How Much Is The Minimum Cost Of Living In The Philippines

The most common question asked by foreigners looking to live in the Philippines is how much is the minimum cost of living in the Philippines. However, it’s not only expats who ask this question but also locals who are looking to live cheaply in the Philippines.

Foreigners can live as the locals do; however, some considerations will impact your overall budget. These considerations will affect the minimum cost of living in the Philippines for you. Therefore below, we have added some extra information on how you can live in the Philippines much cheaper.

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How Much Is The Minimum Cost Of Living In The Philippines For Foreigners

The minimum cost of living in the Philippines for foreigners is, on average, $800. Some expats and travelers can live comfortably in the Philippines long-term for a lower amount. However, this does impact their lifestyle significantly.

There is no reason why expats cannot live the same lifestyle as locals, and therefore, technically, the minimum cost of living in the Philippines for foreigners is around $500 – $600 per month. However, as mentioned, this does impact one’s lifestyle considerably.

If, however, you are looking at the minimum cost of living in the Philippines, but at the same time you are also looking to live a good lifestyle, then a good target to aim for is $800 – $1000. This budget will allow for some luxuries. First, however, budgeting is necessary. On average, foreigners living in the Philippines tend to spend around $1500 – $2000 a month, depending on the location.

As the location where you live and your lifestyle will significantly impact the minimal cost of living in the Philippines, we have some advice and locations for those looking to live in the Philippines on a minimum amount of cash in the last section.

What Is The Cheapest Area Of The Philippines

If you are looking at what is the minimum cost of living in the Philippines because you are looking to live cheaply, then there are certainly many things that can be accomplished to achieve this goal.

The cheapest areas of the Philippines tend to be in the Mindanao area. In other words, towards the South of the country. Davao region is a fantastic illustration of this. Davao offers a great lifestyle for foreigners looking to live cheaply in the Philippines and offers many lifestyle options within a budget.

However, if you are looking for the cheapest areas in the Philippines, then outside of the cities are where you need to go. Popular destinations such as Metropolitan Manila and Cebu City are fantastic places to live, but there is often a premium living in these highly populated areas. Provinces and areas outside the cities offer a much lower cost of living for expats living in the Philippines.

From research and speaking to the expat community, it is clear that those who claim to live in the Philippines on such a low amount, such as $500 – $800, often do so in more remote areas. For example, one traveler was situated in Iloilo City and spent $900 until he moved to the provinces and found his budget drop to $625.

Tips For Living Cheaper In The Philippines As A Foreigner

Naturally, when looking at how much is the minimum cost of living in the Philippines, one needs also to consider their lifestyle. Of course, location impacts one’s lifestyle, but the lifestyle can also impact the budget.

The great news is if you are looking to live cheaper in the Philippines as a foreigner, you can do so as there are several budgeting options for all different types of visitors. Additionally, there are many free places to go and many inexpensive hobbies to pick up in the Philippines. Because of these reasons, some expats do not even feel that they are budgeting at all.

Nevertheless, as we are addressing how much the minimum cost of living in the Philippines is.. it is only right that we look at some money-saving tips and tricks for the Philippines.

Book Tickets And Accommodation In Advance

Exercise In The Parks As It’s Free And There Are Often Lots Of Facilities
Live Outside Of The Main Cities If Possible
Network With Filipinos; They Really Do Know Where To Find The Lowest Prices

Purchase Items From Lazada (The Amazon Of The Philippines)
Purchase Local Filipino Items Rather Than Imported Products
Rent And Purchases Are Often Much Cheaper If You Can Book Long Term

Additionally, for those looking at how much is the minimum cost of living in the Philippines, you may wonder how much Filipinos spend? The spending rate of Filipinos depends on the individual, but most locals earn a salary of between 15K – 25K Pesos ($300 – $485). Naturally, this will depend on the location and the job in question.

Nevertheless, what’s important to note is that many Filipinos can live on a fraction of what many foreigners spend in the Philippines. This shows us that there is room for budgeting and an opportunity to save money as a foreigner looking to live on a minimum cost of living in the Philippines.

How Much Is The Minimum Cost Of Living In The Philippines

How Much Is The Minimum Cost Of Living In The Philippines For Foreigners

What Is The Cheapest Area Of The Philippines

Tips For Living Cheaper In The Philippines As A Foreigner

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