Planning a monthly budget
Start with the monthly total, then look at the expenses that shape it.
How the total can change
A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.
Everyday expenses
Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.
- Monthly Housing Benchmark
- PHP 5,810/mo
- Electricity Cost
- PHP 14.90/kWh (July 2026 overall residential rate)
- Groceries
- PHP 7,595/mo
- Food Away From Home Spending
- PHP 1,709/mo
- Transportation
- PHP 1,493/mo
- Property Taxes
- Statutory ceiling: basic ≤2%/yr + possible 1% SEF (assessed value)
- National Consumer Price Inflation
- 1.7% (2025)
- Region Family Spending (All Families)
- PHP 218,030/yr
- Region Share: Transport (All Families)
- 7.40% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Information and Communication (All Families)
- 3.40% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Recreation, Sport and Culture (All Families)
- 0.70% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Education (All Families)
- 4.10% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Hotels (Accommodation Services) (All Families)
- 0.00% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (All Families)
- 24.00% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Health (All Families)
- 2.50% of regional family spending
Sources
The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.
Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.
- Philippine Statistics Authority
Used for Monthly Housing Benchmark, Region Family Spending (All Families)
Checked 2026-07-21
- Visayan Electric
Used for Electricity Cost
Checked 2026-07-22
- Philippine Statistics Authority
Used for Groceries, Food Away From Home Spending, Transportation, Region Share: Transport (All Families), Region Share: Information and Communication (All Families), Region Share: Recreation, Sport and Culture (All Families), Region Share: Education (All Families), Region Share: Hotels (Accommodation Services) (All Families), Region Share: Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (All Families), Region Share: Health (All Families)
Checked 2026-07-21
- Republic of the Philippines
Used for Property Taxes
- World Bank, World Development Indicators
Used for National Consumer-Price Inflation
Checked 2026-07-18
Not yet available for this place: Comfortable Living, Cost of Living for Couple, Minimum Needed, Dining Out, Need for a Car, Overall Feel.
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