Cost Of Living In The Philippines
expat 12-12-2025
Here’s a realistic breakdown of what it takes to live comfortably in Manila.💸
Plan smart, budget wisely, and enjoy your expat life in the Philippines!
I live in a rural province. Here’s an example of what our monthly expenses look like (for two of us).
| Expense | Amount(USD) | Amount(PHP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet (Starlink) | $64.41 | Php3,800.00 | |
| Electric (Region 8, 2nd half)) | $237.29 | Php14,000.00 | One or more A/C running 24x7; otherwise, it’s about 5K PHP/day |
| Food | $406.78 | Php24,000.00 | Twice a month trips to a western-style grocery store. Occasional restaurants. |
| Home Owner’s Insurance | $16.10 | Php950.00 | Paid yearly; through AXA Insurance |
| Land + House Property Taxes | $28.25 | Php1,667.00 | Paid yearly. |
| Transportation | $169.49 | Php10,000.00 | Gas for motorcycles & tricycle; occasional taxi fare |
| Diesel for generator | $42.37 | Php2,500.00 | On average; depends on whether and stability of the local power grid. |
| Drinking water | $4.24 | Php250.00 | Sometimes this is boiled, filtered well water, sometimes we buy it |
| Trash pickup | $6.78 | Php400.00 | Inconsistent, sometimes available, sometimes not, otherwise, burn it. |
| Health Insurance | $0.00 | Php0.00 | Paying as I go for this. Might not be the right option for others, but I’m generally healthy |
| Cooking gas | $19.15 | Php1130.00 | The kitchen stove has a dedicated gas tank connection. The tank is about the size of the propane tank on a typical barbecue grill. |
| --------------------------- | ----------- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Total | $994.86 | Php58,697.00 |
- Based on a $1.00 = Php59 exchange rate. This will vary.
These numbers will vary based upon:
- location
- lifestyle
- Current exchange rate
Assumptions:
- We own the property and house—not renting.
- Foreigners cannot own land.
- A foreigner can lease it. The house can be in the foreigner’s name. This is a complex topic that we will explore elsewhere.
- We decided to add a number of amenities to our house that increased the initial cost and the ongoing maintenence.
- Those amenities increase power usage greatly.
- We built our house slowly over the course of several years paying cash. There is no monthly rent or other expenses beyond what is mentioned.
- Keep these hidden costs in mind.
Doesn’t include:
- I bought a backup of the major electrical and mechanical components for the generators, batteries, etc.
- I have a refrigerator and deep freeze (ice chest as it is called locally).
- Expenses related to visas
- Generator & other machinary maintenance
- tools
- parts
- occasionally hiring someone who knows what they are doing (electrician, motorcycle repair guy).
- The business-related expenses here in the Philippines.
- Transportation costs to/from airport for occasional runs to Manila.
- Visa costs. Varies depending on your type of visa.
- Ongoing home improvement projects
Many of these items are costs that new expats don’t anticipate until they are already in the Philippines.
Renting
If you rent a house in the rural areas, the costs can vary widely. In our province, I haven’t met too many foreigners that live here. The ones I have met bought land (with their Filipina significant other) and built their own house. So, renting a house that a westerner would want to live in here for the long-term isn’t really a thing in our province. Maybe it is different in other provinces.
The rental price will depend upon:
- Beach front or inland property
- Mountains or sea-level
- How large is the log?
- How large is the home?
- Amenities available?
- How much maintenance are you responsible for versus the landlord?
- How far from civilization are you? A grocery store, hospital, airport, etc.
- What utilities are available? Power, Internet, water, trash pickup, gas, etc.
The major Philippines rental websites seem to primarily focus on the urbann areas.
Frankly, I think most westerners who are going to move to the Philippines and choose the rural areas to live is going to have the resources to build something rather than rent. So, I’m not going to try to price that.
Thinking of Moving to the Philippines? Get Reliable Guidance.
Costs vary widely depending on location, lifestyle, and visa status. This is where professional planning becomes critical.
If you want to move with confidence instead of relying on random comments online, E636 Expat Services provides clear, professional guidance tailored to your situation.
Online communities are helpful for general questions. For anything important, you still need accurate, professional, and updated information.
E636 Expat Services helps foreigners with:
- Residency and long term visas
- Bank account opening
- Health insurance guidance
- Real estate assistance
- Business setup
- Retirement planning
- A smooth and secure transition into life in the Philippines
If you want to move with confidence instead of relying on random comments online, we can guide you every step of the way.
Book a consultation with E636 and start your journey the right way.
Photo by Towfiqu Barbhuiya on Unsplash
