Expat Life in the Philippines – Cost of Living

Many people now consider living, working or retiring abroad. Like many before them they want the expat dream; a location that provides a high standard of living, entertainment and companionship, but at an affordable cost. Many countries may fit the expat dream bill, but the warm tropical climate, high use of English, good infrastructure, excellent schools and medical facilities, friendly and attractive locals, and an open and friendly attitude towards expats all combine to make an expat life in the Philippines a very popular choice.

The kicker is that anyone that hopes plans or dreams of an expat life in the Philippines really must learn what they are letting themselves in for – before burning bridges and arriving ‘in-country.’ Yes, the Philippines are a lovely location; yes it has a warm tropical climate with good, low cost living standards. But take care; far too many expats have had their dreams shattered by arriving unprepared of what expat life in the Philippine really needs.

True Budget for Life in the Philippines

While it’s true that you can live in the Philippines cheaply, just how much is cheaply? I’ve seen websites boldly claiming that you can live in the Philippines for figures as low as $500, (₤300) a month. Sorry, but the cost of living in the Philippines is no quite that low. While you can exist on this amount, after all, many Filipinos do, if that’s all you have, don’t expect your life in the Philippines to be easy.

To get by on $500 a month – and enjoy a good lifestyle – you’ll probably need to live in some out-of-the-way provincial area far from mall shopping, dining out on western fare, entertainment, internet access, and other expats. If that’s your expat dream, great; however, the truth is if you try and live on such a small sum in a large town or city, where the cost of living is a little higher, you are looking at low standard accommodation and constant penny pinching to try and get by. Is that really what you want from your expat life in the Philippines? 

Like any country, the Philippines has some areas that are rich in entertainment and facilities, and other areas with little in the way of, lets say, western creature comforts. Not surprisingly, the cost of living in the Philippines is higher in areas with lots of facilities and entertainment. Probably the place with the highest cost of living for expats is in Manila, a thriving metropolis literally packed with facilities, stores, bars, and malls. Though also facility packed, the cost of living for expats in the little more laid-back Cebu is cheaper, about the same costs as in Angeles City, a smaller town, but one more used to expats from its past dedicated toward enjoying, let’s say, the local pleasures. The cost of living reduces considerably in the more outlying provinces and islands, for example, Northern Samar. The problem is that while these outlying areas are beautiful to view, they have little in the way of facilities or infrastructure.

To live in the Philippines you should know what you want from your life as an expat; how much budget you have available, and what the cost of living is in different areas of the Philippines. Only then you can match your needs – and available budget – and truly enjoy life as an expat living in the Philippines.

About the Author: After suffering hassles, frustrations and needless costs, Tom Henry wrote The Philippines Expat Survival Guide to provide needful local knowledge and details on expat pitfalls and how to avoid them – all the information you need for an expat life in the Philippines. 

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