Author: Maria Alfano
The Philippines are a group of islands and mainland in Asia. The beautiful scenery and lifestyle make it one of the best affordable places to retire around the world – the Philippines edition.
The Philippines has a majestic landscape of mountains and oceans. There is much to see and do in the Philippines and traveling to other Asian countries is a hop, skip, and a jump away!
Nestled between VietNam to the east and the Philippine and China Seas, the Philippines is a group of 7100+ islands that has the 12th largest population in the world. Be adventurous and travel to a place others can only dream about…or maybe they didn’t even dream about being in the Philippines.
The Filipinos are a happy, friendly, and social bunch. You will be sure to find everything you need there and feel very welcomed, making this a great choice for one of the best affordable places to retire.
This post will provide an overview of life in the Philippines (natives call it the Philippines), the pros and cons of living in the Philippines, provide an average monthly expense, and highlight some of the more popular cities for your consideration.
Best Affordable Places to retire – Philippines edition
Retirement Cities in The Philippines
Siargao
Located 800 km (497 miles) south of Manilla, Siargao (pronounced Shar-gow) is a surfer’s paradise. This mostly untouched and pristine island boasts an abundance of wildlife including flying lemurs, 6 ft monitor lizards parrots, and much more.
Living in Siargao is very inexpensive. You can live on a monthly income of between $800 to $1600 USD per month. Life in Siargao is more leisurely. There is not a lot to do that does not include the beach.
Vista Bacolod City
Home to the Masskara Festival that runs from October 1 to 20 annually, Bacolod is an exciting place to live. The Masskara festival is much like the Caribbean festival held in many countries in the West Indies that celebrates life and culture with vibrant costumes, masks, plenty of food, and dancing in the streets.
There is much to see and do in Bacolod City including:
- San Sebastian Cathedral – built in 1876
- Talisay Ruins – known as “the Taj Mahal of Negros” this mansion was built in memory of Maria Baga in 1920.
- Compuestohan Mountain Resort – has many amenities comprised of a swimming pool, igloo, Indian Village, rope bridges, and zipline
Angeles city
A large ex-pat community can be found in Angeles City. It has many of the comforts of North America and Europe…large shopping malls, lots of excellent restaurants, and large water parks. You can also find something to do in Angeles.
Accommodations for a 2 bedroom, two bathroom home can be as little as $200 USD per month. While crime is low you need to be careful at night. Ladies, I wouldn’t let your man out alone at night because the temptations to wander can be very high – if you know what I mean! Also, be careful not to withdraw large sums of money at one time from the bank as this will attract some unwanted company.
Davao City
In the South Philippines, Davao City is the 3rd largest city in the country. It has been voted one of the safest cities to live in globally. Opposed to some of the other cities, Davao is very clean. The residents take pride in keeping their city beautiful.
Twenty minutes away from Davao City is Samal Island a snorkeling and scuba divers dream. You can safely swim the beaches, lay on the white sand, or go island hopping from Samal.
Excellent addition to you your library is this Davao City – Your Philippine Hand-Held Tour Guide book from Amazon. It takes you through some of the hidden gems within the city. Places that mostly only the locals know about.
Manila
Manila is the largest Pilipino city. It houses the largest seaport in the entire world. The Makati region is home to many large global law firms and construction companies. As well, organizations like Proctor & Gamble, Microsoft, and Shell all have headquarters in Manila. This is where you will find most ex-pats.
Metro Manila is the hub for most ex-pat retirees. This city is very busy and congested. Also, if air quality is a concern, then Manila is not for you because it has very high pollution.
Cavite
Located on Luzon Island, Cavite is home to more than 3.5 million people. It is a bustling community close to beaches, mountains, and many national parks. Cavite is a highly accessible city with many roads leading in and out of the city, many ways to get around the city, and it’s easy to navigate through this city.
Cavite has a lower cost of living than Manila with cheaper rents and the cost of food. It also has a cooler climate because of the mountains. Don’t misunderstand, this is tropical cool weather just the same not winter cool!
Cebu City
Cebu City is the 2nd largest city in the Philippines. It has most of the amenities of home and is most likely to leave you feeling like you are in a modern city. It has an up-and-coming culinary scene with rooftop bars and hip restaurants.
Life in Cebu City is relatively inexpensive with a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home costing approximately $200 USD per month in rent. Buying local groceries vs. imported goods is also very reasonable. Agala Mall is a great place for all kinds of shopping.
Traveling around the city is amazing with all the public transit that is available. There is no need for you to own a car to get around!
Enjoy this Cebu City – Your Handheld Tour Guide book for Kindle on Amazon
. Like the book on Davao, it too shares the treasures of Cebu City.
Life in the Philippines
Filipinos are some of the friendliest and most generous people you will ever meet. They love to socialize and family is their number one priority. This country is a multicultural mix of people from Malay, Indonesia, China, Japan, Spain, and even America.
