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Information about the Philippines
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Exchanging Your Money in the Philippines |
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You can change money at the airport but the exchange rate is much lower there than in the city. I recommend only changing as much as you need to get you by until you are able to convert the rest of your money with a better rate in the city. There is a very safe, licensed and professional money exchanger with more reasonable exchange rates in every...
 You can change money at the airport but the exchange rate is much lower there than in the city. I recommend only changing as much as you need to get you by until you are able to convert the rest of your money with a better rate in the city. There is a very safe, licensed and professional money exchanger with more reasonable exchange rates in every SM Mall Department Store. Just go to any SM Mall, find the SM Department Store and ask an employee where the money exchange counter is.
Bring your passport. Also, nearly all money changers require you to fill out a form. Do this before you get in line. You will have to write the serial number for every bill you're going to exchange onto the form as well as your name, passport number, address, telephone number and other personal information. You must show them your passport and give them the address of where you're staying and your telephone number or else they won't let you change your money.
Not all currencies are accepted. For instance, you can not exchange Korean won anywhere in the Philippines. So, you may have to buy U.S. dollars in your own country before you travel to the Philippines. Do NOT buy Philippine pesos in your home country. The exchange rate is HALF of what you get here in the Philippines. Buy U.S. dollars instead and exchange the dollars for pesos here in the Philippines. Here are a list of currencies most commonly accepted by banks and large money changers in major cities of the Philippines:
U.S. Dollar (USD)
Australian Dollar (AUD)
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
British Pound (GBP)
Japanese Yen (JPY)
Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR)
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
Thai Baht (THB)
Keep in mind that even if your currency is listed here, if you're going to travel outside Manila, the U.S. dollar is the easiest currency to exchange throughout the Philippines. |
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Cell Phones and Cellular Service Providers in the Philippines |
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There are 3 main cellular service providers in the Philippines. Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular. When choosing a cell phone carrier, keep in mind that... |
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Electricity in the Philippines |
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Meralco is the primary electricity distributor in the Philippines so you will want to contact them to get your electricity connected. It is also not uncommon for...
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Buying Water in the Philippines |
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Most people in the Philippines buy their drinking water from water refilling stations which are plentiful throughout the country. It is not uncommon for a barangay to have... |
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The Cost of Food in the Philippines |
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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! |
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