Cost of Living in Philippines - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Philippines
Address: PH

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $497 (excluding rent), and $778 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,184 (excluding rent), and $1,654 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 ₱235

$1.75 ₱104

$8.74 ₱519

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.12 ₱1,255

$13.20 ₱784

$52.8 ₱3,138

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.45 ₱205

$2.59 ₱154

$4.42 ₱263

Cappuccino

$2.41 ₱143

$0.90 ₱53.7

$4.14 ₱246

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

$0.74 ₱43.69

$0.43 ₱25.63

$1.39 ₱82.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₱24.55

$0.28 ₱16.57

$0.83 ₱49.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 ₱79.8

$0.90 ₱53.4

$2.69 ₱160

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱125

$1.41 ₱83.6

$4.39 ₱261

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 ₱106

$1.38 ₱82.1

$2.59 ₱154

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₱78.0

$0.86 ₱51.4

$1.80 ₱107

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱55.9

$0.77 ₱45.61

$1.19 ₱70.7

Eggs

$2.12 ₱126

$1.49 ₱88.8

$2.92 ₱173

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 ₱472

$3.24 ₱193

$19.34 ₱1,150

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 ₱265

$2.52 ₱150

$6.30 ₱375

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.66 ₱455

$5.25 ₱312

$10.88 ₱646

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 ₱184

$1.45 ₱86.3

$5.44 ₱323

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₱88.5

$0.72 ₱42.75

$2.88 ₱171

Oranges (1kg)

$2.65 ₱157

$1.04 ₱61.6

$5.20 ₱309

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱98.2

$0.54 ₱32.14

$2.71 ₱161

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ₱138

$0.92 ₱54.4

$3.65 ₱217

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₱150

$1.12 ₱66.5

$4.49 ₱267

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ₱86.3

$0.55 ₱32.42

$2.74 ₱163

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₱44.38

$0.45 ₱26.75

$1.45 ₱86.3

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 ₱183

$2.36 ₱140

$3.64 ₱216

Wine (Bottle)

$6.38 ₱379

$3.88 ₱231

$13.09 ₱778

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱70.6

$0.77 ₱45.83

$1.80 ₱107

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₱110

$1.04 ₱61.6

$2.60 ₱155

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱16.81

$0.22 ₱13.08

$0.65 ₱38.61

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.44 ₱621

$6.06 ₱360

$17.74 ₱1,054

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱48.41

$0.72 ₱42.96

$1.08 ₱64.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.17

$0.22 ₱13.06

$0.47 ₱27.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ₱154

$1.72 ₱102

$4.14 ₱246

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱69.3

$1.08 ₱63.9

$1.35 ₱80.2

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

$23.3K ₱1.4M

$17.9K ₱1.1M

$28.6K ₱1.7M

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

$21.0K ₱1.2M

$17.4K ₱1.0M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

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

$108 ₱6,428

$62.1 ₱3,693

$189 ₱11.2K

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

$28.10 ₱1,670

$8.71 ₱518

$43.57 ₱2,589

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.84 ₱1,833

$25.25 ₱1,501

$45.08 ₱2,679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.82 ₱1,950

$12.49 ₱742

$53.5 ₱3,180

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.75 ₱341

$2.74 ₱163

$9.12 ₱542

Cinema Ticket

$6.16 ₱366

$4.40 ₱262

$7.93 ₱471

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

$106 ₱6,326

$59.1 ₱3,512

$319 ₱19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,361 ₱259.2K

$1,403 ₱83.4K

$8,771 ₱521.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.41 ₱2,758

$14.46 ₱859

$90.4 ₱5,370

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.23 ₱1,499

$8.81 ₱524

$51.9 ₱3,081

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 ₱4,292

$43.67 ₱2,596

$114 ₱6,749

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.2 ₱3,698

$26.10 ₱1,551

$139 ₱8,273

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 ₱18.5K

$141 ₱8,350

$650 ₱38.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.5K

$86.9 ₱5,163

$382 ₱22.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$654 ₱38.8K

$263 ₱15.6K

$1,754 ₱104.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 ₱20.8K

$174 ₱10.3K

$870 ₱51.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,040 ₱180.7K

$874 ₱52.0K

$6,502 ₱386.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,494 ₱88.8K

$505 ₱30.0K

$3,434 ₱204.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$349 ₱20.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

