A condominium’s monthly carrying cost can surprise even diligent first-time buyers. A 40-square-meter unit in Makati or Bonifacio Global City runs roughly ₱11,550 per month when you add up association dues, electricity, water, internet, and parking. By comparison, a 100-square-meter house — including a kasambahay’s salary — lands closer to ₱18,700 per month. What matters most for a buyer is not just the difference in absolute pesos, but which costs are fixed and which you can actually control.
Looking at the gap — ₱11,550 versus ₱18,700 — the condo appears easier on the monthly budget. But the real picture depends heavily on where you buy, how big the unit is, and what you include in your calculation. If you live alone or as a couple and skip the helper, a house’s monthly tab drops to about ₱10,700, making it comparable to the condo. The trade-offs are more nuanced than a single number suggests, which is why a deeper look at each cost category helps.
Where Your Monthly Peso Goes
These three buckets — power, water, and association dues — account for roughly 70 percent of a condo’s monthly carrying cost. Internet and optional parking add the rest. Checking a condo association’s financial health before you buy can reveal whether dues are likely to stay stable or jump after turnover.
Location Drives Your Recurring Bills
Association dues are the one cost you cannot reduce by changing your habits — they are set by the building’s management and rise with inflation, repair needs, and reserve funding. The location you choose locks in a baseline that persists for as long as you own the unit.
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| Area | Association Dues per sqm | Monthly cost for 40 sqm |
|---|---|---|
| BGC / Rockwell | ₱100–150 | ₱4,000–6,000 |
| Makati CBD | ₱90–130 | ₱3,600–5,200 |
| Ortigas / Mandaluyong | ₱70–100 | ₱2,800–4,000 |
| Quezon City | ₱50–80 | ₱2,000–3,200 |
| Pasig (outside Ortigas) | ₱50–70 | ₱2,000–2,800 |
| Manila / Pasay | ₱40–70 | ₱1,600–2,800 |
| Provincial (e.g., Cavite) | ₱35–50 | ₱1,400–2,000 |
The spread is wide. A buyer who picks BGC pays more than triple the association dues of someone in Cavite for the same-sized unit. That difference — roughly ₱2,600 to ₱4,600 per month — compounds over five years into ₱156,000 to ₱276,000. Emerging condo hotspots outside Metro Manila often offer lower dues without sacrificing access to major business districts.
Complications That Catch Buyers Off Guard
Real Property Tax (Amilyar) Is Separate
Many first-time buyers assume association dues cover all property-related taxes. They do not. Real property tax on a condominium is assessed on the unit plus its proportionate share of common areas. Metro Manila applies a 2 percent rate on assessed value, plus an additional 1 percent for the Special Education Fund. A ₱3.5 million unit in Makati works out to roughly ₱22,000 per year — or about ₱1,833 per month that many buyers forget to factor in. A ₱6 million house and lot in Taguig runs ₱24,000–36,000 annually.
Electricity Spikes From Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is the largest controllable expense. A single inverter AC running eight hours a day adds approximately ₱2,000–3,000 to the monthly bill. In a 1-bedroom condo with AC, total electricity runs ₱2,500–4,500 per month. Step up to a 2-bedroom unit and the range jumps to ₱5,000–7,500. Houses amplify the effect: a 2-bedroom house with AC consumes 600–900 kWh, billing ₱7,000–11,000. Large houses with multiple units can exceed 1,000 kWh and ₱11,000–15,000. The difference between choosing a studio (₱1,200–1,800 with no AC) and a 2-bedroom unit (₱5,000–7,500 with AC) is a recurring ₱3,800–5,700 per month.
Parking: An Optional but Sticky Cost
Parking is often quoted separately and can add ₱2,000 per month in a prime location. If you own a car, that expense is effectively mandatory for most urban condos. Unlike electricity, you cannot reduce it month to month — it is a flat fee tied to the parking slot, whether you use it daily or leave the car idle.
Understanding the full set of recurring costs is especially important for buyers who are used to renting, where the landlord covers association dues and property tax. As an owner, those line items shift to you.
What To Do With This Information
For the First-Time Buyer Looking at a Studio or 1BR
Focus on total monthly carrying cost, not just the purchase price. A ₱6 million condo in Makati with 40 square meters has first-year carrying costs — association dues, utilities, internet, and property tax — of about ₱138,600. Over five years without a mortgage, that reaches roughly ₱693,000, bringing the total outlay to about ₱6.89 million. That is nearly ₱900,000 above the purchase price, or about 15 percent more. Run the same calculation for any unit you are considering.
For the Buyer Comparing Condo vs. House at the Same Budget
At the ₱6 million price point, you can get a 35–40 sqm condo in Makati or BGC, or a 50–60 sqm lot with a house in outer Quezon City or Cavite. The house’s monthly costs, without a helper, can be as low as ₱10,700 — actually lower than the condo’s ₱11,550 when parking is included. The trade-off is commute time and access to urban amenities. If you value time over space, the condo wins. If you value square footage over location, the house offers more room for similar monthly expense.
For the Investor Planning a 5-Year Hold
The five-year carrying cost on a ₱14.5 million house and lot (sans mortgage) is about ₱1.26 million, versus about ₱693,000 for a ₱6 million condo. While the house’s absolute carrying cost is higher, its per-peso-of-property ratio is lower. Viewing a condo as a retirement asset works best when you lock in a low-dues location and plan for the long term, since dues will rise but your equity may appreciate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are association dues tax-deductible for condo owners? ▾
Can association dues increase after I move in? ▾
How is real property tax different for condos vs. houses? ▾
Is water usually included in association dues? ▾
What is the cheapest location for condo association dues? ▾
How much should I set aside monthly for condo repairs? ▾
The numbers show that monthly carrying costs can add 15 percent or more to a condo’s effective price over five years. That does not make condo ownership a bad decision — it makes it one that rewards careful planning. Look beyond the glossy showroom and get the actual rate per square meter from the building’s association, check whether the reserve fund is healthy, and run your own five-year projection before signing.
If this was useful, you might also want to read how to choose a resilient Philippine condo that holds its value.
Sources
How to assess condo association financials before buying — A deeper guide on what to look for in a building’s financial statements before you commit.
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Emerging condo hotspots for investment in the Philippines — Explores areas outside the traditional CBDs where dues and purchase prices are lower.
Condo or house and lot in the Philippines: A cost comparison. Mainline Power PH.
Condo fees in Manila area — breakdown by location. Reddit r/phinvest.
Residential electricity rates. Meralco, 2025.
Water rates and billing. Maynilad, 2025.
