Cost of Living in Philippines - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Philippines
Address: PH

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $502 (excluding rent), and $797 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,180 (excluding rent), and $1,635 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 ₱234

$1.78 ₱103

$8.89 ₱518

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.42 ₱1,247

$13.38 ₱779

$53.6 ₱3,118

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.62 ₱211

$2.71 ₱158

$4.63 ₱270

Cappuccino

$2.31 ₱135

$0.87 ₱50.5

$3.98 ₱232

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

$0.79 ₱45.83

$0.46 ₱26.89

$1.49 ₱86.8

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₱22.62

$0.26 ₱15.27

$0.78 ₱45.24

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₱79.0

$0.91 ₱52.9

$2.71 ₱158

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱125

$1.43 ₱83.2

$4.45 ₱259

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₱109

$1.45 ₱84.7

$2.73 ₱159

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₱73.2

$0.83 ₱48.21

$1.72 ₱100

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱57.7

$0.81 ₱47.09

$1.25 ₱73.0

Eggs

$2.07 ₱121

$1.46 ₱84.8

$2.84 ₱166

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 ₱456

$3.20 ₱186

$19.08 ₱1,111

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.34 ₱253

$2.45 ₱143

$6.13 ₱357

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.27 ₱423

$4.99 ₱290

$10.33 ₱601

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 ₱180

$1.45 ₱84.7

$5.45 ₱317

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₱83.7

$0.69 ₱40.43

$2.78 ₱162

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ₱161

$1.08 ₱63.1

$5.44 ₱317

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₱94.9

$0.53 ₱31.05

$2.68 ₱156

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱131

$0.88 ₱51.4

$3.52 ₱205

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 ₱154

$1.17 ₱68.0

$4.68 ₱273

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 ₱83.3

$0.54 ₱31.33

$2.70 ₱157

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱44.17

$0.46 ₱26.63

$1.48 ₱85.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱174

$2.28 ₱133

$3.52 ₱205

Wine (Bottle)

$6.71 ₱390

$4.06 ₱237

$13.93 ₱811

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱69.7

$0.78 ₱45.28

$1.81 ₱105

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₱107

$1.03 ₱60.0

$2.58 ₱150

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.11

$0.20 ₱11.75

$0.60 ₱34.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.61 ₱618

$6.15 ₱358

$18.03 ₱1,050

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱45.47

$0.69 ₱40.36

$1.03 ₱60.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱14.49

$0.20 ₱11.71

$0.43 ₱25.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱157

$1.80 ₱105

$4.31 ₱251

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱68.8

$1.09 ₱63.4

$1.37 ₱79.5

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

$23.4K ₱1.4M

$18.0K ₱1.0M

$28.8K ₱1.7M

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$18.0K ₱1.1M

$27.1K ₱1.6M

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

$106 ₱6,164

$60.8 ₱3,541

$185 ₱10.7K

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

$28.28 ₱1,647

$8.77 ₱511

$43.85 ₱2,554

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.34 ₱1,767

$24.85 ₱1,447

$44.36 ₱2,583

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.95 ₱1,919

$12.53 ₱730

$53.7 ₱3,128

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.47 ₱319

$2.61 ₱152

$8.69 ₱506

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 ₱360

$4.42 ₱257

$7.96 ₱463

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

$106 ₱6,187

$59.0 ₱3,435

$319 ₱18.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,452 ₱259.2K

$1,433 ₱83.4K

$8,953 ₱521.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.41 ₱2,702

$14.46 ₱842

$90.4 ₱5,262

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.78 ₱1,501

$9.00 ₱524

$53.0 ₱3,086

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.1 ₱4,198

$43.60 ₱2,539

$113 ₱6,601

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.9 ₱3,722

$26.81 ₱1,561

$143 ₱8,327

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 ₱18.2K

$141 ₱8,199

$651 ₱37.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱10.5K

$88.8 ₱5,173

$391 ₱22.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 ₱38.6K

$267 ₱15.5K

$1,780 ₱103.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 ₱20.8K

$177 ₱10.3K

$887 ₱51.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,120 ₱181.7K

$885 ₱51.5K

$6,580 ₱383.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,449 ₱84.4K

$523 ₱30.5K

$3,557 ₱207.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$349 ₱20.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

