Cost of Living in Philippines

"That's a difficult question. It all depends on the retiree's needs and his ability to live within his means. I believe that one can make it work at almost any income level if they are willing to make the appropriate sacrifices," explained one expat.

"The cost of living in the Philippines can vary depending on the city and lifestyle of each individual, but in general prices are considered to be generally low. Groceries and everyday items can be found at very reasonable prices compared to other countries in the region. Many foreigners find that they can easily afford basic necessities, such as housing, transportation, and food, while still having money left over to explore the many attractions and recreational activities that the Philippines has to offer," said one person in Philippines.

"For Air conditioning, internet, phone, cable TV, water, tax, transportation, pharmacy, food and hardware, and all extras cost me $1200 Canadian dollars a month," remarked one expat in Prudential Village, Daliao, Davao City.

"With the local currency weakening over the past year, it has exceeded my plans. I have good spending power here, but try to economize when possible," wrote a person living in Cebu City.

"Living in the Philippines compared to the United States can potentially be very cost effective, as basic day-to-day expenses such as housing, food, transportation and clothing tend to be significantly lower in the Philippines. Additionally, entertainment, leisure activities and recreational sports are generally cheaper in the Philippines as well and provide a greater variety of choices due to the growing population and culture. In general, the cost of living in the Philippines tends to be much lower than in the United States," explained one expat living in Philippines.

"The cost to build or purchase a home here in the Philippines overlooking the South China Sea is a small fraction of what the cost would have been in the San Diego area where we used to live. The lot is one half acre and we paid $1,800 USD. The same size lot on the ocean in San Diego, California would cost over one million USD," explained one expat.

"I haven't done a study to find the average. But for anecdotal evidence: My wife and I looked for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartment. (3 bedrooms so we'd have one for us, one for the housekeeper, and a guest room. 2 baths so if someone is taking a shower and you have to go, you're not left hopping on one foot until they get out.) Prices we found for such a place were around 20k to 50k pesos per month. Obviously depending on how nice it is, location, etc. We settle on a place for P23k with AC in every room, fully furnished, in a gated community with 24 hour guards. I think that was a good deal, but not a jump up and down and shout great deal. If you're a single person looking for 1 bedroom, or if you'll take a place that isn't furnished, you can pay less. If you want something big and fancy with a pool and a private garden, expect to pay more. Places farther from city center are cheaper -- my wife wanted someplace close to malls etc, so we're in the middle of Mactan. I've heard of expats getting 1 BR apartments for under P10k -- I think that's doable. Housing prices in the Philippines seem to vary widely. Two very similar places could have very different prices. I see much more range in price here than I saw in the US. So it can make a huge difference if you take time to shop around. Two things to consider: 1. Filipino apartments are often very small. If you're looking at on-line listings, pay attention to the size of the apartment. One bedroom apartments are often like 25 sq meters. 100 sq meters is a big place by local standards. 2. Landlords often ask for 2 months rent for a security deposit and 2 months rent in advance. So you have to put down 4 months rent to move in. I come from the US where it's common for apartments to have "move in specials" where the first month is free and there's 1 month security deposit, so this was a real surprise to me. Make sure you have the cash to move in. Also, this is often negotiable. I suspect the high move in cost is more of an initial negotiating position than they really expect to get that, but I don't have enough experience to know. I came here from Michigan, which has a fairly low housing cost. A 2 BR apartment in my area was around $1000 - $1500 per month. If you're coming from New York City or Los Angeles, $3000 a month would probably sound like there must be something wrong with it that they're giving it away so cheap! Rents here are WAY lower than in the US," said one person in Cebu.

"Lower than Sydney by miles! Condos can be had for 20k/mo and up, all the way to 70k/mo if you are getting a good allowance or feeling rich. Furnished adds far more than the cost of buying stuff, so if you are staying more than a year consider going unfurnished," remarked one expat in Manila.

"The price of a nice 1 bedroom apartment in Philippines can vary greatly depending on location, size, and amenities. On average, rental prices for a 1 bedroom apartment range from about $250 to up to $800 per month. A nice 2 bedroom apartment can cost anywhere from $400 to up to $1800 per month, depending on the same criteria," wrote an expat living in Philippines.

"Rental properties in the Philippines often come with basic kitchen appliances, such as a refrigerator and a stove. Additionally, washing machines, microwave ovens, and water heaters may be included in some rental properties. Generally, air-conditioners and other electrical appliances are not provided in the rental properties and are the responsibility of the tenant," wrote an expat living in Philippines.