Travel. Philippines. South East Asia.

What is the Cost of Living in the Philippines

Are you considering making the Philippines your permanent home?

Elvie Lins
7 min readJun 30, 2021

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cost of living in the Philippines
Image by the Author

Things to Consider

Your cost of living in this country is determined by the lifestyle you desire and
the type of job you hold.

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian nation with more than 7,000 islands.

It has a gorgeous coastline and beautiful people. It is Asia's largest Catholic country due to Spanish colonization.

Restaurants

lechon pork
lechon pork — image by the Author

In every country, eating out is more expensive than cooking at home. However, the Philippines offer some great cooking, and it is not as expensive as you would have expected. Indeed, there are many high-end fancy restaurants and they are not cheap.

Nonetheless, you can also eat at an inexpensive restaurant for less than 150 pesos ($3) and have dinner for two at a middle-range restaurant for only
about 12 to 14 dollars.

While meal costs in the Philippines differ, the average price of food per day in the Philippines is about 605 pesos (12 dollars). In the Philippines, an average dinner costs approximately 240 pesos per person while dining out.

Breakfast is typically less expensive than lunch or dinner. Food in sit-down restaurants in the Philippines is often more expensive than fast food or street food.
There are also modest eateries worth visiting that are striving in the face of the pandemic.

Marketplaces and shops

Shop building in Davao City Philippines by the Author

Cooking at home is likely to be up to 50 percent less expensive than eating out. You can shop at various supermarkets. And depending on your lifestyle, you’ll need between $200 and $500 each month to live comfortably.

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Elvie Lins

"Traveling ignites my soul, crafting tales of my journeys. Through my lens, I bridge cultures and showcase stunning landscapes, bringing the world closer. 🌍"