Cost of Living in the Philippines in 2008 (Part 3)

This is "Part 3" of my "Cost of Living in the Philippines in 2008" series. This part consists of everything else that I was uncomfortable in including in the first two parts.

Although much care is taken in assuring that all information provided herein are correct, some errors MAY still be present... after all, I'm only human. As such, you SHOULD subject the information contained herein to further verification before using them for whatever reason. Everything contained herein are subject to change over time.

(Just to give reference points, I’ll be including the latest monetary exchange rates and the minimum daily wage in every post I make regarding this matter)

Philippine Peso Exchange Rate:
to the U.S. Dollar = P45.59527 (as of August 20, 2008 – 1:27 pm)
to the Euro = P67.01274 (as of August 20, 2008 - 1:28 pm)

Minimum Daily Wage (as of August 20, 2008): P382.00

Hygene: (Data Gathered are from August 18, 2008 at SM Manila)

• Shampoo:


• Head & Shoulders (200 ml): P87.75
  
• Pantene (200 ml): P84.75
  
• Palmolive (200 ml): P79.75
  
• Sunsilk (200 ml): P78.75
  
• Rejoice (200 ml): P73.75
  
• Vaseline (200 ml): P73.75
  

• Bath Soap:


• Safeguard (90 g): P19.75
  
• GreenCross (100 g): P19.75
  
• Palmolive (90 g): P17.75
  

• Toothpaste:


• Colgate (150 ml): P72.50 to P77.50
  
• Close Up (150 ml): P61.75 to P72.50
  

• Toothbrush: P27.75 to P129.75 (depending on the brand)
  

Laundry Soap/Detergent:

• Surf (Kalamansi bar – 429 g): P17.25
  
• Surf (Kalamansi powder – 1 kg): P61.95
  
• Tide (“original” bar – 130 g x 3): P24.25
  
• Tide (“original” powder – 1.12 kg): P91.75
  
• Champion (blue bar – 440 g): P18.50
  
• Champion (powder – 1 kg): P88.75

Entertainment: (Data Gathered are from August 16, 2008 at SM San Lazaro)

• Movie Ticket: from P120.00 up
  

• Internet Café (Excel):


• Internet Access: P15.00/30 minutes
  
• Games: P25.00/hour
  

• Original Copy/Release DVDs: P150.00 up
  

Example:


• Indiana Jones 4-DVD box set: P999.50
  
• The Assassination of Jesse James: P475.00
  
• 10,000 B.C.: P599.00
  
• Sweeney Todd: P699.00
  
• Toy Story (10th Anniversary): P350.00
  
• National Treasure 2: P750.00
  
• The Simpsons Movie: P550.00
  
• Windtalkers: P299.00
  
• Rush Hour: P199.00
  
• SAW IV: P375.00
  
• The Scorpion King: P150.00
  

• Original Copy/Release VCDs: P75.00 up
  

Example:


• Sweeney Todd: P275.00
  
• Blade Trinity: P75.00
  
• Resident Evil Apocalypse: P99.00
  
• Outbreak: P60.00
  
• Hitman: P275.00
  
• Harry Potter – Chamber of Secrets: P150.00
  
• Gladiator: P125.00
  

• Original Copy/Release Audio CDs: P50.00 up
  

Example:


• Usher – Here I Stand: P375.00
  
• Josh Groban – Closer: P450.00
  
• Journey – Revelation: P495.00
  

Newspaper (as of August 20, 2008):

• Broadsheet (Philippine Daily Inquirer):
  


• Monday to Saturday: P18.00
  
• Sunday: P20.00
  

• Tabloid (People’s Tonight): P8:00

Click here for Part 1

Click here for Part 2