How much do I need per day in the Philippines?

Okay, so how much money do you really need in the Philippines per day? I’ve seen some crazy numbers thrown around, haven’t you? Like, some people say 1500 pesos is enough. And, yeah, I guess if you’re really on a shoestring budget, maybe? You could probably make it work, especially if you’re good at haggling and finding the local spots. But 10,000 pesos a day?! Come on! That’s like, five-star hotel and private driver territory, right?

For me, personally? I’d be aiming for somewhere in the middle, like maybe 3,000 to 4,000 pesos a day. That feels like a sweet spot. Enough to be comfortable, you know, not stressing about every single peso. Enough for a nice meal, maybe a couple of drinks, some sightseeing… I remember this one time in Cebu, I was trying to stick to a super tight budget, and I ended up spending, like, half a day just trying to find the cheapest bus. It was exhausting! Totally not worth it.

On the other hand, I don’t need to be living large either. I mean, who needs 10,000 pesos a day unless you’re, like, a celebrity or something? I’d rather spend that money on more trips, honestly. So, yeah, 3-4000 pesos. That feels right. It really is all relative, though. Depends what you want out of your trip, doesn’t it?