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The Philippines is a country in South East Asia with breath-taking natural features and scenery on over 7.000 islands. You will find pristine beaches, volcanoes, rice terraces, hot springs and waterfalls aplenty in a very pleasant tropical climate. People are genuinely friendly and most of the Pinoys can speak English, so easy communication is guaranteed.
Despite its continuous economical downturn over the recent years, more Expats and Westerners love to move here for retirement and longer vacations. And for a good reason - the Philippines offer very comfortable and affordable Cost of Living conditions for the avid long-term traveler:
Following in the tradition of the Cost of Living Chart for Bali (which I updated with todays exchange rates for better comparison), you can find the costs for day-2-day items of the Philippines in this article. It includes local equivalents as well as international food, drinks and entertainment options.
The chart below was assembled with the help of Gerry, a Filipino advertising copywriter in Manila. His curiosity for anything about Filipino has led him to places around the Philippines such as Palawan, Boracay, Camiguin, Bohol, Batanes, Cebu, Quezon and many others. Check him out at his site Inner Sanctum.
The prices are mainly taken from department stores and supermarkets around Manila. Depending on your location in the Philippines, costs can be higher or lower. Sometimes on smaller islands prices go up, due to higher transportation costs. But local produce like meat or vegetables can be cheaper, as well as housing costs.
Here is the low-down:
The inflation in the Philippines is currently at a rate of 8.3%, although the government targets a corridor of 3-5%.
Good for you - if you can earn an income in a country with less inflation and your base currency is stable or appreciating, you still save more or spend less over a year - even with rising prices in Peso.
Comparing the prices above with Living Costs in Bali, there are several differences. While food and drinks prices seem to be lower in the Philippines (after all the country produces one of the cheapest and most delicious beers - and the local Tanduay Rum comes at unbeatable bargains), housing and transportation costs are generally higher than in Bali.
Although there are changes in the works for Indonesia, with a recent spike in petrol prices just days ahead, which are reflected in the mentioned chart.
Be aware though, that the housing costs above are mainly applicable for Manila, you can live cheaper in the countryside and on not so populated islands. Very popular with Expats or western Retirees are for instance the southern regions around Cebu, which offer cheaper costs of living, less traffic and pollution and short ways to natural wonders.
The Philippines is also a more westernized country than Indonesia, with more international food options and fast-food chains, than anywhere else outside the United States. It features also some of the biggest shopping malls in Asia - if not the world - around Metro Manila.
Would you like to see additional items or expenses in this list?
Please let me know via the Comment Form and I will update the spreadsheet accordingly.
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bkit walang adobo,?he.he Filipino is the best….
Wow this is great, the list is so comprehensive. I’m totally stealing your idea and posting one for Madrid this summer. Want to guess how much it more it will be for Spain? 10X? Maybe I won’t… It will be too sad…
200 dollars for hair extensions! wow!
I got a very nice haircut last March for only 40 pesos or 80c!
Hi Matt and Cathy,
The prices I collected for wellness service and products are at the uppermost end of the scale here in Manila. There is such a wide choice of salons and spas here, I chose to quote the most expensive ones since I cannot really vouch for the quality of services and products in the lower ends of the scale.
I’ve experienced going to lower priced salons only to be disappointed by the quality. However, in higher priced salons and spas, you get your money’s worth.
Cathy is right, there are US$0.80 haircuts and there are also hair extensions that cost from US$50 to US$70, but it’s a hit and miss deal. Cathy is lucky for finding a good hairdresser at that price. Usually, top-caliber hairdressers are snapped up by high-end salons or they tend to work abroad (mostly in cruise ships).
The botomline is, Manila is like a fun big maze where you really have to be adventurous if you want to find the cheapest deals at the best quality (Manila residents have “secret” places of their own which they don’t tell anyone, usually).
But if you want to be sure and have no time to seek those little secrets, best that you go high end just to avoid the hassles : )
Cheers!
Agree completely that it’s probably a question of standard. I remember having a haircut on Boracay for something around PhP40. But then - I usually go for a sub-average all-or-nothing cut with that electric hair clipping thingy. Within 10 minutes everything is over. Hair grows so fast here in the tropics anyway, that you’re actually only a few days completely bald.
Gerry - many thanks for elaborating a bit more on the prices. It’s quite clear now that everyone can find what one needs based on his/her own subjective expectations.
I am thinking of go to the Philippines next. Can’t wait to check out the country. I have a feeling I will be there a while.
Philippines are definitely on my to do list, wheres the best centre to fly from KL? Bangkok? What are the in-country air fare prices like: with so many islands and my sea-sickness I could see a flight or 2 happening!
Hi Mike
Please do visit the Philippines. As Chris has told me, it is one of those countries that are on a traveler’s “blackbook.” Our beaches are among the best in the world without the hordes of people on it or the great expense to have to shell out.
I have to admit, many are disappointed when they disembark here in Manila. The airport is squalid, the roads are traffic-choked and there are slum areas.
But just two hours away from Manila and you’ll get to see white-sand, deserted beaches in Zambales (try to look for Anawangin Beach) or great surf camps in La Union province, some four hours away by land.
A plane ride away and you’ll see even more fantastic beaches from Boracay to Palawan (which is where you’ll find the famed Tubbataha Reef and countless islets which resemble those you can find in Phi Phi, Thailand or Ha Long Bay in Vietnam–without the flock of tourists).
It’s quite common that the Philippines is mostly judged because of Manila but the country is so much more beautiful than what travelers initially see. Yes, the infrastructure here is quite below par compared to Thailand or Malaysia and are not tourist-friendly. But if you want a vacation that really takes you away from it all, then the Philippines is the place to visit.
