Bahay Blues: PH Housing Costs Hit Harder Than Most in Asia

Housing stress is hitting a huge chunk of Filipinos, with a new report saying at least half of respondents in the country dealt with housing-related problems in 2025. The finding, cited by Philstar from Gallup data discussed by The Economist, puts the Philippines among the most pressured housing markets in Asia.

The issue is not just about people wanting bigger homes. The report points to affordability as the real pain point, with the Philippines reportedly posting one of the widest gaps between what families earn and what they need to pay for housing. In short: rent and home prices are moving on a level many households just can’t keep up with.

One measure from the 2023 Urban Land Institute Asia Pacific Home Attainability Index showed the Philippines had the region’s worst ratio between median rent and median household income. The same report said home prices here can run from 16 to 25 times a household’s annual income, a level that makes buying property feel almost impossible for many working families.

Even renting is mabigat. Philstar cited estimates placing a one-bedroom apartment in Metro areas at roughly P8,000 to P40,000 a month, while data from the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department put average monthly household income in 2022 at P15,820. That mismatch helps explain why housing anxiety remains so widespread.

The numbers also land as the Marcos administration continues to push its national housing drive. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had first promised 6 million homes by the end of his term, though that target has since been recalibrated to 3.2 million. For a lot of families, the question now is simple: when will relief actually show up where it matters — sa upa at sa presyo ng bahay.

Source: Philstar article