Cost of living in the Philippines
The cost of living in the Philippines runs at about 36% of US prices, and the official food threshold for Metro Manila is PHP 10,972 a month for a family of five.
Official prices, where your money goes further, and a budget built from your own rent and insurance. Checked against official sources on Oct 7, 2026.
- Price level
- ~36% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Food threshold, Metro Manila
- PHP 10,972/mo (about $170) Official, household of 5, 2023 (full year). Philippine Statistics Authority. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Food threshold, Cebu City
- PHP 10,374/mo (about $170) Official, household of 5, 2023 (full year). Philippine Statistics Authority. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Per person
- $35/mo Food threshold divided by household size
Build your the Philippines budget
No official source tracks what expats pay in rent, and rent is the biggest line in any budget. So this starts from what is measured, the government's food threshold, and adds your own numbers.
Get rent from current listings in the area you like and a written quote for health insurance at your age; the total then shows how far it sits above the $800 SRRV Classic minimum.
Your monthly budget
$0
The official food threshold
The Philippine Statistics Authority sets a food threshold: what a person needs a year to buy the cheapest food that meets basic nutrition. Shown here as a month for a family of five, the household size PSA uses.
| Area | 2023 (full year) |
|---|---|
| Metro Manila (National Capital Region) | PHP 10,972 (about $170) |
| Cebu City | PHP 10,374 (about $170) |
| Davao City | PHP 9,135 (about $150) |
Philippine Statistics Authority. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Cost of living questions
How much do I need a month to live in the Philippines?
It depends mostly on rent, which no official source tracks for expats. Start from the official food basket ($35 a person), add your rent and insurance quotes in the calculator above, and keep the $800 SRRV Classic minimum in mind as a floor, not a budget.
Is the Philippines cheaper than the US?
On average, yes: the World Bank puts household prices in the Philippines at about 36% of US levels (2025). Imported goods, cars and electronics can cost as much as at home or more.
Is it cheaper outside Metro Manila?
Food is: the official food threshold for Cebu City costs PHP 10,374 (about $170) against PHP 10,972 (about $170) (2023 (full year)).
Is it cheap to retire in the Philippines?
Prices run at about 36% of US levels on the World Bank's comparison, and the official food threshold for a family of five in Metro Manila is PHP 10,972 a month (2023).
Is food cheaper outside Manila?
Yes, slightly. PSA's 2023 food threshold for a family of five is PHP 10,972 a month in Metro Manila, PHP 10,374 in Cebu City and PHP 9,135 in Davao City.
