For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $771 in the Philippines, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the Philippines and in Pakistan
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the Philippines and in Pakistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $771 in the Philippines versus $483 in Pakistan.
Philippines $771
Pakistan $483
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,185 in the Philippines versus $736 in Pakistan.
Philippines $1,185
Pakistan $736
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,599 in the Philippines versus $988 in Pakistan.
Philippines $1,599
Pakistan $988
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in the Philippines: monthly costs span $429 to $1,230, compared to $291–$607 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in the Philippines.
🌍
Living in the Philippines is roughly 60% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: the Philippines 43% lower, Pakistan 65% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Philippines
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.86₱247
$2.11PKR 582
82.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.54₱1,378
$13.97PKR 3,863
54.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.37₱216
$5.50PKR 1,522
-38.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.22PKR 615
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.31PKR 1,192
-
Cappuccino
$2.18₱139
$1.97PKR 545
10.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70₱44.64
$0.38PKR 105
84.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₱22.76
$0.23PKR 63.6
56.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.23₱78.5
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90₱121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Philippines
Pakistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72₱110
$0.87PKR 239
97.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21₱77.6
$0.60PKR 165
101.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85₱54.6
$1.21PKR 334
-29.75%
Eggs
$1.92₱123
$1.21PKR 333
58.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.17₱459
$5.42PKR 1,499
32.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.07₱260
$2.83PKR 782
43.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.78₱434
$5.06PKR 1,399
33.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72₱174
$1.20PKR 331
126.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35₱86.6
$0.64PKR 176
110.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38₱153
$0.87PKR 241
173.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42₱91.0
$0.54PKR 148
162.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16₱138
$0.33PKR 91.7
554.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.52₱161
$0.39PKR 108
546.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34₱85.4
$0.37PKR 104
262.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱40.12
$0.41PKR 113
53.66%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.08PKR 574
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.07PKR 296
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.36PKR 652
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74₱175
$2.14PKR 593
28.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.41₱410
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16₱74.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱112
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Philippines
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₱15.37
$0.20PKR 55.0
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.17₱843
$10.01PKR 2,766
31.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76₱48.36
$0.88PKR 243
-13.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.73
$0.56PKR 155
-58.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.91₱122
$2.22PKR 613
-13.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₱69.8
$1.29PKR 357
-15.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K₱1.3M
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
15.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K₱1.2M
$24.3KPKR 6.7M
-20.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Philippines
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101₱6,448
$110PKR 30.5K
-8.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.64₱873
$5.41PKR 1,494
152.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.68₱1,708
$15.79PKR 4,365
68.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Philippines
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.58₱1,893
$18.50PKR 5,115
59.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.72₱366
$11.09PKR 3,065
-48.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.49₱352
$4.32PKR 1,194
27.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Philippines
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$140₱8,973
$56.4PKR 15.6K
148.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,614₱359.3K
$1,511PKR 417.9K
271.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Philippines
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.27₱2,705
$17.56PKR 4,855
140.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.59₱1,510
$23.58PKR 6,518
0.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.6₱4,323
$76.7PKR 21.2K
-11.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.4₱3,736
$35.08PKR 9,698
66.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Philippines
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353₱22.6K
$150PKR 41.5K
135.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$218₱14.0K
$87.4PKR 24.2K
149.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$732₱46.9K
$320PKR 88.6K
128.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$424₱27.1K
$190PKR 52.5K
123.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,393₱217.2K
$970PKR 268.3K
249.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,818₱116.3K
$520PKR 143.9K
249.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Philippines
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$307₱19.7K
$192PKR 53.1K
59.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
14.1
-48.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the Philippines: October 25, 2026
Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Philippines
$218 28.3%
Pakistan
$87 18.1% ↓ 60%$131
🛒Groceries & Markets
Philippines
$187 24.3%
Pakistan
$94 19.5% ↓ 49.9%$93
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Philippines
$141 18.3%
Pakistan
$131 27.2% ↓ 6.8%$9.6
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Philippines
$86 11.2%
Pakistan
$69 14.3% ↓ 20.3%$18
🍽Eating Out
Philippines
$81 10.5%
Pakistan
$59 12.3% ↓ 26.8%$22
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Philippines
$41 5.3%
Pakistan
$27 5.6% ↓ 33.1%$13
🚌Getting Around
Philippines
$16 2.1%
Pakistan
$14 3% ↓ 9.7%$1.6
🏠Accommodation & Living
Philippines
$424 26.5%
Pakistan
$190 19.2% ↓ 55.2%$234
🛒Groceries & Markets
Philippines
$439 27.5%
Pakistan
$228 23% ↓ 48.1%$211
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Philippines
$155 9.7%
Pakistan
$137 13.9% ↓ 11.5%$18
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Philippines
$192 12%
Pakistan
$153 15.5% ↓ 20.3%$39
🍽Eating Out
Philippines
$270 16.9%
Pakistan
$186 18.9% ↓ 31%$84
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Philippines
$87 5.4%
Pakistan
$65 6.6% ↓ 24.8%$22
🚌Getting Around
Philippines
$33 2%
Pakistan
$29 3% ↓ 9.8%$3.2
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $261 in the Philippines, $137 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $526 in Manila vs $261 in Islamabad.
💰National salary averages: $283 in the Philippines, $185 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 91% higher in the Philippines.
⭐Dining out costs 38% more in the Philippines.
⭐Public transport is 30% more expensive in the Philippines.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Philippines vs Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and the Philippines?
At $483 per month in Pakistan and $771 in the Philippines, Pakistan comes out about 37% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Pakistan: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $261 in the Philippines and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to Pakistan or to the Philippines?
It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.
Philippines vs other spots: cost of living compared