There are two levels of quality when it comes to buying food in the Philippines. At the cheapest level are the outdoor markets where you can...

There are two levels of quality when it comes to buying food in the Philippines. At the cheapest level are the outdoor markets where you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables and meat. Outdoor markets are abundant throughout the Philippines and the prices are cheaper than at the supermarket, however there is no refrigeration, sanitation is near non-existent and flies are a common site. The areas where meat is sold tend to smell pretty bad as well. The benefits of shopping at an outdoor market is that everything is fresh and very cheap. In fact, my wife and I often buy our food at markets. As long as you follow safe cooking practices at home, your meals are nutritious and safe to eat.

You can also buy your food in supermarkets. Being in a supermarket in the Philippines feels very similar to what it's like to be in a supermarket in America. They have a huge variety of items and dozens of isles. As to be expected, the prices are much higher in supermarkets. The benefits of shopping in a supermarket are the cleanliness of the environment, meat and other products are refrigerated, and there is a much larger selection of items. For example, you can buy milk at a supermarket but you cannot buy milk at an outdoor market.

One thing you need to know about milk. The vast majority of stores in the Philippines do not sell fresh milk like you can find in most developed countries. You know, the kind with an expiration date of just 1 to 2 weeks from the date you bought it. "Fresh Milk" in the Philippines does not need to be refrigerated before you open it, and it stays fresh for what seems like a year if you never open it. You will have to keep it refrigerated after opening the container and then it will last 5 days before it spoils.

To give you an idea on the cost of food, my wife and I usually spend 2,000 pesos a week for just the 2 of us. On the internet I've seen suggestions by foreigners that expats should budget 3,500 pesos a week per person. If you're spending 3,500 pesos a week for 1 person and cooking all your own meals then you're eating like a king!