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Commute math — picking a job by location in Metro Manila
How to price the daily trip before you take the offer — corridors, transfers and the real hourly cost.
By trab.ph editorial · · 2 min read
Compute the real monthly cost
Multiply your round-trip fare by working days — a ₱60 round trip is about ₱1,300 a month, and two transfers can double that. Add terminal fees and the occasional Grab ride home after overtime. A role paying ₱3,000 more but costing ₱2,500 extra in transport is nearly a wash.
Time is the bigger currency
Two hours each way is 20+ hours a week — a part-time job in itself. The EDSA/MRT corridor, the C5/Ortigas spine and the SLEX/Alabang route behave very differently at rush hour; check the actual commute at the actual shift times, not at noon. On-site roles in your own city often beat a higher offer across the metro.
Use the filter before you fall in love
trab.ph lists the city on every role and the filter is one click — shortlist by location first, then compare pay. Hybrid and remote arrangements remove the commute entirely on their off-site days, which is worth more than it looks on paper.
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