Cost of Living Calculator Philippines 2026: Monthly Expense Breakdown
The cost of living in the Philippines varies a lot depending on where you live and who you're supporting. A single professional renting in BGC will have a very different monthly picture from a family of five in Cagayan de Oro or a household where one parent is working abroad and sending money back home. This calculator lets you lay out every spending category and see what's actually left at the end of the month. Enter your take-home pay and your actual or estimated spending in each category. The calculator breaks your expenses into needs (the essentials you can't skip) and wants (the lifestyle spending), and shows your savings rate so you can see whether you're building financial cushion or running close to zero each month. If you're supporting dependents or sending remittances to the province, those are included in your needs total because they're just as non-negotiable as rent.
Calculator
How It Works
- 1
Enter your monthly take-home pay after all deductions (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, tax).
- 2
Fill in each spending category with your actual or estimated monthly amount.
- 3
Leave any category at zero if it does not apply to your household.
- 4
The calculator adds up all spending and subtracts from your income.
- 5
Needs include rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and remittances.
- 6
Wants include entertainment and miscellaneous spending.
- 7
Your savings rate shows what percentage of income remains after everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a single person renting in Metro Manila, a modest but comfortable budget typically runs ₱20,000 to ₱35,000 a month, covering rent, food, transport, utilities, and some savings. A family of four in the same area will generally need ₱45,000 to ₱80,000 or more depending on lifestyle, school fees, and whether they have a vehicle.