A clear budget before registration
Cost of Studying English in the Philippines: How to Build Your Complete Budget
The institute’s price alone is not the full cost. Your complete budget includes the programme, accommodation, registration, local fees, travel, daily spending and any seasonal charge, with each currency converted to Saudi riyals at the rate on the payment date.
Review the calculation method and the documented A&J example to understand the items. The example is for planning, not a current quotation or an average for all Philippine institutes.
Do not rely on tuition fees alone
Keep dollars and pesos separate before conversion
Confirm the programme, campus, room and date
Use a dated quotation before paying
Six layers of your budget
What goes into the cost of studying English in the Philippines?
A fair comparison starts not with an advertised figure, but with understanding what it includes and what you will need to pay separately.
Programme fees
These vary with the programme, the number of one-to-one and group classes, tests and academic services.
Accommodation
This varies with the campus, room type, number of occupants, length of stay and included services.
Registration and booking
These may be one-off charges. Ask whether they are refundable and what they secure.
Local fees
These may include permits, cards, books, services, pickup and a deposit, depending on the duration and institute.
Travel and living expenses
Flights, insurance, transport, connectivity, meals, activities and personal purchases.
Seasons and offers
A seasonal charge or a discount with conditions and dates should not enter your calculation until confirmed in writing.
Calculate each currency separately
The complete budget formula
Do not combine dollars and pesos into one figure before conversion: each currency covers different items and may be payable at a different time.
USD
Institute total in dollars
Tuition + accommodation + registration + seasonal charge – confirmed discount.
PHP
Local fees in pesos
Required fees for your duration + any services or deposits not already included.
SAR
Travel and living expenses
Flights + daily spending + preparations + a contingency allowance.
Complete budget = institute total + local fees + travel + daily spending + contingency, after converting each item to one currency. Count each item once, according to what the quotation includes.
For Saudi students
How do you calculate the cost in Saudi riyals?
Convert each currency separately using the actual exchange rate when planning or paying. We do not fix an exchange rate on this page because the final amount may be affected by the payment date, bank, card and transfer charges.
If your budget is in another currency, see the guide for students from the UAE (Arabic) for planning in dirhams, or the guide for students from Kuwait (Arabic) for planning in Kuwaiti dinars. Keep each item’s original currency in the quotation and check transfer fees and the payment currency before paying.
01Dollar amount in riyalsDollar total × dollar-to-riyal exchange rate
02Peso amount in riyalsPeso total × peso-to-riyal exchange rate
03Final budgetBoth converted amounts + travel + living expenses + contingency
Worked example
Four weeks at A&J Main Campus
This example explains the calculation method only: tuition and accommodation are from a 2024 list, and local fees from a schedule announced on 2 July 2025.
Tuition and accommodation
Local fees
Peak-season charge
A&J Main Campus
Programme
General ESL4 weeksTuition fees
$800From the 2024 listRegistration
$100One-off charge in this exampleHow does room type change the dollar total?
Triple or quadruple room
$650 accommodation$1,550Tuition + accommodation + registrationTwin room
$750 accommodation$1,650Tuition + accommodation + registrationSingle room
$850 accommodation$1,750Tuition + accommodation + registrationThe difference between a shared and a single room in this example is USD 200 over four weeks, before local fees, travel and living expenses.
Fees payable in pesos
Local fees in the A&J example
The Main Campus schedule lists an illustrative total of PHP 22,000 for four weeks of ESL.
| Item | Amount | How to account for it in your budget |
|---|---|---|
| SSP | P7,800 | Listed local fee |
| E-Card | P4,500 | Listed local fee |
| Visa Extension | P0 | The amount shown in the four-week row only |
| Utility | P2,500 | Services for the example’s duration |
| ID | P200 | Student ID card |
| ESL books | P1,000 | Programme books in the example |
| Pickup | P3,000 | Pickup as listed in the schedule |
| Deposit | P3,000 | Funds required; may be refundable under the policy |
| Total | P22,000 | Before travel and personal spending |
The deposit is part of the funds you need on arrival. It should not automatically be treated as a final expense or as fully refundable.
Peak-season charge
$40per weekYour arrival date changes the calculation
A historical example of A&J peak-season fees in 2026
This example covers 28 June to 22 August 2026. A USD 40 weekly charge amounts to USD 160 over four weeks if it applies to all four weeks under the registration conditions.
Do not apply this charge to every institute, or offset it with an offer without written confirmation.
Costs vary by student
Why does the cost differ from case to case?
Programme
The basic A&J list shows four-week tuition at USD 800 for General ESL, USD 900 for Intensive ESL, USD 1,000 for Native ESL and Crazy ESL, and USD 950 for specialised exam programmes.
Room type
Privacy increases the price, but the cheapest option is not automatically the right one. Check occupancy, facilities and how well the room suits your sleep, study and privacy needs.
Duration
Costs for books, services and some procedures increase with longer stays. Long-stay offers may have their own conditions.
City and campus
Cebu and Baguio offer different institutes, campuses, accommodation and lifestyles. A price for one campus should not be applied to another.
Arrival date
Season, availability, offers and exchange rates are date-dependent. An old quotation does not guarantee a new booking.
Lifestyle
Meals, transport, connectivity, activities and purchases vary even between students attending the same institute.
