			30 PHP
1 liter petrol/diesel			6.50 PHP
1 day rent a car cost			140 PHP
Driver’s license			2300 PHP
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (Denim or similar)			150 PHP
1 pair of men’s formal shoes			215 PHP
1 pair original sport/casual shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands)			280 PHP
1 classy summer dress (Zara, H&M or similar retailers)			135.79 PHP
Ladies formal shoes original and durable			120 PHP
Back-pack, gym bag (Nike, Adidas, New balance)			150 PHP

The cost of living in the Philippines is less than in any Western country. Living on an island can cost you as low an average that ranges between USD$200 and USD$300 a month. While in the city with the apartments and condos it can cost you around USD$1100 a month.

Salaries

In the Philippines, just about everything can be bought cheaply compared to what you would pay back at home. Just take a look at the low wages in the country and it’s easy to understand why. Consider the fact that the minimum wage in Metro Manila (which has a high cost of living compared to the rest of the country) is PHP 491 a day (as of Apr 2017). Divide that by the exchange rate of PHP 50.19 to a US dollar, and that’s less than USD$9.78 a day.

Accommodation

Monthly rentals for sharing an apartment or a dormitory starts from 2500 Pesos. Expenses for other basic amenities such as electricity, water, internet, gas, a cable would be another 2000 Pesos. Average expenses for food can be estimated at another 2000 Pesos. Expenses for transportation, laundry, stationery, and personal supply can be at 1000 Pesos. If variable expenses such as clothes, books, health expenses, entertainment, personal care items are added, then total expense per month would be close to 9000 Philippine Pesos.

Food

A dozen eggs cost less than USD$1.75; the same as a pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Rice is under 50 cents per pound, bread is less than USD$1 per loaf, and locally produced cheese is about USD$2.50 per pound. Pasta and other packaged foods familiar to expatriates are widely available in most of the country. According to Numbeo.com data, basic and mid-range restaurants are cheap enough that you can afford to eat out on a regular basis if you choose. A simple but tasty and hearty meal at a busy local restaurant costs around USD$3 on average.

Transportation

For the long distances on the bigger islands, the buses are the best possibility. In big cities like Manila or Cebu City, the most common mean of transportation is the jeepney. The price is 4 Pesos (for the first 3 kilometers) and 1 Peso more for each successive km. The taxi price for the first 500 meters is 25 Pesos and additional 2 Pesos for every 250 meters thereafter.

Medical Insurance

Enrollment in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, known as “PhilHealth” is mandatory for all expats who are employed in the Philippines. This health insurance program is government organized. It is funded in part by government subsidies at the local and national level. It’s also financed through company payroll deductions. In addition to emergency and urgent care, PhilHealth subsidizes inpatient care and non-emergency surgeries. However, it does not cover all medical treatments and costs.

PhilHealth Premiums are automatically deducted from payrolls and employees and employers share the cost. Expats who do not work for a major employer can also voluntarily enroll with PhilHealth if they have legal residency status. As well, a limited number of foreign nationals can enroll in PhilHealth. The most common category of people which this applies to is those who marry Filipino citizens.

Entertainment

There are varied ways that you can entertain yourself in the Philippines and some of them include visiting the cinema, going to the gym, enjoying a field sport like football, tennis, basketball, enjoying a water sport such as snorkeling, underwater diving or paragliding. Some people consider meeting up with friends over drinks as another form of entertainment while for some, enjoying a game of sport on the TV is entertaining.

Cinema and Sports

Cinema forms one of the main entertainment aspects for the people of the Philippines. To go out for cinema, one has to shell out 170 P for one ticket. If you are into sports and like playing tennis, then renting a tennis court for your entertainment can cost you around 133.33 P for one hour. A one-month membership into a fitness club or gym can cost around 1690 P.

Nightclubs and Bars

Nightclubs and bars form other common and popular forms of entertainment for youngsters of the Philippines.  Major urban areas like Cebu and Manila have many popular nightclubs and bars and some examples of these include Embassy Nightclub in Manila, B Side for live music, Conspiracy bar, and garden café in Manila and LA café. 1951 Penguin café is a popular café for hanging out.

Performance Arts and Theatre

If you are into performing arts and theatre, then the Amazing Philippines theatre in Manila Film center building will be a delight for you and will offer the best entertainment. Another option for enjoying cultural shows in the Philippines is the Cultural Center of Philippines which is the venue for many dance performances and music shows. This place attracts many locals as well as foreigners.