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COST OF LIVING —
Where Your Money Actually Goes: Monthly Living Expenses Compared
Let’s break down what it actually costs to live as a Filipino worker in each country, beyond just housing.
Japan — Monthly Living Expenses (in ¥)
- Food: ¥25,000 – ¥35,000 (cooking at home with group-cooking among Filipino co-workers is very common and cuts costs dramatically)
- Transportation: ¥5,000 – ¥10,000 (many employers provide company transport or workers live within walking/cycling distance)
- Phone/Internet: ¥3,000 – ¥5,000
- Personal/miscellaneous: ¥10,000 – ¥15,000
- Housing: ¥0 – ¥30,000 (often provided by employer)
Total monthly expenses: ¥43,000 – ¥95,000 (₱16,000 – ₱36,000)
South Korea — Monthly Living Expenses (in ₩)
- Food: ₩300,000 – ₩450,000 (eating out is relatively affordable; Korean company cafeterias often provide subsidized meals)
- Transportation: ₩50,000 – ₩80,000 (Korea has excellent and cheap public transit)
- Phone/Internet: ₩30,000 – ₩50,000
- Personal/miscellaneous: ₩100,000 – ₩150,000
- Housing: ₩0 – ₩400,000 (employer dormitory vs. renting)
Total monthly expenses: ₩480,000 – ₩1,130,000 (₱19,000 – ₱46,000)
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Canada — Monthly Living Expenses (in CAD)
- Food: $300 – $500 (groceries are expensive, especially in major cities)
- Transportation: $100 – $200 (car-dependent in many areas; public transit limited outside major cities)
- Phone/Internet: $60 – $120
- Personal/miscellaneous: $100 – $200
- Housing: $800 – $2,000 (rent — this is by far the largest expense and it’s unavoidable in most situations)
Total monthly expenses: $1,360 – $3,020 (₱57,000 – ₱127,000)
Now let’s put this all together and look at the number that actually matters.
Estimated Monthly Savings (Money You Can Send Home)
| Country | Best Case | Worst Case |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | ₱47,000/month | ₱20,000/month |
| South Korea | ₱45,000/month | ₱18,000/month |
| Canada | ₱40,000/month | ₱5,000/month |
The data tells a clear story. Japan and South Korea offer the most consistent savings potential because employer-provided housing dramatically reduces your cost of living. Canada has the highest raw salary but also the highest expenses, making your savings highly dependent on where you live and whether you can find affordable housing.
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The savings champion: Japan — when your employer provides free housing and you take advantage of overtime, Japan consistently delivers the highest monthly savings for Filipino workers.
[NEXT PAGE: Overtime and Hidden Income — The Secret Weapon →]