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

Last update: January 12, 2026

By City in Philippines

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
51	Lipa	332386	31	$479	$629	$977	$1,405	96.71	174.19
52	Lucena	278924	25	$358	$498	$769	$1,256	130.89	147.74
53	Maasin City	85560	39	$519	$793	$1,246	$1,697	249.19	56.25
54	Magallanes, Cavite	23851	39	$432	$769	$975	$1,633	14.42	143.69
55	Makati	582602	61	$639	$1,230	$1,597	$2,747	22.11	193.92
56	Malaybalay	190712	39	$441	$770	$1,134	$1,649	29.93	74.66
57	Mambajao	41094	31	$451	$635	$1,021	$1,394	24.61	49.51
58	Mandaluyong	425758	43	$526	$853	$1,413	$1,779	218.16	197.25
59	Mandaue	364116	46	$503	$916	$1,444	$1,835	86.61	168.39
60	Manila	1780148	49	$560	$972	$1,319	$2,132	107.1	126.9
61	Marawi	207010	39	$503	$785	$1,234	$1,609	101	27.23
62	Marikina	456059	34	$454	$665	$1,150	$1,459	133.58	192.86
63	Muntinlupa	543445	46	$520	$931	$1,456	$1,973	104.41	180.3
64	Naga	115750	38	$426	$774	$966	$1,483	19.75	117.05
65	Negros	-	40	$458	$790	$1,021	$1,664	74.86	45.12
66	Nueva Ecija	-	33	$477	$667	$1,191	$1,470	97.86	106.59
67	Olongapo	233040	35	$438	$682	$968	$1,388	104.71	144.15
68	Ormoc	230998	39	$555	$795	$1,177	$1,659	138.15	70.09
69	Ozamiz	141828	38	$468	$772	$988	$1,635	122.38	81.97
70	Pagadian	199060	39	$496	$784	$1,083	$1,395	32.25	80.82
71	Palawan	939594	39	$478	$785	$1,150	$1,618	57.38	106.52
72	Pampanga	15616	33	$381	$657	$972	$1,564	30.38	147.54
73	Pangasinan	-	42	$413	$827	$954	$1,667	37.47	65.57
74	Panglao	39839	41	$471	$824	$889	$1,627	27.98	113.34
75	Paranaque City	-	46	$437	$907	$1,217	$1,887	97.78	182.39
76	Pasay	416522	46	$422	$924	$1,298	$1,677	81.85	175.44
77	Pasig	803159	44	$532	$876	$1,161	$1,928	74.74	208.54
78	Polomolok	172605	33	$477	$666	$1,089	$1,399	138.98	103.96
79	Puerto Galera	36606	45	$544	$908	$1,404	$1,853	88.1	77.36
80	Puerto Princesa	307079	41	$505	$819	$1,066	$1,556	34.61	106.52
81	Quezon City	2936116	45	$548	$905	$1,257	$1,883	68.77	192.51
82	Roxas	167003	31	$398	$622	$828	$1,325	125.89	91.79
83	San Fernando	354666	39	$447	$774	$1,079	$1,610	150.18	144.84
84	San Fernando, La Union	-	35	$416	$697	$1,023	$1,394	44.29	127.62
85	San Jose del Monte	651813	39	$506	$776	$1,091	$1,657	46.24	147.69
86	San Juan	126347	40	$620	$801	$1,352	$1,760	39.96	198.53
87	San Pablo	266068	42	$557	$843	$1,134	$1,681	153.17	145.46
88	San Pedro	326001	40	$519	$797	$1,299	$1,672	176.74	172.22
89	Santa Cruz, Laguna	123574	38	$458	$756	$1,095	$1,521	4.25	151.21
90	Santa Rosa	414812	37	$547	$748	$1,154	$1,500	63.7	165.8
91	Santiago City	-	33	$362	$657	$1,041	$1,380	-	-
92	Siargao	150000	39	$477	$768	$1,122	$1,632	44.38	38.77
93	Sorsogon City	168110	39	$456	$779	$1,183	$1,654	31.11	91.39
94	Subic Bay Freeport Zone	-	37	$570	$747	$1,187	$1,839	305.69	144.15
95	Surigao	171107	39	$444	$775	$1,013	$1,630	68.38	86.28
96	Tacloban	242089	42	$468	$831	$1,142	$1,545	81.06	107.11
97	Tagaytay	85330	39	$529	$775	$1,094	$1,683	211.24	147.75
98	Tagbilaran City	-	36	$538	$732	$1,170	$1,638	79.46	130.53
99	Taguig City	-	49	$576	$974	$1,436	$2,168	102.05	182.89
100	Tagum City	296202	38	$509	$752	$1,101	$1,559	77.07	102.8

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Philippines - Frequently Asked Questions

The Philippines often sits mid-range for Southeast Asia, offering a balance of value and lifestyle that suits travelers, expats, and digital nomads. The Cost of Living in Philippines tends to be lower in provincial towns and higher in major urban centers, especially near business districts and coastal hubs. You can stretch your budget by choosing longer stays in walkable neighborhoods with supermarkets, markets, and reliable public transport, and by combining room-sharing with quiet work-friendly spaces. Island life is delightful but can be pricier for housing and ferries; inland cities often deliver steadier costs and faster internet. Tip: Start with a short-term rental in a central area to test daily expenses before committing.

Daily life varies by island and city, but common patterns emerge. For housing, look for walkable districts near markets and transit; shared apartments or suites can reduce costs while keeping your workspace close. Food choices range from affordable street foods to fresh groceries for cooking at home; you'll find plenty of cafeterias and coworking-friendly cafes. Transport is diverse: jeepneys, buses, trains, and ride-hailing apps cover most routes, with some cities offering bike lanes. For digital nomads, neighborhood hubs with reliable Wi-Fi matter as much as proximity to cafes. The Philippines living cost tends to be steadier when you base yourself away from peak tourist seasons and in communities with local amenities. Tip: test several areas for internet reliability and noise levels before committing to a long stay.

Create a simple budgeting framework: categorize essentials, discretionary spends, and occasional splurges; track a monthly baseline with buffer for surprises like weather or travel. In the Philippines you’ll notice seasonal shifts in clothing, energy use, and transport demand; plan for heavier humidity summers by prioritizing shaded routes and airier spaces. Neighborhoods that blend affordability with access to amenities – markets, clinics, and coworking spaces – make daily life smoother. Try a two-step approach: sample a few districts during different times of the year, then pick a home base that aligns with your work hours, social life, and preferred pace. Tip: set a weekly review to adjust routines and cut variable costs early.