The Philippines is a stunning archipelago of over 7,000 islands offering pristine beaches, world-class diving, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. From the powdery white sands of Boracay to the dramatic limestone cliffs of Palawan, this tropical paradise combines Spanish colonial heritage with Southeast Asian charm.
Local currency: Philippine Peso (PHP). 1 USD ≈ 55-58 PHP (2024-2025). Coins in 1, 5, 10, 25 centavos and 1, 5, 10 peso. Bills in 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 peso..
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Philippines.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $10-15 dorm bed
- Budget
- $20-40 private budget room
- Midrange
- $60-120 mid-range hotel or resort
- Luxury
- $200-1,500+ resort or luxury hotel
Food
- Street
- $1-3 per dish from carinderia or street vendor
- Local
- $5-10 per meal at local restaurant
- Midrange
- $15-30 per meal at mid-range restaurant
- Fine
- $50-150+ at fine dining restaurants like Gallery by Chele
Transport
- Bus
- $0.15-0.50 jeepney/bus ride
- Taxi
- $5-15 Grab ride across city
- Airport
- $8-15 Grab from NAIA to Makati/BGC
- Daytrip
- $30-80 organized day tour including transport
Activities
- Museum
- $0-2 (National Museum is free; most charge PHP 50-200)
- Sites
- $3-10 for most heritage and nature sites
- Tour
- $30-80 island hopping or adventure tour
- Excursion
- $100-200+ premium experiences like Tubbataha diving or helicopter tours
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Philippines costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$175-245/week ($25-35/day) — dorms, street food, jeepneys, free attractions
Midrange traveller
$420-630/week ($60-90/day) — private rooms, restaurant meals, Grab rides, paid tours
Luxury traveller
$1,400-2,800+/week ($200-400+/day) — resorts, fine dining, private transfers, premium experiences
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Book domestic flights 2-3 months in advance on Cebu Pacific or AirAsia Philippines for fares as low as PHP 500-1,500 vs PHP 3,000-6,000 booked last-minute
Eat where locals eat — carinderias (turo-turo eateries) serve generous Filipino meals for PHP 50-100; Jollibee and Mang Inasal meals cost PHP 60-120
Take jeepneys and buses instead of Grab — city buses cost PHP 15-30 vs PHP 150-300 by Grab for the same route
Visit beaches during shoulder season (November and June) when prices drop 20-40% and crowds are minimal
Negotiate rates for accommodation outside of holiday weekends — guesthouses and small hotels often give 10-20% discounts if asked directly
SIM card data is cheap — a PHP 299 Globe or Smart SIM with 30GB of data is far cheaper than using hotel WiFi or roaming charges
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
National Museum of the Philippines
The Fine Arts, Natural History, and Anthropology buildings at Rizal Park are all free to enter and house world-class collections including Juan Luna's Spoliarium.
Rizal Park (Luneta)
The 58-hectare national park is free and open daily. Features the Rizal Monument, Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, and musical fountains with evening light show.
Intramuros Walls Walk
Walking along the exterior of the Intramuros walls and exploring the cobblestone streets is free. Fort Santiago (PHP 75) is the only paid attraction inside.
Manila Bay Sunset
The famous Manila Bay sunset from Roxas Boulevard is completely free and one of the world's most spectacular urban sunsets. Best from Ocean Drive or the baywalk.
Divisoria and Binondo Exploration
Wandering the streets of Manila's Chinatown district for free street food sampling, people watching, and architecture is a sensory and cultural feast that costs as much as you eat.