What if you were born in Philippines?

If you had grown up in Philippines instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Manila could look like.

Try it with my numbers

El Nido Bay, Palawan. Photo: Kalithecat00, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Philippines

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in PHP and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Philippines: PHP 24,100Rs 105,000
Rent (city centre): PHP 6,960
Transport (public transport): PHP 1,640
Food: PHP 3,480
Saved: PHP 3,610

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Philippines: PHP 55,300Rs 242,000
Rent (suburbs): PHP 14,100
Transport (public transport): PHP 3,760
Food: PHP 9,400
Saved: PHP 8,290

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Philippines: PHP 89,600Rs 392,000
Rent (city centre): PHP 21,900
Transport (car): PHP 8,390
Food: PHP 11,000
Saved: PHP 25,100

Try it with my own income

A day in Manila

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Manila, a city of mild winters around 24°C and warm summers around 28°C, and an umbrella is never far away.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Filipino at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be adobo: chicken or pork stewed in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic.
Evening
You get home with PHP 8,290 saved each month. You stay alert in some areas at night.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

Philippines compared with Pakistan

	Philippines	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.6× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	70 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	22 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	2.2%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	26°C	26°C
Languages	Filipino, English	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	PHP	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Philippines, living in Philippines and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Philippines?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around PHP 55,300 a month at the same level in Philippines (about Rs 242,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Philippines more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 1.6 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Philippines?

Mainly Filipino, English. English is an official language.

Can I actually move to Philippines?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Philippines page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.