Compare Cebu and Baguio on the same basis
Study costs in Cebu or Baguio?
We do not label one city cheaper in all cases. A comparison needs the same programme, duration, room type, fee items and dates.
Study costs in Cebu
Compare institute programmes, accommodation and living costs in Cebu, then match the duration and room type against your other options.
Browse Cebu institutes (Arabic)Study costs in Baguio
Review Baguio institutes, programme fees, accommodation and living options, comparing the same items and dates.
Browse Baguio institutes (Arabic)Beyond the institute’s invoice
Expenses that are easy to overlook before travel and after arrival
Before travel
Preparing for your trip
- Flights and extra baggage
- Insurance suited to your circumstances
- Transport to your departure point
- Clothing, medicines and preparations
- Payment or transfer charges
After arrival
Daily life
- Meals that are not included
- Personal transport
- SIM card and internet
- Laundry and extra services
- Activities, trips and emergencies
Compare like for like
Does studying in the Philippines cost less than in Western countries?
One institute’s price, or tuition fees alone, cannot establish that. The Philippines may be competitive in some scenarios, but a fair conclusion needs comparable, dated quotations.
- 01Same duration
- 02Same classes
- 03Accommodation and room
- 04Visa and fees
- 05Travel and living expenses
- 06Academic outcome
Compare the total trip cost and included services, not just course fees. The result may differ by programme, city, accommodation and travel date.
Cut unnecessary costs without compromising your choice
How can you reduce your budget without choosing an unsuitable programme?
Choose your room carefully
A shared room reduces costs if it suits your sleep, study and privacy needs.
Review your arrival season
If your dates are flexible, check peak-season charges and availability before confirming your trip.
Do not pay for intensity you do not need
Match the number of classes and the programme to your goal, level and available time.
Check the written quotation
Do not base your budget on a general discount advertisement without clear conditions and dates.
Make the comparison consistent
Compare the same duration, room type, programme and services to identify genuine savings.
Compare two quotations on the same basis
Quotation review table
If even one item remains unclear, the total is not ready for a final comparison.
| Item | First quotation | Second quotation | What should match? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institute and campus | — | — | Full campus name |
| Programme | — | — | Number and type of classes |
| Duration | — | — | Start and end dates |
| Accommodation | — | — | Room type and services |
| Registration | — | — | One-off or included |
| Local fees | — | — | Items, currency and date |
| Charges and discounts | — | — | Conditions and period |
| Total in riyals | — | — | Exchange rate and calculation date |
From an estimate to a personalised amount
Eight steps before paying
The calculator organises your estimate, but a dated quotation is the final reference for availability and payment.
Open the cost calculator- 01
Choose a city, or keep your options open for comparison.
- 02
Specify the programme, duration and arrival date.
- 03
Choose the room type and campus.
- 04
Add tuition, accommodation and registration in dollars.
- 05
Add local fees in pesos.
- 06
Add travel, living expenses and contingency.
- 07
Convert each currency at the rate on the calculation date.
- 08
Request a dated quotation before making a financial decision.
Answers to help you decide
Questions about the cost of studying English in the Philippines
Published figures help with planning, but do not replace a current quotation.
How much does it cost to study English in the Philippines for a month?
The cost depends on the quotation and duration. Check the pricing unit: four weeks is 28 days, not always a calendar month. In the documented A&J Main Campus example, General ESL, accommodation and registration totalled USD 1,550 to USD 1,750 for four weeks, depending on the room, plus PHP 22,000 in the local fee schedule, before travel, personal spending and any seasonal charge. These are dated example figures, not a market average or a current offer.
How do I calculate the cost in Saudi riyals?
Convert the dollar and peso totals separately at the rate on the calculation date, then add flights, daily spending and contingency. Do not use an old exchange rate or combine the two currencies before conversion.
Do institute fees include accommodation?
Quotations vary: tuition and accommodation may be separate or offered as a package. Ask for a breakdown showing the programme, room, registration and local fees separately.
Why are some fees in dollars and others in pesos?
Many institutes price tuition and accommodation in dollars, while local fees, services and procedures are listed in pesos. Each currency covers different items and should remain separate until the final conversion.
Are local fees fixed?
Do not assume they stay the same. They vary by institute, duration, services and updates. Use a dated schedule for your chosen campus and duration.
Is the deposit part of the cost?
It is part of the funds required on arrival, but may be refundable under the institute’s policy after any outstanding charges or damage costs are deducted. Do not omit it from the amount needed or automatically treat it as a final expense.
Is Cebu or Baguio cheaper?
Do not decide by city name alone. Compare at least two institutes with the same programme, duration, room type, fees and arrival date, then account for your lifestyle.
Are published prices enough to decide whether to pay?
No. Published prices help with planning, but a financial decision requires a dated quotation in your name showing availability, programme, campus, room, fees and any discount.
Do peak-season fees always apply?
No. They apply to a specific period and conditions. The historical example shows a USD 40 weekly charge from 28 June to 22 August 2026. Seasonal charges for your own trip, if any, should be checked in its quotation.
A budget you can review
Turn your plans into a clear figure
Specify the city, programme, duration, arrival date and room type. Start with the calculator to organise the items, then request an updated quotation showing dollar and peso amounts and availability before paying.