How much does it cost to move from United States to Philippines?

Two separate budgets. The international removal itself is quoted on volume (m³), distance and mode — sea freight is the default for a full household, air only for small or urgent loads. Separately, you need settling-in cash on arrival: a deposit, first month's rent and a buffer, which for Manila is around PHP 155,713. Get a firm shipping quote below; the settling-in figure is from our cost data.

Should I ship by sea or air to Philippines?

Sea freight is typically 50–70% cheaper than air but takes weeks; it's the standard choice for a flat or house. Air makes sense only for a few boxes you need immediately. Most movers ship the bulk by sea and fly with essentials.

When should I exchange the deposit money?

Before you move. A 2-month deposit in PHP is roughly USD 1,158 at today's mid-market rate — sending it with a specialist that uses the real rate avoids the 3–5% margin most banks hide in the exchange.

United States→

Philippines

Cost of moving from United States to Philippines

Moving to Philippines from United States? An international move on this route has two costs: the removals quote (priced on volume and mode) and the settling-in cash you need on arrival in Manila. We break down both below.

Data signals

The real cost of landing in Philippines

Cash to land in Manila
Beyond the shipping quote, the cash you need on arrival — a 2-month deposit, your first month's rent, and a month of essentials — comes to roughly 155,713 PHP in Manila.
Deposit in your home currency
The 2-month rental deposit (~66,486 PHP) is about 1,158 USD at today's mid-market rate — move it before you go to avoid a bank's exchange margin.
Housing dominates the move
Housing — deposit plus first month's rent — is about 64% of the upfront cash needed to settle in Philippines, far more than the one-off freight cost for most moves.

Cash on arrival

What you need to settle in Manila

Deposit (2 months)

66,486 PHP

First month's rent

33,243 PHP

One month of essentials

55,984 PHP

Total to land

155,713 PHP

excludes shipping

Settling-in figures are derived from our cost-of-living data for Manila(housing + essentials). The shipping quote is separate — see below. Data as of 2026-06-10.

Interactive

Estimate your total upfront move budget

Rental deposit + first month · real, from local rent data114,688 PHP

One month of essentials (×2) · real, from cost data83,976 PHP

International shipping · illustrative — get a quote below172,222 PHP – 401,852 PHP

Flights (2) · illustrative45,926 PHP – 137,778 PHP

Estimated upfront cost416,812 PHP – 738,294 PHP

The deposit, first month and essentials are derived from our Manila cost data. Shipping and flights are illustrative USD-benchmarked ranges (they depend on distance, volume and season) — get a firm shipping quote below. Excludes visa, insurance and agency fees.

How removals are priced

Shipping by volume and mode

International removals are quoted on volume (m³), distance and mode — not a flat fee. Sea freight is the default for a full household; air is for small, urgent loads only. Use this to size your move, then get a firm quote:

Household	Typical volume	By sea	By air
Studio / 1-bed	10–18 m³	4–8 weeks	3–10 days
2-bed flat	20–35 m³	5–9 weeks	5–12 days
3–4 bed house	40–70 m³	6–12 weeks	by sea only

Volumes and transit windows are industry-standard reference ranges; the price depends on your exact volume, port access and season — get a real quote below.

Move United States → Philippines: quotes & money transfer

Some links below are affiliate links — if you sign up we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Wise

Move money across borders without losing 3–5% to your bank

Real mid-market FX rates, no hidden spread.

Open a free Wise account →

FAQ

How much does it cost to move from United States to Philippines?: Two separate budgets. The international removal itself is quoted on volume (m³), distance and mode — sea freight is the default for a full household, air only for small or urgent loads. Separately, you need settling-in cash on arrival: a deposit, first month's rent and a buffer, which for Manila is around PHP 155,713. Get a firm shipping quote below; the settling-in figure is from our cost data.
Should I ship by sea or air to Philippines?: Sea freight is typically 50–70% cheaper than air but takes weeks; it's the standard choice for a flat or house. Air makes sense only for a few boxes you need immediately. Most movers ship the bulk by sea and fly with essentials.
When should I exchange the deposit money?: Before you move. A 2-month deposit in PHP is roughly USD 1,158 at today's mid-market rate — sending it with a specialist that uses the real rate avoids the 3–5% margin most banks hide in the exchange.