What Can You Buy In The Philippines For 100 Pesos

Knowing how far your money will go is essential when traveling to another country. After all, you don’t have unlimited spending and want to pick up some nice souvenirs. So, what can 100 pesos be purchased in the Philippines?

If you plan to travel to the Philippines on your next holiday, you must know how much cash you should take.

Read on to learn how much a peso is worth in the Philippines. 

How Much Money Should I Bring to the Philippines

The good news for travelers is that the Philippines has built a reputation as a cheap country.

Because of this, you can get a great experience while staying on a tight budget. To illustrate this point, let’s look at a rough guide to how much different staples will cost. 

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How much is a Hotel cost in the Philippines

One of the essential elements to any traveler is where they will stay. The good news is that there are dozens of options to explore.

You can try a luxury hotel. These have the finest amenities and offer five-star service. However, you should be careful. These come at a price.

For example, one night in the City of Dreams hotel will cost around 7,500 pesos. If you want to get breakfast, you will be looking at over 8,000 pesos. 

The good news is that there are plenty of other places to stay. While you might not get a swimming pool, you will pay much less.

Many owners will be happy to do business with you as a bonus. A good tip is to book directly with the hotel rather than going through a third party.

This will often give you the best possible price. 

If you book with one of these hotel vendors, you might be able to get a place to stay for around 500 pesos a night.

If you want, you should be able to find an air-conditioned room for around 1500 pesos. 

How Much is Food in the Philippines

The next thing you need to consider is where you will eat.

There are dozens of places that you can explore. For example, you might visit the markets and try street food.

This will often be inexpensive, and you can enjoy some delicious flavors. 

On the other hand, you might want to visit a restaurant.

These tend to be relatively inexpensive. Usually, you will be able to find one that offers excellent food for around 700 pesos per meal. Depending on the establishment, you can get a drink with it. 

Speaking of drinking, the Philippines is known for having a thriving nightlife.

People from all around the world come to experience their thriving nightclubs. Here is a rough guide to how much you can expect to pay for drinks in this country. 

• A bottle of beer will cost around 40 pesos in a convenience store
• In a high-end bar, you might need to pay about 150 pesos
• You can get a 1L bottle of gin for 80 pesos in a convenience store
• 1L of rum will cost you around 90 pesos

You will also find a lot of locals who are enjoying a drink.

They might call you over to share a bottle with them. If they do, it’s impolite to refuse the request. Just enjoy the free booze. 

How much is Transportation in the Philippines

Next, you will need to consider how you will get around the Philippines.

The good news is that you have several low-cost options to explore. Let’s look at them and how much they will cost. 

First, you might want to take the ferry. This is the best way to explore the many islands that make up this country.

How much you can expect to pay will depend on the trip’s length. For example, you might want to go on a shorter trip.

This will usually take less than an hour. This will cost between 60 to 100 pesos.

For a longer journey, you might need to stay on the boat overnight. In this case, you will need to pay 400 pesos. 

Another popular option is to use the public transport system. This has built a reputation for providing reliable, low-cost transport.

There will be two options to choose from. You can pick the basic buses; these are the cheapest. Usually, they will charge 50 pesos an hour. If you want to spend a little more, you might want to get an air-conditioned bus. 

Third, you can travel on a tricycle. These are similar to the tuk-tuks of India. The drivers can pick you up and move you to your destination very quickly.

They also offer excellent rates. A short trip will start at just five pesos. Alternatively, you can take a Jeepney.

These are like miniature buses. They are known for their colorful exteriors. They are also very inexpensive. A short trip will often start at around five pesos.   

Finally, you might want to hire your vehicle. This won’t be necessary on a shorter holiday, because of the public transport.

But, if you want to go on a more extended trip or explore more remote parts of the country, it can be a good idea. 

Tourist activities cost in the Philippines

Lastly, you must consider how much you must spend to complete tourist activities. These tend to be very cost-effective.

You should be able to find plenty of activities for around 600 pesos. This includes many days tours of the city, showing you all the important landmarks. 

You will also be able to explore important historical sites. Many of these locations will be low-cost or free entry.

Though there might be associated activities, like having a guided walk. Some of these sites will have gift stores, where you can get souvenirs to signify that you have been to these areas. These tend to be affordable, often under 500 pesos.  

Experiences That You Can Get For Under 100 Pesos in the Philippines

The good news is that you don’t need to be a fortune to have a good time in the Philippines.

There are plenty of great experiences that you will be able to have for under 100 pesos. Some of the things that you might want to try include; 

• Visiting the shops. The locals love to shop in malls. As we’ll mention, you can haggle to get a better price.
• Tour some of the historical sites. These tend to have low entry costs or will be free.
• Explore the beaches. One of the biggest appeals of the Philippines is the stunning beaches. You can swim or relax on the shore with a drink. 
• Try some local street food. Don’t miss the delicious banana cues, which are sugar-coated bananas. 
• Visit a nightclub. This might cost a little over 100 pesos, but there are plenty of budget places you can visit if you are in the mood for a party. 
• Check out the National Museum; this is a free activity. 
• There are plenty of markets that you can explore. These contain plenty of souvenirs that you can buy for under 100 pesos. 

