10 Countries With Almost The Same Exchange Rate As The Philippine Peso

7 min read By eCompareMo on June 4, 2018

To foreign tourists, it’s not just more fun in the Philippines; it’s cheaper here too.

But even though the Philippine Peso may fall far behind the likes of the US Dollar and the Euro, there are still a lot of other countries where there are reasonable exchange rates for Filipinos. In fact, they have about the same cost of living as Metro Manila.

Here’s a list of 10 lesser-traveled countries that have lower than or just about the same cost of living and exchange rates as the Philippines. These countries also have great sights, and unique cultural experiences that Filipinos can and should enjoy.

For each of these destinations, we made a chart showing the prices of six travel essentials—including beer of course—in pesos, so you’ll get an idea as to how much you’re going to be spending while you’re there.

Note: The exchange rates we quote in this article are accurate as of the last week of May 2018. We also checked Numbeo, the largest global database for the real-time cost of living reports, for the prices at each of these alternative travel destinations.

Visa Required

1.  Prague, Czech Republic

People fall in love with Amsterdam and Switzerland for the most amazing reasons, but you should also check out the beautiful, more affordable Prague. And, while Germany is best known for its Brauereis, a local beer in Munich can cost around P232, meanwhile, local beers in Prague are only around P83. Not sure if you still need any more convincing but, Na zdraví!

How far will my pesos go?

1 Czech Koruna (CZK) = 2.37 Php

2. Belgrade, Serbia

Serbia is part of Conde Nast’s 14 Emerging Destinations Around the World, and rightly so, because of its thriving arts and culture scene. Its nightlife is often said to rival that of Berlin and it is tagged as “an all-year party city”, best known for its boat clubs called Splavs.

One thing that’s ultra-unique about it? They still follow the Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on January 7, and New Year’s on January 14. Basically, everything is 13 days late for them, so a great experience would be to celebrate New Year’s Eve the second time in raucous Belgrade, where you can get drinks for about the same price as you would in Makati.

How far will my pesos go?

1 Serbian Dinar (RSD) = 0.52 Php

3. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Yet another European country said to be fascinating yet underrated is Bosnia and Herzegovina. Whether you got here with high expectations or none at all, just let its capital Sarajevo take you for a historical trip.

One place you should visit is this landmark – a seemingly innocent little corner in Stari Grad (meaning Old Town) – where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated along with his family, an unfortunate event that famously led to World War 1.

How far will my pesos go?

1 Bosnian Convertible Mark (BAM) = 31.19 Php

No Visa Required

In this section, we’re going to focus on a few countries in South America where Filipinos can travel to visa-free.

(Read:  Your Philippine Passport Can Now Take You To 66 Countries Without A Visa)

Take note though, that South American fares can be very expensive. Brazil, for instance, is literally located on the other side of the world as the Philippines, so expect to see ridiculously high fares. Look for connecting flights so you’ll be able to save more, instead of buying a plane ticket straight to your South American destination.

Luckily, once your there, you’ll find friendly people, awesome sights, and a favorable exchange rate.

4. Bolivia

Apparently, there’s an ongoing debate between Sucre or La Paz as the official capital of Bolivia.

Either way, maybe you can throw in your two cents too, and visit both to decide which is the worthy capital. You can also write about it because since it’s a good place to travel on the cheap, more people need to see it, too.

How far will my pesos go? 

1 Bolivian Bolíviano (BOB) = 7.60 Php

5. Brasilia, Brazil

For some, it’s always football that comes to mind when they hear Brazil. It’s also best known for other grand sights like the Mardi Gras (Brazilian Carnival), São Paulo LGBT Pride Parade (a must-see!), and Christ the Redeemer statue.

Bask in everything grand, colorful and gritty that Brazil has to offer. And the prices of essentials are quite affordable, too.

How far will my pesos go? 

1 Brazilian Real (BRL) = 14.09 Php

6. Paramaribo, Suriname

Another lesser-known South American country is Suriname (pronounced with a silent ‘e’).

Simply seeing it on photos and travel blogs makes one see a lot of Nat-Geo realness. Create your off the beaten adventure with its untouched jungles, rivers, reserves, and even just a guided CouchSurfing tour around the city and get to know more about its history through the locals, and food.

How far will my pesos go? 

1 Surinamese Dollar (SRD) = 7.05 Php

Visa on Arrival Required

 

7.  Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

The Maldives? Seychelles? How about going to exotic and lesser-known Trinidad and Tobago?

Going there would not be the same if you didn’t arrive in time for their Carnival, dubbed as the greatest street parade in the world, which is held every March.

How far will my pesos go?

1 Trinidadian Dollar (TTD) = 7.80 Php

(Read:  6 Best Travel Credit Cards In The Philippines: 2018 Edition)

 

8.  Nairobi, Kenya

Kenya is the most visited out of all the countries in Africa for Safari tours.

As you anticipate getting face to face with lions outside of the capital, take Nairobi as an introduction to Kenya’s wildlife, good food, and culture.

How far will my pesos go?  

1 Kenyan Shilling = 0.52 Php

 

9.  Colombo, Sri Lanka

Maybe you’ve heard about Sri Lanka from friends who went through a meditation retreat here. But of course, it’s more than that.

Whether you’re into exploring the depths of your being or simply wanting to tick this country off your bucket list, the time is now to plan that Sri Lanka trip because its price of basic commodities is just about the same as our country.

How far will my pesos go?  

1 Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) = 0.33 Php

10.  Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Seriously. Have you ever Googled the sights of Kyrgyzstan? It’s rough and unspoiled landscapes makes it the perfect destination for the more dauntless and nomadic types of travelers. Plus, it’s cheap, so it makes the cut.

Life is about treading your own path. And living that nomadic way of life out here in this Visa-Free country looks like it would totally be worth it.

Not that familiar with its history? You can use CouchSurfing and make friends with locals. Not just with Kyrgyzstan but for every foreign city you visit, for a more personal and memorable travel experience.

 How far will my pesos go? 

1 Kyrgyzstani Som (KGS) = 0.77 Php

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments!