ChatGPT costs P1,120/month in the Philippines. Here's the $2 alternative Filipino developers are using.

Let's do the math that ChatGPT's pricing page doesn't want you to think about.

ChatGPT Plus: $20/month.

At current exchange rates, that's P1,120/month .

For a mid-level Filipino developer earning P35,000–P50,000/month, that's 2–3% of your monthly salary just to access an AI tool.

For a fresh grad in BPO or a freelancer still building their client base? It's closer to a week of rent in Quezon City.

The Upwork paradox

Here's what makes this especially frustrating for Filipino developers:

The platforms where you earn — Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal — price in USD. So you understand exactly what $20 means in global terms.

But your bills are in PHP.…