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

Last update: March 3, 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	$450	$632	$1,093	$1,428	96.71	174.19
52	Lucena	278924	25	$323	$483	$724	$1,254	130.89	147.74
53	Maasin City	85560	39	$551	$799	$1,059	$1,726	249.19	56.25
54	Magallanes, Cavite	23851	39	$459	$782	$1,126	$1,618	14.42	143.69
55	Makati	582602	61	$631	$1,221	$1,622	$2,818	22.11	193.92
56	Malaybalay	190712	39	$569	$778	$1,054	$1,651	29.93	74.66
57	Mambajao	41094	31	$421	$615	$978	$1,363	24.61	49.51
58	Mandaluyong	425758	43	$543	$847	$1,413	$1,813	218.16	197.25
59	Mandaue	364116	46	$599	$905	$1,409	$1,813	86.61	168.39
60	Manila	1780148	49	$571	$951	$1,341	$2,111	107.1	126.9
61	Marawi	207010	39	$485	$773	$981	$1,630	101	27.23
62	Marikina	456059	34	$417	$673	$1,019	$1,425	133.58	192.86
63	Muntinlupa	543445	46	$534	$938	$1,201	$1,931	104.41	180.3
64	Naga	115750	38	$420	$760	$989	$1,459	19.75	117.05
65	Negros	-	40	$554	$805	$1,177	$1,648	74.86	45.12
66	Nueva Ecija	-	33	$452	$667	$1,353	$1,518	97.86	106.59
67	Olongapo	233040	35	$393	$688	$1,106	$1,362	104.71	144.15
68	Ormoc	230998	39	$485	$782	$1,266	$1,665	138.15	70.09
69	Ozamiz	141828	39	$513	$768	$1,206	$1,595	122.38	81.97
70	Pagadian	199060	38	$464	$777	$1,093	$1,375	32.25	80.82
71	Palawan	939594	39	$478	$779	$1,127	$1,623	57.38	106.52
72	Pampanga	15616	33	$439	$659	$1,114	$1,556	30.38	147.54
73	Pangasinan	-	42	$524	$825	$1,080	$1,676	37.47	65.57
74	Panglao	39839	41	$396	$813	$898	$1,606	27.98	113.34
75	Paranaque City	-	46	$441	$905	$1,130	$1,888	97.78	182.39
76	Pasay	416522	46	$455	$903	$1,168	$1,659	81.85	175.44
77	Pasig	803159	44	$580	$888	$1,098	$1,950	74.74	208.54
78	Polomolok	172605	33	$414	$650	$851	$1,431	138.98	103.96
79	Puerto Galera	36606	45	$577	$884	$1,275	$1,845	88.1	77.36
80	Puerto Princesa	307079	41	$442	$831	$1,191	$1,579	34.61	106.52
81	Quezon City	2936116	45	$537	$901	$1,260	$1,857	68.77	192.51
82	Roxas	167003	31	$391	$615	$843	$1,352	125.89	91.79
83	San Fernando	354666	39	$490	$778	$1,043	$1,625	150.18	144.84
84	San Fernando, La Union	-	35	$501	$680	$1,108	$1,373	44.29	127.62
85	San Jose del Monte	651813	39	$508	$798	$1,153	$1,679	46.24	147.69
86	San Juan	126347	40	$515	$788	$1,400	$1,781	39.96	198.53
87	San Pablo	266068	42	$530	$846	$1,057	$1,701	153.17	145.46
88	San Pedro	326001	41	$559	$824	$1,221	$1,718	176.74	172.22
89	Santa Cruz, Laguna	123574	38	$530	$764	$984	$1,570	4.25	151.21
90	Santa Rosa	414812	37	$548	$723	$1,351	$1,517	63.7	165.8
91	Santiago City	-	33	$383	$663	$796	$1,392	-	-
92	Siargao	150000	39	$480	$764	$1,124	$1,631	44.38	38.77
93	Sorsogon City	168110	39	$417	$779	$1,158	$1,611	31.11	91.39
94	Subic Bay Freeport Zone	-	37	$465	$738	$1,326	$1,868	305.69	144.15
95	Surigao	171107	39	$452	$766	$1,086	$1,602	68.38	86.28
96	Tacloban	242089	42	$514	$828	$1,245	$1,585	81.06	107.11
97	Tagaytay	85330	39	$484	$757	$1,148	$1,674	211.24	147.75
98	Tagbilaran City	-	36	$428	$734	$1,152	$1,622	79.46	130.53
99	Taguig City	-	49	$540	$983	$1,257	$2,152	102.05	182.89
100	Tagum City	296202	38	$502	$747	$1,199	$1,601	77.07	102.8

Philippines Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

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.