The Cost of Building a House in the Philippines

How much does it cost to build a home or a pool?
Good question! Next! Of course the answer is; IT DEPENDS...

The construction of a house is a process involving many trades, hundreds of building materials, and thousands of steps that must be scheduled, coordinated, and performed quickly.

The cost depends on so many factors, like;

• Where do you build the house (Manila, Cebu, Davao City, Tagaytay, Laguna, Cavite?)
• Total floor area (how many square meter groundfloor plus next floors)
• Is the building-site accessible by a good road? (or do the building materials have to be carried?)
• What are the rules and requirements of the local government or subdivision? (yes in the Philippines it's better to check that)
• What kind of soil your lot has?
• Is there an excisting house that need to be demolished?
• Does your plot need excavation, backfilling, compaction, a retaining-wall, fire-wall, dewatering and/or runoff control measures?
• Are there local workers who are skilled enough or do they have to come from Manila?
• Is there electricity, water?
• What construction methods do you select? (hollow blocks, solid poured concrete between temporary forms, with- or without insulation, steel frame, AAC, ICF etc.)
• Which brand, quality and color tiles you want and what type of windows, doors, kitchen, roof etc. etc.

Work backwards and use a Building Cost Calculator or Estimator

Most people who think "how much would it cost to build a home, a garage or an extension" will start looking online for nice model-homes and direct let a Philippine architect make a design... only to discover soon that they can't afford...

Better Work Backwards; First check your budget with a building cost calculator / estimator on this website.

New Home Building Costs; depend

As of August 2012; the average estimated cost per square meter floor-area for building a home (including tiles, paint, doors, windows etc.), built by a Philippine contractor, is:

A) Php 20,000 for 'Budget' or 'Low Cost Homes' (ordinary ceramic tiles or vinyl, ordinary paint, G.I. galvanized steel long span roofing, steel casement windows)

B) Php 25,000 for 'Average finish' or 'Middle Class' (ceramic- and granite tiles or wood floor panels/parquet, good quality paint, insulated G.I. galvanized steel long span roofing, steel casement windows, cabinets in kitchen and bedrooms)

C) Php 30,000 and up, for 'High-end first-class finish' (imported tiles or wood floor panels/parquet, Decore- or Multiflex paint, wall-mouldings, insulated G.I. galvanized steel long span roofing or clay tiles, aluminum or PVC framed windows, laminated cabinets in kitchen and bedrooms, hot and cold water)

You can even select solar panels, Vaulted ceilings, Insulated (two pane glass-) windows, Ceramic Roof Tiles, Decorative stones on outside walls and higher quality kitchen and bathroom; then you pay more, obviously.

(More or less half of those amounts can be used as the average cost to build only the ‘shell’; Concrete Foundation, Posts, Walls, Slabs, Roof, Septic tank and embedded electric/plumbing pipes, without tiles/paint etc. Many Expats do this because they don't like the old style hollow blocks.)

Included in the estimated construction cost are mostly:
 1. Design, Blueprints, Permits
 2. Plumbing
 3. Electrical works
 4. Embedded items for Aircon
 5. Floor, walls and ceiling finishes
 6. Roof
 7. Doors and windows
 8. Painting
 9. Hardwares, door locks, hinges

Excluded are mostly: (offered but charged separate)
 1. Deposits to Electrical and Water utilities
 2. Concrete Fence and gates
 3. Swimming pool
 4. Aircon units
 5. Furnitures and cabinets
 6. Transformer for 110 volts
 7. Deepwell and reservoir

As to the question 'How to estimate the cost of building a house', we also have to mention WHO DOES ALL THE WORK? You or a contractor?

House Plans with Cost to Build?

Those you will NOT find on the internet... only an architect can take care of those; and you now know why.

So the only correct way to know what does it cost to build a home in the Philippines is when you already own a lot and have the blueprints. Then your builder can itemize all work items of your project and price it accordingly.
  

If you have comments or questions please E-mail us...