Cost of Living in Philippines

The Philippines has a very low cost of living. The peso has significantly lost much of its value since the Asian Financial Crisis but over the past few years the country is getting back on its feet. Expatriates will find living in the country very cheap compared to UK and US.

Food and drinks are very cheap in the Philippines. A regular individual spends around US$250 every month. One can eat in middle class restaurants every day since each meal would roughly cost US$4 to 5. There is also more expensive food in hotels and fine restaurants which are obviously higher in cost. Basically, Filipinos prefer buying raw goods like meat, fish, eggs, milk, fruits and vegetables at the local market to save more. The Philippines’ agricultural products are bountiful all-year round especially in surrounding provinces and the southern regions. Food in the capital city, Manila can cost twice as much compared to buying in other growing cities like Cebu and Davao. So, if you can cook, by all means go ahead to save cost. Usual meat products in the country are pork and beef. Poultry and eggs are also staple food sources. The Philippines has several varieties of fruits and vegetables like mango, papaya, cabbage, eggplant, durian and beans which are sold at less than US$1 per kilo.

Buying clothes in the Philippines can be considerably cheap. There are several types of textiles sold in all surrounding provinces which can cost only a fraction of the price compared to buying in Manila. Most expatriates travel down south when looking for exotic clothes like batik and tribal accessories since these are much cheaper. Cars and electronics cost the same as in Europe for instance and most brands are imported from Japan, the United States and China. The influx of china-made products has also caused locally made wares to decrease in price. The quality of these products is not as good but nevertheless very affordable. If looking for designer brands, you can venture into Manila since there are several malls and shopping centers housing popular names from Europe and the US.

If housing is not provided as part of your contract, then be rest assured that housing in the Philippines is very cheap. Rental rates in Manila are around US$250 to 350 every month for an excellent quality and spacious condominium. Living in smaller houses and apartments can cost around US$150.
Public hospitals are mainly subsidized by the government. There are also private institutions which are more expensive but render state-of-the-art approach and equipment.

Transportation in the major cities is convenient and cheap. In Manila, there are buses, trains, taxis and MRT which can quickly take people around. Going around town will cost around US$10 to 12.