Hi Lissie,
Domestic airfares are cheap since there’s an ongoing price war among the airlines. Prices range from $150 to $200 (two-way) depending on the airline and the distance from Manila.
Currently, the cheapest (and with the newest fleet) is Cebu Pacific Airline although I had a bad experience with them this summer since the flights got delayed or cancelled. Philippine Airlines (PAL) has a new domestic sub-brand called PAL-Express. Their planes are also new though being the flag carrier, they charge a bit higher (on the $200-range, two-way). But PAL-Express is mroe reliable and they fly out of the newer airport terminal here in Manila. The old domestic terminal where all the other domestic airlines fly out is simply too crowded and chaotic.
Hope this helped!
Cheers!
In addition to Gerry’s comments I just want to mention that the 2 main international airports are Manila and Cebu. If I remember correctly Cebu Pacific and Tiger Airways fly into Clark Base (a few hours north of Manila) as well, at least from Singapore.
While from Manila you can fly to almost anywhere in the country (even to fly to Palawan you probably have to fly into Manila first) - Cebu is a bit more relaxed, less hectic and offers abundant island paradises in short proximity (Bohol, Bantayan, Malapascua, Moalboal, …)
thanks for promoting the philippines… by the way… in our place there is this barber shop near a gasoline station that I go to have a haircut… they are my barbers for 18 years now! the haircut only costs 35 pesos!!! of course, without shampoo… but still it’s very cheap!!!
You have just motivated me to travel Philippines! I believe the islands must be awesome!
Can we exchange links? Please consider my travel blog - http://travelerfolio.com
Hope to hear from you soon.
~eunice~
TravelerFolio.com
Eunice, you got mail!
philippines will one day have lots of money
Hi Lissie,
From KL, Malaysia, there is a flight to the Philippines, (Clark Airport). Try visiting http://airasia.com, It’s about P 8,000 ($200) roundtrip , so one way, is about just half that.
Clark is about an hour and a half away from Manila. There are buses from Clark Airport that can take you to Manila for less than $10.
Should you want to visit a nice beach? like Boracay which is the most famous beach of 2007 according to yahoo. There are daily flights from Clark Airport to Caticlan Airport (Boracay), visit http://flyseair.com about $130 roundtrip.
I hope you get to visit Boracay and enjoy 4 kilometers of powdery white sand beach.
Welcome to the Philippines.
There are as well some nice secluded bays with crystal-clear water on the other side of Boracay. They are equally amazing and it surely pays to go there for a day trip via rented bike or simply flank down a moped taxi or tricycle.
Under a dollar for a beer. Bargain…
Hi Chris, this is a nice article, I’m pretty interested on ASEAN, but since I never go outside my country, I’m pretty oblivious with the actual living cost. Philippine is one country I’m intended to visit in future, this post makes a good reference.
But I’m pretty surprised though, hair cut for man is… 9 dollars? Wow, and here I think $2 is a rip-off already (Bandung). The Macdonalds price astonished me, seems like law of one price really working here.
Anyway, nice blog! ;)
Calvin, yes, if you read the other comments above you will see that some prices are more on the higher end. Gerry - who compiled the actual prices - wanted to make sure that it’s the right quality and you aren’t disappointent about the outcome. So, if you are happy with a standard plain-vanilla hair cut, you won’t have troubles finding that as well in most salons near you.
i did have plan to visit philippines but after i do read about how things cost there then i think thailand is better , i have been there 2 times and most of things seems be much cheaper there..for exsample massage, renting room , haircut, etc
Hi Gerry,
Wow, I am impressed by your website. I am a Filipino but I havn’t really explored my country that much. I bumped into your website when I am looking for information on the cost of living in Manila. My daughter is going back to Phil for university. This is really good inforamtion. Thank you.
One thing that I would like to recommend, go diving or snorkeling in Moalboal (South of Cebu). It is spectacular. I went snorkeling in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and Phi- phi Island in Thailand and I thought it was beautiful. But I didnt know I would find spectacular scenery 18m deep in the ocean in my own backyard. The corals are jsut beautiful and very colorful. I have never stepped foot on an acquiarium after I went diving in Moalboal. I heard Palawan and Masbate are also good places to dive. I have to try it out one day.
Rgds,
Ria
Things are more than I thought. I thought money would go further there …. thanks for the detailed info.
WOWOWEE!!!Great info. My family and I are going to the philippines and stay for awhile. We take vitamins and take medications. What is the average price of quality vitamins and other supplements. And the cost of prescribed medications. Thank you rudy
Rudy, if I remember correctly, prices for vitamins, medications and supplements are quite high, actually like in most Asian countries. There isn’t any special Philippine bonus to them, which makes some sense, if you think that those are mostly imported brands. Maybe it pays to check for some local alternatives or generika, which should be more based on local production costs.
Or even better - eat plenty of healthy foods and skip those artificial supplements.
This site is nice because you get to promote my homeland. I currently live in Angeles, Clark Philippines I work as a nurse and mind you most of our patients are foreigners (German, Koreans, British, Aussie, Americans) I guess they prefer to stay here in Angeles because there are cheap hotels here and its near to airport where you can also travel to Thailand, Singapore, Hongkong, Boracay and Subic. There are salons here that offers hair cut for forty pesos with shampoo and blow dry. Inside the SM clark mall there are salons for men that offers 80 pesos with good quality already. My other friends part time job is english tutorial for koreans. I guess its too cheap to live here thats why they stay longer here.
to rudy,
medications and vitamins are not that expensive as I can afford to buy my own vitamin. for me its way cheaper than medicines abroad. I got enervon multivitamins for 150 pesos its 30 pcs in a bottle. goodluck on your visit to wowowee!