Country topic
Cost of living in Philippines
Prices overall in the Philippines were about 0.33 of United States prices at market exchange rates in 2025 (World Bank price level index 33.16, with the United States at 100). It is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household. [Cost of living C1] On 16 October 2026 one portal's first page of 25 one-bedroom condo listings in Cebu City asked PHP 16,800 to 75,000 a month, with 18 of the 25 between PHP 20,000 and 50,000. These are asking prices from one site, not a Cebu average. [C2]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- Prices overall in the Philippines were about 0.33 of United States prices at market exchange rates in 2025 (World Bank price level index 33.16, with the United States at 100). It is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household. [Cost of living C1]
- On 16 October 2026 one portal's first page of 25 one-bedroom condo listings in Cebu City asked PHP 16,800 to 75,000 a month, with 18 of the 25 between PHP 20,000 and 50,000. These are asking prices from one site, not a Cebu average. [C2]
- On the same date the portal's first page of 25 one-bedroom condo listings across Metro Manila asked PHP 18,000 to 120,000 a month, and its Makati page asked PHP 15,000 to 85,000. These are asking prices, not city averages, and bills were not checked. [C3] [C4]
- The portal's first page of Davao City condo listings showed 12 one-bedroom units at PHP 15,000 to 60,000 a month, eight of them between PHP 20,000 and 30,000. The portal reported 53 results for Davao City condos in all. [C5]
- The portal's first page of Angeles condo listings showed 14 one-bedroom units at PHP 12,000 to 60,000 a month, ten of them between PHP 20,000 and 45,000. It reported 525 Angeles condo results in all. [C6]
- The portal's Baguio one-bedroom condo page showed two listings, at PHP 25,000 and PHP 30,000 a month, both listed for sale or rent. Two listings are too few to show a typical rent, so that is unknown here. [C7]
- The portal's Negros Oriental page showed Dumaguete two-bedroom apartments at PHP 20,000, 28,000 and 30,000 a month, three-bedroom apartments at PHP 26,000 and 30,000, and three-bedroom houses at PHP 22,000 and 40,000. It showed no one-bedroom units in Dumaguete. It reported 21 results in all. [C8]
- The portal's Surigao del Norte page, which covers Siargao, reported one result in total: a land lot in General Luna. No Siargao rent was found, so it is unknown here. [C9]
- Davao City houses: the portal's first page showed 11 three-bedroom houses at PHP 25,000 to 240,000 a month, seven of them between PHP 30,000 and 45,000. These are asking prices from one site. [C10]
- Immigration costs for a visitor who stays on: a total of PHP 3,030 for the first 29-day extension, then PHP 4,400 for one more month or PHP 4,900 for two for an adult, plus an ACR I-Card fee of US$50 for tourists and a PHP 500 express fee for the card. The bureau's fees are dated 6 March 2014 and may have changed. [C11]
- Canada says that in the Philippines good medical services are limited, especially outside major urban areas, that public clinics often lack basic resources, that most hospitals require a down payment of estimated fees at admission, and that travel insurance should cover medical evacuation and hospital stays. Insurance prices are unknown here. [C12]
- The Philippines has 7.14 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (ITU, 2024). That counts subscriptions, not speeds, and city speeds are not measured here. WHO's service coverage index is 69 of 100 (2023). [C13] [C14]
- The SRRV retiree visa page lists a US$1,500 processing fee, a US$360 annual fee for a principal plus two dependants and a visa deposit of about US$15,000 to US$50,000 by age and pension (to be safe, hold more than US$51,000). It also lists a PhilHealth special rate for holders. A 2017 PhilHealth circular set the premium at PHP 15,000 a year for foreign retirees with an SRRV or PRA-issued ID and PHP 17,000 a year for other foreign citizens with a valid ACR I-Card; it may have changed since 2017. [C15] [C16]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades the cost of living.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
90 of 100Strong
Price level 0.332 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Philippines. Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
More on Philippines.
Topics
More about Philippines.
Questions about Cost of living in Philippines.
How do prices in the Philippines compare with the United States?
Prices overall in the Philippines are about 0.33 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 2025). That is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household, and it does not show what rent, food or any single item costs.
What does a one-bedroom rental cost in Cebu City and Metro Manila?
On 16 October 2026 one portal's first page of one-bedroom condo listings asked PHP 16,800 to 75,000 a month in Cebu City and PHP 18,000 to 120,000 in Metro Manila (PHP 15,000 to 85,000 in Makati). These are asking prices from one site, not averages, and bills were not checked.
What do rents look like in Davao, Angeles, Baguio and Dumaguete?
On 16 October 2026 one portal showed one-bedroom condos at PHP 15,000 to 60,000 in Davao City, PHP 12,000 to 60,000 in Angeles and two listings at 25,000 and 30,000 in Baguio. Dumaguete two-bedroom apartments were PHP 20,000 to 30,000. Asking prices from one site.
What do rents look like on Siargao?
Unknown here. On 16 October 2026 the same portal's Surigao del Norte page listed a single result in General Luna, a land lot, and no homes for rent. We found no other rental price source we could open, so a low or high rent should not be assumed.
What should I expect to pay for healthcare?
A 2017 PhilHealth circular set the premium for foreign citizens with an ACR I-Card at PHP 17,000 a year (PHP 15,000 for SRRV holders); it may have changed. Canada says good medical services are limited outside major urban areas and most hospitals require a down payment. Private insurance prices are unknown.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [PH C1] Price level index (GDP), Philippines, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 33.16 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [Cost of living C1] Price level index (GDP), Philippines, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C2] Cebu City condos for rent, 1 bedroom (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C3] Metro Manila condos for rent, 1 bedroom (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C4] Makati condos for rent, 1 bedroom (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C5] Davao City condos for rent (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C6] Angeles condos for rent (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C7] Baguio condos for rent, 1 bedroom (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C8] Negros Oriental properties for rent (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C9] Surigao del Norte properties for rent (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C10] Davao del Sur houses for rent (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C11] Temporary Visitor (9A) Visa Waiver and extensions of stay, Bureau of Immigration, Philippines. Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C12] Philippines travel advice and advisories, Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C13] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Philippines, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C14] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C15] Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), Philippine Retirement Authority. Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C16] PhilHealth Circular 2017-0003: enrolment of foreign nationals, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Checked 16 October 2026.