The Philippines is made up of more than 7100 islands home to more than 99 million people. There are many large and modern urban cities with many social events from the outdoor markets to the many national parks and museums. You will be sure to find something you love to do.
weather
With tropical weather all year round, this is sure to be a place high on your list for escaping the harshness of winter. Be prepared for the high humidity all over the country. There is little reprieve at night from the high temperatures and humidity…or the pesky mosquitoes that will be out for a nibble. Some of the mountain towns and cities will have a slightly cooler temperature but nothing close to spring or autumn weather experienced in North America or parts of Europe. The Philippines is in the typhoon belt and it is not uncommon to experience up to 15 typhoons per year between November and April.
Food
While you can find all your favorites from home like McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts, Filipinos have their own version of fast food called Jollibee that rivals Popeyes Louisiana Chicken. This is some of the best spicy fried chicken I have ever tasted. Eating lunch at a local restaurant can cost as little as $1 USD per person.
The main staples in Philippine cuisine are rice, seafood, and veggies. Some of the most popular local dishes include:
Lechón – whole roasted pig served with rice
Langonissa – sausage
Kare-Kare – oxtail stew in peanut sauce
Sanigang – tamarind broth with veggies and meat or shrimp
Crispy Pata – deep-fried pig’s leg
Adobo – chicken or pork braised in garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce
Golf & Other Sports
There are 5 major sports enjoyed across the Philippines as a spectator or participant: boxing, basketball, tennis, football (soccer), billiards, and volleyball. Of course, you can also enjoy many water sports on more than 36,000 km of the seashore.
For the golfer in you, there are 6 professional golf courses around Manila. The green fees for the day start at $70 USD per day + the mandatory cost for food for an additional $7.
Pros and cons of living in the Philippines
This post would not do you any good if we didn’t talk about both the good and the bad of living in the Philippines. You need to have as much information as possible to make the right decision for you!
Pros of Retiring in the Philippines
1 – Friendly, warm, and welcoming people who are very generous to everyone, especially strangers.
2 – The slower pace of life relieves stress and allows you to stop and smell the roses!
3 – There is a large ex-pat community that will help you to adjust to the new way of life.
4 – Crime is quite low. You can expect the usual petty crimes but that is common anywhere around the world, even your own hometown!
5 – The Internet is available everywhere.
6 – The exchange rate for the US$ is really good at approximately 50PHP for $1 USD.
7 – Cost of living is low with rent being as low as $200 USD per month
8 – Very good medical system. There are both government and private hospitals. Prescriptions can be as little as $40 USD per month, with doctor’s visits costing $10 per visit, and an x-ray around $15 USD. You don’t need prescriptions from a doctor to get your meds, just know the brand name and you can collect them from any of the major pharmacies. Carry your medical history with you when traveling to the Philippines.
9 – Getting around is easy and fairly cheap. Jeepney rides can be as little as 75 cents USD but you will need to wait for it to fill up before it moves to the next destination. Pedi-cabs are a fun and quick way to get through the congestion in the cities. You can also order a private car or minivan to take you from place to place.
10 – Island hopping and traveling to other Asian countries is inexpensive. Flights from Manila to Singapore can be as little as $145 USD round trip.
11 – US citizens can live permanently in the Philippines since the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, Section 13 (a) permits it.
12 – 3 of America’s largest banks can be found in the Philippines:
- Bank of America
- Chase
- JP Morgan
You don’t need any more reasons why the Philippines is considered one of the best affordable places to retire.
Cons of Retiring in the Philippines
1 – There are few American branded products. When you do find them they can be quite expensive. Having said that, the local brands are very good.
2 – Be prepared to hear uncommon comments about your weight, your height, etc. This is not meant to be derogatory. Unlike the perception we have in North America or Europe, these comments are normal to be uttered so don’t take offense to them.
3 – As a retiree who is not a Filipino national, you cannot own land, but you can own a condo.
4 – Corruption is not unheard of. Always have 200 PHP or $4 USD with you at all times. If stopped by a cop for no apparent reason, they will settle with you for the 200PHP.
5 – The power can go out intermittently which will also affect your internet.
6 – You need to be ready to have some unwelcomed critters unexpectedly show up in your home – insects, lizards, and oh yeah! those pesky mosquitoes.
7 – The cost of a VISA is quite high. As a pensioner, you will need to make a deposit with your application of $10,000 USD plus show proof of income of at least $800 for a single person or $1000 for a couple per month.
8 – Be prepared to leave the country every 3 months if you are traveling there on a visitor visa unless you have a multiple re-entry visa.
Cost of Living in the Philippines
The cost of living will vary from city to city with Manila being the most expensive. Below are the average monthly costs of living in the Philippines when renting a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo and how much you will need to retire comfortably in the Philippines.
This post was all about retiring in the Philippines, the best affordable places to retire, the culture, and cuisine, as well as the pros and cons of life in the Philippines, all while living on a budget. Considered one the best places to retire, the Philippines, loves its ex-pats. And, if you’re looking for a safe place to live you can try Davao City