Philippines Relocation Cost Simulator
Last updated: 2026-09-07
Choose your area, housing type, household size, and visa type to estimate your initial costs and monthly living expenses.
When considering a move to the Philippines, there are many easy-to-overlook costs beyond rent — the initial housing deposit, furniture and appliances, visa-related fees, flights, and more. Use the overview and calculator below to get a rough sense of costs by area, housing type, household size, and visa type.
Comparison table
| Cost item | What it covers | Approximate amount | When it applies | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial housing cost | Security deposit and advance rent | Roughly 2–3 months of rent | When signing a lease | Varies by contract terms. See the calculator below for rent estimates by area and housing type. |
| Furniture, appliances, and setup | Furniture, appliances, kitchenware, etc. | Roughly tens of thousands of yen or more | Right after moving in | Varies significantly depending on whether the unit is furnished. |
| Visa-related costs | Depends on the visa type chosen | Ranges widely, from a few thousand yen to several hundred thousand yen | When applying or renewing | A tourist visa extension is relatively cheap but needs regular renewal. The SRRV and similar programs also require a separate, non-spent deposit. |
| ACR I-Card | Alien registration card (required for stays of 60+ days) | Roughly PHP 3,000–3,300 | After your stay begins | Varies by the area where you're staying. |
| Monthly living costs | Rent, food, utilities, communication, transport, etc. | Varies significantly by area and household size | Every month | Use the calculator below for estimates by area, housing type, and household size. |
Relocation cost simulator (estimate)
Initial cost breakdown (editable)
| Item | Amount (PHP) |
|---|---|
| Deposit / advance rentReference: Makati 25sqm PHP 18–25k／60sqm PHP 40–60k／100sqm PHP 90–100k per month (deposit + advance rent is typically 2–3 months of this) | |
| Furniture & appliancesReference: furnishing an unfurnished unit — Studio PHP 35k／1BR PHP 50k／2BR PHP 75k or so (much less if the unit comes furnished) | |
| Visa costReference: tourist visa 2-month extension ~PHP 7,590／SRRV retiree visa ~PHP 100k in application fee + annual dues, plus a separate deposit (see the comparison table above) | |
| ACR I-CardReference: PHP 3,000–3,300 or so (varies by area) | |
| FlightReference: Tokyo-Manila (Japanese carrier, direct) one-way ~PHP 30k／as low as PHP 10–15k one-way on an LCC | |
| OtherReference: SIM card setup, bedding and other everyday items — roughly PHP 3,000–8,000 | |
| Initial cost total | PHP 0 Calculating… |
Monthly living cost breakdown (editable)
| Item | Amount (PHP) |
|---|---|
| RentReference: Makati 25sqm PHP 18–25k／60sqm PHP 40–60k／100sqm PHP 90–100k | |
| FoodReference: mostly home-cooked PHP 6,000–12,000／mostly eating out PHP 15,000–25,000 (a restaurant meal runs about PHP 200–300) | |
| UtilitiesReference: PHP 1,500–2,500 with light aircon use, PHP 2,500–4,500 with heavy use (water included) | |
| CommunicationReference: mobile plan with data PHP 500–1,500 plus home fiber internet PHP 1,500–2,000 or so | |
| TransportReference: PHP 3,000–6,000 if mostly jeepneys/buses, PHP 10,000+ if you rely heavily on Grab | |
| OtherReference: entertainment, socializing, incidental costs — roughly PHP 2,000–5,000 | |
| Monthly cost total | PHP 0 Calculating… |
This is an estimate based on general market information. Every field above can be edited by hand — change the selections to load new defaults, or type your own numbers directly into the table.
Preparation checklist
- Narrowing down your preferred area and housing type
- Checking visa types and requirements (primary sources: embassy, PRA, Bureau of Immigration)
- Checking actual market rents (multiple property sites and local agents)
- Preparing funds for initial costs (deposit, advance rent, furniture, appliances)
- Checking transfer methods and exchange rates in advance
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this calculation?
This is only a rough estimate. Rent varies significantly by property, building age, floor, and view, and visa costs and exchange rates also fluctuate. Before making a decision to relocate or signing a contract, always check current amounts with local property listings and primary sources such as the embassy, PRA, and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
What initial costs are there besides rent?
In addition to the security deposit and advance rent when signing a lease (roughly 2–3 months of rent), an unfurnished unit can mean a substantial lump-sum cost for furniture and appliances. It's also worth budgeting for visa-related costs, the ACR I-Card, and flights.
How much does the cost differ by visa type?
A single tourist visa extension is relatively cheap, but a long-term stay requires repeated renewals. For a 9(g) work visa, the employer typically covers the cost. The SRRV (retiree visa) requires an application fee and annual fee, plus a separate, non-spent deposit of several thousand to several tens of thousands of US dollars.
What's the best way to keep costs down?
Since area and housing type have the biggest impact on rent, it helps to compare a few candidate areas first. Choosing a furnished unit can also reduce your initial costs. If a long-term stay is certain, consider switching to a long-term stay program suited to your purpose rather than repeatedly extending a tourist visa.
How is currency and the exchange rate handled in the amounts shown?
Rent and living costs are calculated in Philippine pesos (PHP), with a reference conversion to Japanese yen also shown. The yen conversion uses the exchange rate this site fetches, which may differ from the rate you actually get when transferring money — check the remittance comparison guide or each provider's official site for the current rate before sending money.
All amounts shown are rough estimates only. Actual rent and costs vary significantly by property, timing, exchange rate, and individual circumstances. Before making a decision to relocate or signing any contract, always verify current amounts with local property listings and official sources such as the embassy, the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and PRA.