Estimated Construction Cost in the Philippines Per Square Meter and What to Expect (Updated for 2022)

 Take into consideration the following scenario. You’ve been working hard for quite some time and you have finally attained some measure of financial stability, enough so that you feel like you are ready to buy your own property and build a home. 

The first step is to find a plot of land upon which you want your home to stand tall and proud. But before you can even break ground and begin laying the foundations for a hopefully strong and happy home, you must first do your due diligence. And one of the first questions any prospective buyer of land must ask is the price per square meter.

There is no definitive answer to that question since the cost per square meter of land and housing in the Philippines is dictated by a myriad of factors. Including but not limited to, the location and condition of the land, the design of the house, price and availability of construction supplies and materials, among other factors, such as the current pandemic, and economic crisis but generally buyers can expect to pay a higher price per square meter the closer the land is to major economic centers such as Manila, and less if located in more rural provincial areas.

But there are four types of Philippine house design and cost that we would like to focus on in particular.

1. Rough Finish- This type of house is the plainest of the three options for Philippine house designs. It is composed of the essentials–doors, windows, bare cement walls and floors and a corrugated roof. This is by far the most budget friendly and lowest maintenance type of construction project, since it lacks the finer details in more elaborate finishes such as tile flooring, fancy facades, or even paint for that matter. But it has a rather rustic and industrial charm. You can expect to pay approximately PHP 15,000- PHP 20,000 per square meter for this type of finish.

2. Basic Finish- If you want something a little more aesthetic, you can instead opt for the basic finish. This style of Philippine house design is the quintessential Filipino middle class home as it allows for more aesthetic choice than the rough finish for a little bit more financial and material cost. Expect to pay approximately PHP 20,000- PHP 25,000 per square meter.

3. Semi- Elegant Finish-  This type of house design is the middle of the road option- if you will, that bridges the gap between the basic and elegant finishes, this style of finish uses some of the more elegant materials and detailing which is sure to add a layer of sophistication and aesthetic appeal to the design of your house but not so much that it breaks your bank account. This type of finish will cost you approximately PHP 25,000- PHP 35,000 per square meter.

4. Elegant Finish- This type of finish is where the saying “the sky's the limit” truly applies. This is the option that comes with all the proverbial bells and whistles, the highest quality materials and most sophisticated designs that your wallet will allow, anyway, before I run out of highfalutin descriptions to illustrate the level of freedom and customization, I must warn you that quality comes with a price, be prepared to shell out approximately PHP 40,0000- PHP 60,000 per square meter.

In conclusion: There is a house design that will fit every level of aesthetic appeal, and budget. The most important thing for you to remember is that you should do your own due diligence as the figures listed here are merely estimated house prices. Do not hesitate to ask questions in order to figure out the best and most cost effective house design for you.