Buy local vs import · Philippines
Importing to the Philippines: is it actually cheaper?
26 products run through the real landed cost — US price + forwarding + 12% import VAT above the ₱10,000 de-minimis + card FX — versus local retail, factoring whether the warranty survives. Right now buying local wins on all of them — that flips as prices move.
- Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) Toss-up local ₱47,990 · imported ₱37,748
- Creative Outlier Free Pro Toss-up local ₱9,590 · imported ₱7,004
- Apple AirPods 4 Buy it locally local ₱9,990 · imported ₱10,204
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 Buy it locally local ₱15,990 · imported ₱20,148
- Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) Buy it locally local ₱53,990 · imported ₱45,667
- Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M4) Buy it locally local ₱68,990 · imported ₱60,249
- Apple iPhone 16 Buy it locally local ₱64,990 · imported ₱59,621
- Apple iPhone 17 Buy it locally local ₱73,990 · imported ₱59,621
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Buy it locally local ₱87,990 · imported ₱81,494
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Buy it locally local ₱95,990 · imported ₱88,785
- Apple iPhone Air Buy it locally local ₱77,990 · imported ₱74,203
- Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 2026) Buy it locally local ₱108,990 · imported ₱112,540
- Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) Buy it locally local ₱8,500 · imported ₱10,204
- Beats Studio Pro Buy it locally local ₱18,990 · imported ₱23,239
- Bose QuietComfort Headphones Buy it locally local ₱18,500 · imported ₱27,541
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Buy it locally local ₱19,500 · imported ₱23,794
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Buy it locally local ₱27,900 · imported ₱32,645
- Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Buy it locally local ₱18,500 · imported ₱16,503
- JBL Charge 6 Buy it locally local ₱10,999 · imported ₱16,503
- Logitech C922 Pro Stream Webcam Buy it locally local ₱7,500 · imported ₱8,245
- Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Buy it locally local ₱17,990 · imported ₱23,863
- Shokz OpenFit 2 Buy it locally local ₱11,990 · imported ₱15,114
- Shokz OpenMove Buy it locally local ₱4,490 · imported ₱7,001
- Sony Alpha A7 IV Buy it locally local ₱129,999 · imported ₱184,196
- Sony WF-1000XM5 Buy it locally local ₱16,999 · imported ₱23,867
- Soundcore AeroFit 2 Buy it locally local ₱5,895 · imported ₱11,471
How importing to the Philippines works
- Import VAT
- 12% on the US price + shipping (CIF), above a ₱10,000 de-minimis threshold.
- Duty
- 0% — Phones, laptops, tablets and cameras enter at 0% MFN duty under the WTO ITA; the 12% VAT still applies to the full CIF value above the ₱10,000 de-minimis threshold.
- Forwarding
- Buy&Ship, from the US — about 5–8 days.
- FX
- ₱63.4/USD mid-market + 3% card spread, as of 2026-10-22. Rates By Exchange Rate API
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