What to do For Under 1,000 Pesos

While 100 pesos will go a long way, if you are willing to increase your budget, there are even more experiences that you can have. Some of the things that you can try are;

• Attending a circus school
• Seeing a theatre show
• Spending a night in a luxury hotel
• If you are staying longer, you might be able to find an unlimited broadband package for around 1000 pesos a month.  

Cost of Living in the Philippines

Some people will want a short holiday in the Philippines. But others will want to spend longer in the country.

This will give you an excellent chance to learn more about and experience the culture first-hand.

Before you commit to this, you should know how much you should expect to pay each month. 

How much you expect to spend will often depend on where you live.

Moving to a regional area is best if you want to live cheaply.

Your money will go further in these locations. If you have a bigger budget, you can live in the city.

Generally, you should be able to find an excellent place to rent for between 5,000 to 10,000 pesos a month. 

You’ll also need to ensure that you have a food supply. In this case, you must put aside about 6,000 pesos a month.

This will get you the ingredients you need. Remember, restaurants, alcohol, and street food are inexpensive if you want a treat. 

You will also need to ensure you have the tools to cook the food. Often, this means that you will need to pay for fuel.

Gas will often cost around 600 pesos each month. Drinking water will often cost around 450 pesos a month. 

You will also need to stay connected with the world. This means paying for satellite TV and the internet. In this case, you’ll need to allocate about 1,950 a month.

In the cities, you should be able to get good internet. But if you are heading into regional areas, it can become very spotty.

Because of this, you might want to bring a satellite phone. This ensures that you will always be able to contact your loved ones. 

Now that we have covered the basic costs, we better understand how much you can expect to pay to stay in the Philippines for an extended period.

You will need to pay around 26,000 pesos a month. This is the equivalent of $750 US dollars. This is 50 to 60 percent lower than in other parts of the world, like Australia. Because of this, it is a popular destination for retirees. 

Don’t forget that there might be other costs to consider; 

• Costs of getting a visa
• Doing activities, like visiting a nightclub
• Transport costs
• Airfare 

Financial Customs of the Philippines

It’s essential to ensure that you are familiar with the customs of the Philippines.

You don’t want to cause someone offense accidentally. Here are some of the essential things that you need to know. 

Haggling in the Philippines

Sometimes you might want to try to get a better price in negotiating. This is called haggling.

In some parts of the world, it’s a regular and expected part of the transaction. This is true in the Philippines. Many sellers will be used to this exchange style, especially if you are shopping at a market stall.

There are a few techniques that you can use when haggling to help you gain the upper hand. 

One of the best tips is to work on your poker face. You don’t want to give away how much you want to purchase an item.

If you do this, the seller will know they don’t risk losing a sale. Because of this, you might want to point out similar items at another store. 

Another way to get a bargain is by visiting the stores at the back of the mall. These won’t get as many visitors. Because of this, they will be more willing to negotiate the prices and get a sale. 

Finally, you should tell the seller if you plan a more extended trip.

They will want to attract regular customers if they have a fixed stall. As a result, they will often be willing to offer more discounts to build the relationship.

The longer you frequent the store, the more favorably you will be treated. 

Do You Need to Tip in the Philippines? 

In the Philippines, you won’t need to worry about tipping anyone. However, you must pay the nearest peso when you take a taxi. 

Coins and Banknotes

The Philippines uses a mixture of coins and banknotes. The banknotes are color-coded. Their values will be printed on the note. They are broken down as follows. 

Coins

• One peso
• Five pesos
• 10 pesos

Notes

• 20 pesos
• 50 pesos
• 100 pesos
• 500 pesos
• 1,000 pesos

Peso to U.S. Exchange Rate

Knowing how many pesos you must pay is only part of the equation. You also need to know the exchange rate.

This will give you a better idea of how far your money can stretch when you are on holiday. When writing, one US dollar will buy you around 48 pesos.

Because of this, 100 USD could get you around 4,700 pesos. Like all global currencies, you should be aware that this will fluctuate slightly over time. 

To take advantage of this, watch the currency rate before your holiday. This will allow you to see the best time to convert to pesos and get the most bang for your buck. 

Converting Money to Pesos

Another essential factor is how you will transform US dollars into Philippine Pesos. There are two main ways that you can do this. These are;

• Visiting a currency exchange in person
• Using a credit that converts to foreign currency for you

Both of these approaches have pros and cons. Visiting a physical location will give you cash. This can be very useful, especially for places that don’t have credit card machines.

However, carrying a lot of cash can be very bulky. It also has the potential to make you a target. 

On the other hand, a credit card can be a lot more convenient. Most businesses in the Philippines will accept credit cards.

But there are a few downsides. You will need to pay the prevailing exchange rate. Additionally, these credit cards are often associated with high fees. 

Generally, carrying a mix of credit cards and cash is good. Remember that it can be challenging to find an ATM if you need to pay with cash.

This is especially true in regional areas. Because everything is affordable, you won’t need massive cash. Often, 2,000 pesos will be more than enough. 

Final Thoughts

The Philippines is a haven for tourists from around the world. This country offers some rich cultural experiences. Plus, you won’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy them.

With just 100 pesos, you can get around the city. Or you can enjoy some food and souvenirs from a local market.

Alternatively, you can purchase a bottle of alcohol. Remember, 100 pesos is the equivalent of USD 2.

Because of this, you’ll be able to enjoy a luxury holiday in the Philippines while spending as little as USD 2,000.