Housing affordability worsens in the Philippines, with over half of Filipinos struggling as rents and home prices far exceed household incomes. (Image by freepik)
MANILA, Philippines — At least half of Filipinos find it difficult to secure housing in 2025, underscoring deepening affordability issues in the country, a report citing the data by Gallup said.
In an analysis by The Economist cited by PHILSTAR, the Philippines emerged as one of several Asian countries grappling with housing challenges, with high costs identified as a key driver.
More than half of Filipino respondents reported concerns related to housing — placing the country among the worst affected in the region, alongside Sri Lanka and Myanmar. The Philippines also fared worse than wealthier economies such as South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and the United States.
Data from the Urban Land Institute further highlight the scale of the problem. In the 2023 Asia Pacific Home Attainability Index, the Philippines recorded the region’s highest ratio of median monthly rent to median monthly income, signaling a widening gap between earnings and the cost of living.
Housing prices remain steep. A typical home in the Philippines costs between 16 and 25 times a household’s annual income. Meanwhile, median monthly rent exceeds $1,000 — equivalent to around 166% of the median monthly household income.
Figures from the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department show that the average Filipino household earned P15,820 per month in 2022 — far below what is needed to comfortably afford rent.
Estimates from Wise.com indicate that renting a one-bedroom apartment in urban areas can cost anywhere from P8,000 to P40,000 monthly, or up to P480,000 annually.
The housing gap remains a key challenge for the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who initially pledged to build 6 million homes by the end of his term. The target has since been scaled down to 3.2 million units.
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