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)
1	Alabang	71075	34	$409	$692	$959	$1,544	74.17	182.8
2	Albay	-	39	$500	$767	$1,180	$1,630	101.05	51.39
3	Angeles	462928	43	$566	$848	$1,076	$1,825	197.41	145.5
4	Antipolo	887399	38	$529	$753	$1,371	$1,765	20.09	152.28
5	Bacolod	561875	37	$514	$757	$1,012	$1,707	92.63	128.15
6	Bacong	41207	34	$481	$679	$998	$1,493	64.92	122.98
7	Bacoor	600609	39	$414	$783	$1,119	$1,569	123.19	185.26
8	Bago	191210	39	$463	$779	$1,055	$1,624	27.82	82.71
9	Baguio	366358	39	$476	$773	$1,118	$1,537	94.93	135.19
10	Bataan	-	30	$550	$615	$1,103	$1,369	120.32	94.43
11	Batangas	329874	33	$377	$665	$872	$1,285	121.19	152.54
12	Bayawan City	122747	40	$521	$802	$1,413	$1,768	109.09	45.81
13	Binan City	407037	44	$481	$892	$1,321	$1,792	141.94	167.74
14	Binangonan	313631	36	$516	$718	$1,350	$1,730	34.27	149
15	Bogo City	-	38	$440	$756	$964	$1,588	122.91	78.04
16	Bohol	-	35	$535	$698	$1,371	$1,541	24.89	68.85
17	Boracay	-	39	$427	$783	$1,109	$2,034	162.26	86.19
18	Bulacan	3700000	35	$461	$713	$1,054	$1,350	18.49	94.86
19	Butuan	337063	36	$488	$730	$881	$1,504	156.39	106.72
20	Cabanatuan	302231	26	$452	$519	$1,049	$1,557	251.17	121.42
21	Cadiz	154723	33	$438	$652	$1,042	$1,380	33.19	46.73
22	Cagayan de Oro City	728402	38	$441	$766	$988	$1,456	34.46	127.42
23	Cainta	322128	51	$471	$1,006	$1,131	$1,733	71.59	193.1
24	Calamba	539671	36	$438	$699	$1,031	$1,617	58.73	163.5
25	Calapan City	145786	40	$521	$795	$1,021	$1,653	121.06	106
26	Calbayog	183851	35	$475	$691	$1,094	$1,438	293.73	47.81
27	Caloocan	1661584	34	$313	$676	$704	$1,417	33.62	161.36
28	Cauayan City	-	34	$411	$693	$810	$1,393	25.48	61.7
29	Cavite	100674	30	$470	$595	$1,040	$1,387	18.95	159.78
30	Cebu	964169	44	$570	$882	$1,328	$1,782	50.55	124.5
31	Clark Freeport	-	39	$474	$771	$1,273	$1,606	-	-
32	Cotabato City	325079	37	$452	$724	$1,148	$1,545	37.34	108.48
33	Dagupan	174302	41	$492	$842	$1,296	$1,649	88.01	128.94
34	Dasmarinas	659019	28	$425	$543	$871	$1,405	198.85	192.6
35	Davao	1632991	41	$540	$811	$1,220	$1,709	312.84	157.11
36	Dipolog	130759	34	$449	$677	$1,028	$1,507	108.76	79.04
37	Dumaguete	134103	43	$544	$852	$1,422	$1,780	45.86	159.55
38	El Nido	50494	41	$587	$801	$1,368	$1,744	90.39	73.68
39	General Santos	697315	36	$413	$705	$860	$1,492	75.06	109.63
40	General Trias	450583	37	$477	$748	$1,312	$1,685	186.98	174.5
41	Iligan City	-	39	$545	$785	$1,268	$1,647	60	74.4
42	Iloilo	457626	35	$443	$701	$1,076	$1,381	197.24	132.37
43	Imus	496794	38	$554	$748	$1,248	$1,498	42.61	188.54
44	Island Garden City of Samal	116771	36	$406	$722	$871	$1,453	207.11	50.41
45	Koronadal City	174942	29	$397	$568	$1,043	$1,146	37.49	84.06
46	Laoag City	-	40	$518	$799	$1,084	$1,619	79.78	99.98
47	Lapu-Lapu	497604	43	$528	$859	$1,239	$1,781	98.7	152.77
48	Las Pinas	606293	42	$571	$851	$1,315	$1,769	119.07	176.75
49	Legazpi	209533	38	$567	$769	$1,214	$1,568	8.96	132.82
50	Ligao City	-	39	$417	$761	$1,036	$1,661	121.11	89.65

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.