How Much Money To Bring To The Philippines

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If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines…

One of the first questions you may be asking is how much money to bring to the Philippines?

The cost of living and traveling in the Philippines is extremely low compared to Western countries.

And it is one of the cheapest South East Asian countries in general.

Throughout today’s article…

We will be looking at the latest statistics and going through real-life examples to explore how much money to bring to the Philippines.

Table of Contents

How Much Money To Bring To The Philippines

Suppose you plan a short trip to the Philippines and explore every day. In that case, you can expect to pay around $50 – $100 per day.

However, if your trip consists of a popular tourist island or major city such as Metro Manila, it is recommended to bring $100 per day, which covers unexpected expenses.

The above figures can slightly change depending on your plans.

One thing to note is that accommodation and transportation, two of the highest costs, can be found much lower if you stay long term or use public transportation.

Thus the daily cost may be considerably lower.

Additionally…

Many local Filipinos, as well as foreigners, backpack around the Philippines.

In other words, when looking at how much money to bring to the Philippines…

Remembering that the Philippines is a backpacking-friendly country is a great idea.

Meaning that there are some very inexpensive ways to travel around the Philippines.

Additionally, when planning how much money to bring to the Philippines, the most significant expense will be the tours and experiences.

The experiences and tours are one of a kind and, in many cases, are worth every single peso.

However, some tours can be costly predominantly if the tour consists of several days.

When planning how much money to bring to the Philippines, you will find you will need at least $50 daily cost at the low end and $100 daily cost at the high end.

Nonetheless, the Philippines is a very backpacking-friendly country, and budget travel is available and affordable across the Philippines.

Many backpackers across their blogs and YouTube channels have shared with their viewers how they have managed to travel to the Philippines and spend less than $10 a day!

So budget-friendly options are available…

But it’s always recommended to bring at least $100 a day to be safe.

Total Time	Daily Cost	Total (USD)
7 DAYS	$100	$700
14 DAYS	$80	$1120
21 DAYS	$65	$1365
30 DAYS	$50	$1500
Budget Travel	$20 – $30	Various

How Much Money Should I Bring To the Philippines For A Week

1 week in Philippines cost?

If you stay for a week in the Philippines, then the amount of money you should bring will be slightly higher per day than if you stayed for a month.

This is because many expenses are cheaper long term.

Therefore, it is recommended to budget at least $100 a day if you plan to visit the Philippines for a week.

When considering how much money I should bring to the Philippines for a week / 1 week in Philippines cost, here are a few considerations to consider.

Accommodation

You can see a few different expenses that may or may not be relevant to you if you are looking to visit the Philippines for one week.

It is often recommended for travelers to keep an emergency fund in case of unexpected traveling expenses.

The total amount of money you will need for 1 week cost in the Philippines will come to a total of $700 which is $100 per day.

How Much For 2 Weeks In Philippines

If you were looking at how much for two weeks in the Philippines, you may be surprised to find the price is slightly lower.

This is because accommodations such as hotels and Airbnb often offer discounts for long-term customers, which is typically considered over two weeks.

Naturally, this depends on the accommodation.

Additionally, if you travel from city to city or island to island, then…

You will find the daily costs for 2 weeks in the Philippines the same as the daily cost of 1 week in this case.

This comes to $100 USD a day on average.

However, from experience and speaking to expats who have traveled to the Philippines for a two week trip…

It is common among travelers that daily prices are lower the longer you stay in the Philippines.

Therefore

If you are looking at how much for two weeks in the Philippines, the daily budget will come to $80 on average.

The total amount of money you will need for 2 weeks in the Philippines will come to a total of $1120 which is $80 per day.

Is Traveling To The Philippines Expensive

How Much Money To Bring To The Philippines For 3 Weeks

Again the same rules apply to long-term living for 21 days.

The daily costs will be slightly cheaper with the significant expenses such as accommodation.

And additionally, how much you will need for the Philippines in other significant areas will also change.

Thus it is best to budget at least $65 daily for those looking to stay in the Philippines for 3 weeks.

If your trip consists of a lot of travel, you may wish to increase this budget slightly.

But for most travelers, a budget of $65 a day is more than enough in the current economy.

If you are looking at how much money to bring to the Philippines for 3 weeks, a total budget of $1365 is needed, equivalent to $65 a day.

How Much Money To Bring To The Philippines For 3 Weeks

How Much Money Should I Bring To The Philippines For A Month?

Before we dive into how much money I should bring to the Philippines for a month, you may find the official living costs in the Philippines guide practical as many points discussed in this article will be relevant to long-term travelers.

Many experts suggest that if you are looking to travel in the Philippines for a week to budget at least $65-$100 a day.

However…

If you are looking to stay in the Philippines for a month, daily rates will often be lower as long-term living is, on average cheaper.

Thus the budget you will need for 1 month in the Philippines is much lower.

Most expats spend $50 daily.

$50 x 30 days = $1500.

This figure is based on frequently exploring a popular tourist area.

Depending on your plan, the total amount of money you will need to bring to the Philippines for a month might be slightly lower.

But this amount covers you for any unexpected emergencies and includes accommodation, food costs, and transportation.

If you are looking for a financially friendly visit to the Philippines…

It is possible to visit for one month at a much lower rate.

When I first visited the Philippines all those years ago, I spent approximately $1000 in my first month, including many different experiences and tours.

I have personally enjoyed meeting some budget-friendly backpackers who have continually traveled around the Philippines for less than $700 a month.

Many locals with cultural and geographical knowledge travel around the Philippines on much less than this.

Therefore, it is possible to travel on much less than advised initially, depending on your lifestyle.

We have spoken about the cost of living in Cebu City, Davao City, and living in the Philippines in general, which includes a breakdown of costs including rental costs, transportation costs, and food costs that may be applicable if you are looking to stay in the Philippines and are wondering how much money to bring.

Is Traveling To The Philippines Expensive?

Traveling into and around the Philippines is not expensive.

However, the Philippines is not the cheapest country to travel to in South East Asia.

With the increasing inflation rates, some areas are becoming slightly more expensive for travelers.

However, what’s important to note is that the Philippines is highly diverse.

There are many budget-friendly travel options in the Philippines and premium options.

Many backpackers and retirees travel in the Philippines for around $20 to $30 daily.

On the other hand, other travelers have a slightly different travel itinerary; thus, their price may be as high as $80 – $150 daily and, in some cases, more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much cash should I take to Philippines?

As described above, most travellers allow for a budget of approximately $50 per day. Depending on the length of your stay in the Philippines, your budget may be the following:

Travelling for 3 days: $150;

Travelling for 1 week (7 days): $350;
Travelling for 2 weeks (14 days): $700;
Travelling for 3 weeks (21 days): $1050;

Travelling for 1 month: $1500; and
Travelling for 3 months: $4500.

What month is the cheapest to fly to the Philippines?

The cheapest month to fly to the Philippines is March. However, September is quite cheap as well. Months to avoid (or months with the highest ticket prices) are generally November and December. January, February and April have average (i.e. not too expense and not too cheap) ticket prices. The following is a list of airlines which are likely to have cheap flights to and from the Philippines:

Philippine Airlines;
Cathay Pacific; and
EVA Air.

Do I need a visa to go to the Philippines?

You do not need a visa to travel to Philippines provided that your stay does not exceed 30 days. Moreover, at customs, you should present a return ticket or a ticket showing your next travel destination. Please consult the Philippines consulate general for more information.

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