Travel budget and cost of living in the Philipines how much does a trip cost?
Are you planning to go to the Philippines and need to budget for your trip? On this page you can see sample prices. This enables you to get to grips with actual prices and the cost of living in the Philipines. Then, why not use our free tool to calculate your Philippines travel budget.
Travel budget in the Philipines
Philippines: calculate your travel budget
Philippines: sample budgets by traveller type
These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in the Philipines for 2 people.
Low budget
(backpacker)
Daily budget:
- $ 23 for 2 ppl.
- $ 6.2 per person
- $ 1 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 511* (24682 PHP)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 47 for 2 ppl.
- $ 10.6 per person
- $ 2.3 per person
- $ 5.5 per person
Total budget:
$ 1160* (56042 PHP)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 104 for 2 ppl.
- $ 18 per person
- $ 4.5 per person
- $ 11 per person
Total budget:
$ 2379* (114982 PHP)
* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).
Cost of living in the Philipines in 2021
Cost of living: Philippines VS United States
On average, the cost of living in the Philipines in 2021 is 46% less than in the United States (USA).
The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:
Explore each type of expense in detail:
Cost of living in the Philipines by city
See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in the Philipines compared to the national average.
| Cities | /Philippines | View Details |
|---|---|---|
| Batangas | 22% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Batangas |
| Angeles City | 19% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Angeles City |
| El Nido | 18% more | Travel budget and cost of living in El Nido |
| Binangonan | 15% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Binangonan |
| Calamba | 13% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Calamba |
| Manila | 8% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Manila |
| Tagaytay | 6% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Tagaytay |
| Cebu | 3% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Cebu |
| Puerto Princesa (Palawan island) | 5% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Puerto Princesa (Palawan island) |
| Davao | 8% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Davao |
Local prices in the Philipines by expense type
Philippines: Restaurant budget
On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in the Philipines costs 62% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 3.1/person
($ 1.4 to $ 6.6)
($ 1.4 to $ 6.6)
79% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163 course dinner
$ 10.5/person
($ 5.7 to $ 22)
($ 5.7 to $ 22)
66% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 32McDonald's meal
$ 3.1/person
($ 2.5 to $ 4.2)
($ 2.5 to $ 4.2)
60% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8Local beer
$ 1.3 for 500ml
($ 0.8 to $ 2.2)
($ 0.8 to $ 2.2)
75% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5Imported beer
$ 1.9 for 330ml
($ 1.1 to $ 3.1)
($ 1.1 to $ 3.1)
31% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8Cappuccino
$ 2.4/cup
($ 1.1 to $ 3.6)
($ 1.1 to $ 3.6)
45% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.3Fizzy drink
$ 0.6/can
($ 0.4 to $ 1.3)
($ 0.4 to $ 1.3)
66% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9Water bottle
$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.4 to $ 0.8)
($ 0.4 to $ 0.8)
73% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.5Philippines: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in the Philipines costs 58% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
$ 28/night
($ 22 to $ 36)
($ 22 to $ 36)
74% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1092-star hotel
$ 38/night
($ 23 to $ 58)
($ 23 to $ 58)
70% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1263-star hotel
$ 55/night
($ 33 to $ 90)
($ 33 to $ 90)
69% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1804-star hotel
$ 152/night
($ 112 to $ 204)
($ 112 to $ 204)
42% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2625-star hotel
$ 244/night
($ 201 to $ 300)
($ 201 to $ 300)
52% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 510Hotel/Youth Hostel
$ 26/month
($ 20 to $ 34)
($ 20 to $ 34)
79% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 122Room with kitchen
$ 81/month
($ 48 to $ 131)
($ 48 to $ 131)
52% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169Hotel with swimming pool
$ 88/month
($ 51 to $ 141)
($ 51 to $ 141)
47% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165Cottage or guest house
$ 49/month
($ 30 to $ 73)
($ 30 to $ 73)
77% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223Family room
$ 138/month
($ 83 to $ 211)
($ 83 to $ 211)
21% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175Philippines: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in the Philipines costs 31% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 1.8/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 2.5)
($ 1.4 to $ 2.5)
110% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9Bread
$ 1.2/500g
($ 0.8 to $ 1.9)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.9)
55% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7Rice
$ 1.1/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 1.3)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.3)
73% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4Eggs
$ 1.9/12 eggs
($ 1.3 to $ 2.5)
($ 1.3 to $ 2.5)
19% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3Chicken
$ 4.2/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 5.9)
($ 2.2 to $ 5.9)
54% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.1Apples
$ 2.7/kg
($ 1 to $ 5.3)
($ 1 to $ 5.3)
39% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5Tomatoes
$ 1.6/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)
64% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.3Potatoes
$ 1.9/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 3.1)
($ 0.6 to $ 3.1)
27% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6Water bottle
$ 0.8
($ 0.5 to $ 1.3)
($ 0.5 to $ 1.3)
55% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8Philippines: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in the Philipines costs 35% less than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 0.2/ticket
($ 0.1 to $ 0.5)
($ 0.1 to $ 0.5)
90% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3Taxi (per km)
$ 0.2/km
($ 0.2 to $ 0.6)
($ 0.2 to $ 0.6)
82% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7Petrol
$ 1.1/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 1.2)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.2)
55% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.7Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 0.8
($ 0.8 to $ 1.1)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.1)
74% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.3Car hire
$ 47/24hrs
($ 32 to $ 112)
($ 32 to $ 112)
19% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40Philippines: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in the Philipines costs 58% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 5.5/ticket
($ 4.2 to $ 8.4)
($ 4.2 to $ 8.4)
54% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13Tennis
$ 6/hr
($ 2.5 to $ 10.5)
($ 2.5 to $ 10.5)
62% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16Philippines: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in the Philipines costs 32% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 2.2/pack
($ 1.9 to $ 3)
($ 1.9 to $ 3)
73% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8Levi's jeans
$ 45
($ 17 to $ 85)
($ 17 to $ 85)
1% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 45Summer dress
$ 29
($ 10.5 to $ 53)
($ 10.5 to $ 53)
22% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 36Plane ticket budget
London → Manila
$ 825
(fair price: $ 716)
(fair price: $ 716)
Los Angeles → Manila
$ 851
(fair price: $ 697)
(fair price: $ 697)
New York City → Manila
$ 955
(fair price: $ 772)
(fair price: $ 772)
Manchester → Manila
$ 886
(fair price: $ 764)
(fair price: $ 764)
London → Cebu
$ 898
(fair price: $ 782)
(fair price: $ 782)
Toronto (Ontario) → Manila
$ 1124
(fair price: $ 929)
(fair price: $ 929)
About the information on the cost of living in the Philipines
The information about the cost of living in the Philipines shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Easyvoyage and Hotels.com.
Information about cost of living in the Philipines updated on 04-04-2021.