Home PV Costs: 10 Estimates
We need to talk numbers. Not "it depends on your roof" vague-booking, but actual Peso figures.
If you are reading this, you are likely tired of messaging "PM Sent" to fifty different Facebook pages just to get a straight answer on how much a solar system costs in 2025.
Below are 10 concrete estimates for residential solar in the Philippines. These figures reflect market rates for legitimate, warranted installations using Tier 1 equipment (like Canadian Solar, Longi, Huawei, Growatt, or Deye).
Note: These are "Turnkey" prices—meaning they include installation, mounting, and labor. They do not include the "Facebook Promo" scam pricing where they use undersized wires and reject panels.
The "Pure Savings" Estimates (Grid-Tie)
Grid-tie systems are the most common in the Philippines. They have no batteries. They simply lower your Meralco bill by generating power during the day and selling excess back to the grid via Net Metering.
1. The Budget Starter: 3kW Grid-Tie
Price: ₱160,000 – ₱190,000
Target Bill: ₱4,000 – ₱7,000
ROI: ~4.5 Years
This is the smallest system legitimate installers will usually touch. It consists of roughly 6 panels (550W each) and a 3kW string inverter. It is perfect for a small household that runs one inverter fridge, fans, and maybe a washing machine during the day. It will not wipe out a large bill, but it cuts the "sting" out of your daytime usage.
2. The Family Standard: 5kW Grid-Tie
Price: ₱250,000 – ₱290,000
Target Bill: ₱8,000 – ₱14,000
ROI: ~3.5 Years
This is the "Goldilocks" size for the Philippines. It maximizes the single-phase limit for many households and generates enough excess power to make Net Metering highly profitable. At this price point, you are paying roughly ₱50,000 to ₱58,000 per kWp, which is the sweet spot for value.
For more on why this specific size is so popular, read our standard pricing guide.
3. The Heavy User: 8kW Grid-Tie
Price: ₱380,000 – ₱420,000
Target Bill: ₱15,000 – ₱20,000
ROI: ~3.5 Years
Once you cross the 5kW threshold, you often need a larger inverter and more roof space (approx. 40 sqm). This system is designed for homes with multiple air conditioners running during the day or a pool pump. The price per watt drops slightly here due to economies of scale.
4. The "Zero Bill" Target: 10kW+ Grid-Tie
Price: ₱500,000 – ₱600,000
Target Bill: ₱20,000+
ROI: ~3–4 Years
This is usually the maximum allowed on a standard residential single-phase connection before Meralco requires a transformer upgrade (Distribution Impact Study). A 10kW system can generate roughly 1,300 to 1,500 kWh per month. If your consumption is lower than that, this system can technically result in a negative bill (credits only).
The "Brownout Proof" Estimates (Hybrid)
Hybrid systems use batteries to store power. This doubles the complexity and cost but keeps your lights on during a blackout.
5. The Hybrid Entry: 5kW Inverter + 5kWh Battery
Price: ₱380,000 – ₱450,000
Capability: Runs lights, fridge, and internet during a brownout.
Battery Tech: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)
This setup uses a 5kW Hybrid Inverter (like Deye or Solis) and a single server-rack battery (usually 48V 100Ah). It is not enough to run your aircon all night, but it bridges the gap during 2-4 hour rotating brownouts. The jump in price from Grid-Tie (₱250k) to Hybrid (₱380k) is purely the cost of the inverter upgrade and the battery.
6. The Total Independence: 8-10kW Inverter + 10-15kWh Battery
Price: ₱850,000 – ₱1,100,000
Capability: Runs aircon at night; near grid independence.
This is a luxury configuration. With 10-15kWh of storage, you can run a split-type AC for 6-8 hours at night off the battery. It essentially treats the grid as a backup generator. The cost is high because you are buying multiple battery modules, which remain the most expensive component in 2025.
For a deeper look at battery tech, check our guide on hybrid power sources.
The Specialist Estimates
7. The Premium Option: Enphase Microinverters (5kW)
Price: ₱350,000 – ₱420,000
The Difference: No central inverter.
Instead of one big box on the wall, you have small inverters under every panel. This adds about 20-30% to the cost of a standard string system.
Why pay it? Safety (low voltage DC), redundancy (if one panel fails, the rest work), and better performance in shaded roofs. If you have a complicated roof with many angles, this is worth the premium.
See our analysis on Enphase microinverters to decide if the extra cost makes sense for you.
8. The Off-Grid Cabin: 3kW Standalone
Price: ₱250,000 – ₱300,000
Context: No Meralco connection available.
This is strictly for farms or islands with no grid. Unlike a hybrid (which mixes grid and solar), this system must have batteries to function at all. The cost is higher per watt than grid-tie because you cannot rely on the grid for surges (like starting a water pump), so you often have to oversize the inverter significantly.
9. The Condo/Townhouse "Expansion" (Adding 2kW)
Price: ₱100,000 – ₱130,000
Context: Adding to an existing system.
Already have solar but bought an electric car? Adding panels is cheaper than the initial install because you might not need a new net metering application (if staying within limits), but you might need to swap the inverter. If you have a microinverter system, this is much cheaper—just buy the panels and micros (approx ₱20k per panel installed).
The Hidden Cost Estimates
The "System Price" isn't the only check you write. You need to budget for these operational realities.
10. The "Permit & Maintenance" Pack
Net Metering Permits: ₱15,000 – ₱30,000 (One-time)
This covers the ERC fee (₱1,500), Yellow Card electrician sign-offs, and the back-and-forth processing with the DU.
Distribution Impact Study (DIS): Free for standard homes (<100kW), but requires time.
Annual Cleaning: ₱2,500 – ₱5,000 per year
Professional cleaning ensures your ROI stays on track. Dirty panels lose 10-15% efficiency.
Before You Sign
Use these numbers as a sanity check. If someone offers you Estimate #2 (5kW) for ₱150,000, they are cutting a dangerous corner—likely using non-UV rated wires or rejecting permit applications.
Conversely, if a quote for a simple 5kW Grid-Tie hits ₱400,000, you are being overcharged unless it includes premium US-made panels or microinverters.
To see exactly what should be in your contract line-by-line, refer to our solar quote breakdown.
Finally, before spending a peso, run your own numbers using our ROI calculator guide to ensure the payback period makes sense for your specific electric bill.