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 5,166/mo
- Electricity Cost
- PHP 12.8404/kWh + PHP 5.60 residential fixed charge
- Groceries
- PHP 6,693/mo
- Food Away From Home Spending
- PHP 693/mo
- Transportation
- PHP 1,465/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 189,770/yr
- Region Share: Transport (All Families)
- 6.60% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Information and Communication (All Families)
- 2.90% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Recreation, Sport and Culture (All Families)
- 1.00% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Education (All Families)
- 2.90% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Hotels (Accommodation Services) (All Families)
- 0.10% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (All Families)
- 19.90% of regional family spending
- Region Share: Health (All Families)
- 3.20% 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
- Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO)
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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