The cost of living in the Philippines is fairly low. Most Expats here in the Philippines would tell you that. Labor here is fairly cheap, even for most white collar workers. Manual Laborers usually charge per day, not per hours. Basic commodities are also cheap. Cost of living in the Philippines highly depends on the Region or Provinces. Most Rural Provinces in the Philippines have a fairly low cost of living. Most Major Urban Regions in the Philippines (such as Makati, Cebu, and Davao) have slightly higher costs, but still fairly low compared to other Urbanized Cities around the world.