A medium-sized swimming pool on Siargao costs ₱750,000. That single line item can shift your nightly rental rate from ₱4,265 to ₱11,700 and push occupancy from 61% to 71%. No other add-on in a villa build moves the revenue needle this hard.
Here's every number you need to decide on pool size, whether infinity edge is worth the premium, and what ongoing costs look like once the pool is filled.
Pool Sizes and Costs
Three standard sizes cover the range of builds on Siargao, from compact 1-bedroom rentals to full-size 3-bedroom villas.
| Size | Typical Use | Construction Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 1-bedroom villa, plunge pool | ₱450,000 |
| Medium | 2-bedroom villa, standard pool | ₱750,000 |
| Large | 3+ bedroom villa, full-size pool | ₱1,200,000 |
| Infinity edge add-on | Any size | +₱200,000 |
These are construction costs including excavation, reinforced concrete shell, tiling, plumbing, pump, and filtration system. They don't include decking, landscaping, or fencing, which your general contractor typically bundles into the site work budget.
The jump from small to medium is ₱300,000. The jump from medium to large is ₱450,000. For most 2-bedroom builds, the medium pool hits the sweet spot between cost and guest appeal.
The Rental Income Impact
This is where the pool conversation gets interesting. The difference in nightly rates between properties with and without a pool is significant enough to change the entire investment case.
| With Pool | Without Pool | |
|---|---|---|
| Nightly rate (2BR) | ₱11,700 | ₱4,265 |
| Occupancy | 71% | 61% |
| Premium positioning | Yes | No |
| Higher guest satisfaction | Yes | No |
| Repeat bookings | Yes | No |
Let's put those numbers in context. For a 2-bedroom villa:
With pool: ₱11,700/night at 71% occupancy = roughly ₱3,032,000 in gross annual revenue (₱11,700 x 365 x 0.71).
Without pool: ₱4,265/night at 61% occupancy = roughly ₱949,400 in gross annual revenue (₱4,265 x 365 x 0.61).
That's a difference of over ₱2,000,000 per year in gross revenue. Even after you subtract pool maintenance, cleaning, and the higher utility costs, the pool pays for itself within the first year of operation. A medium pool at ₱750,000 against ₱2M+ in additional annual revenue is one of the clearest investment decisions in a Siargao build.
The rate gap exists because pool villas on Siargao compete in a different market segment. Guests searching for pool villas are typically willing to pay a premium, and the supply of quality pool villas on the island is still limited. This dynamic also explains the 10-percentage-point occupancy advantage: pool listings get more visibility and more bookings.
Ongoing Pool Costs
A pool isn't a build-and-forget feature. Here's what to budget monthly once it's operational.
| Expense | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Pool maintenance staff | ₱6,500 |
| Cleaning per turnover | ₱1,500 per turnover |
| Utilities (includes pool pump) | ₱15,000 |
Pool maintenance staff at ₱6,500/month covers regular cleaning, chemical balancing, filter maintenance, and equipment checks. On Siargao, this is typically a part-time arrangement where a pool technician visits 2-3 times per week. Some property managers include pool maintenance in their service package.
Cleaning at ₱1,500 per turnover is the standard rate for a full property clean between guests. This covers the pool area, deck, and the villa itself. At 71% occupancy with average stays of 3-4 nights, you're looking at roughly 6-8 turnovers per month, so ₱9,000 to ₱12,000 monthly in cleaning costs.
Utilities at ₱15,000/month is the total utility budget for a pool villa, not just the pool pump. The pump adds meaningful draw to your electric bill, especially if you're running it 6-8 hours daily as recommended in a tropical climate. If you have a solar hybrid system, the pump load is a good candidate for daytime solar power since it runs during peak sun hours.
All in, expect ₱30,000 to ₱35,000 per month in total pool-related operating costs. Against the revenue numbers above, that's a fraction of the income a pool generates.
Infinity Edge: Worth It?
The infinity edge add-on costs ₱200,000 on top of your base pool construction. For a medium pool, that takes you from ₱750,000 to ₱950,000.
What you get for that ₱200,000:
Photography appeal. Infinity edge pools photograph exceptionally well. On a platform like Airbnb where the listing photo determines whether someone clicks or scrolls past, this matters. The visual of water meeting sky is one of the strongest images in tropical real estate marketing.
Premium perception. Guests associate infinity pools with luxury resorts. That association transfers to your villa listing, supporting higher nightly rates and positioning your property in the premium tier.
Structural considerations. Infinity edges require a catch basin and recirculation system, which adds some complexity to the build and slightly higher pump energy use. Make sure your contractor has built infinity pools before. A poorly executed edge with visible overflow mechanics defeats the purpose.
Is it worth ₱200,000? If your property has any kind of view (ocean, jungle, rice paddies), the answer is almost always yes. The ₱200,000 spend will show up in your listing photos for the lifetime of the property. If your lot is flat with no view, a standard pool edge with good landscaping achieves a similar result for less money.
Our Recommendation
For a 2-bedroom rental villa on Siargao, build a medium pool at ₱750,000.
Here's the reasoning:
Small pools (₱450,000) work for 1-bedroom properties or builds on tight lots, but they limit your listing appeal. A plunge pool reads as "nice to have" rather than a destination feature. Guests booking pool villas want to swim, not just dip.
Medium pools (₱750,000) are the right match for 2-bedroom builds, which is the most common villa format on Siargao. The pool is large enough for 4 guests to use comfortably, photographs well for listings, and doesn't overwhelm the lot or the budget.
Large pools (₱1,200,000) make sense for 3+ bedroom villas targeting families or groups. The ₱450,000 premium over medium is justified when the property sleeps 6-8 guests who all expect pool access.
If your lot has a view, add the infinity edge for ₱200,000. The total for a medium infinity pool comes to ₱950,000. That's still under ₱1M and positions your property in the premium segment of Siargao's rental market.
Want to see how a pool fits into your total build cost? Our cost calculator lets you select pool size, toggle infinity edge, and see the impact on both construction budget and projected rental income. Every number updates in real time, so you can compare scenarios and find the right setup for your project.
