Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelagic nation located in Southeast Asia, comprising over 7,600 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Situated between the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea, the country spans a diverse geographical landscape that incl...
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With a safety index of 57/100, Philippines offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
The Philippines allows visa-free entry for nationals of 157 countries under Executive Order No. 408, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most EU nations, for tourism or short business visits up to 30 days. Travelers must present a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival, a return or onward ticket, and complete eTravel registration at least 72 hours prior to arrival (free via etravel.gov.ph). No pre-departure COVID-19 tests are required as of 2024, though policies...
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37% below EU avg
13% below EU avg
44% below EU avg
49% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Manila
Timezone
UTC+08:00
Area
342,353 km²
Population
109,581,085
Philippines shows a purchasing power index of 36/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$404.28B
HDI
0.7
Quality of Life
38/100
-5 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
15/100
-27 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Philippines. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable (CPI: 29.96). Groceries (35.38), restaurants (19.64), and rent (7.30) are low compared to NYC baseline of 100, with regional variations.
Housing Market
Property prices average 32.8 years of household income, making housing very expensive. Rent index (7.30) offers some affordability in urban areas.
Average Income Levels
Purchasing power index of 34.89 indicates low buying power. GDP per capita PPP at $10,376 with steady 5.6% growth in 2025.
Tax System
Progressive income tax from 0-35%, VAT at 12%, and low property taxes. System is relatively straightforward with regional variations minimal.
Business Environment
Ease of doing business improving with 5.6% GDP growth projected for 2025-2026. Bureaucracy persists but startup ecosystem growing in cities.
Social Security
PhilHealth provides basic universal healthcare coverage; SSS offers pensions and limited unemployment benefits. Coverage broad but quality varies regionally.
The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,600 islands in Southeast Asia, features a predominantly tropical climate characterized by high temperatures, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Influenced by the Intertropical Convergence Zone and typhoons, it has two main seasons: wet (June to November) and dry (December to May).
5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
71.1
Population
109,581,085
Religions
Currently under research
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Philippines. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Your Philippines Roadmap
40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.
- Custom Tax & Cost Projection
- District Matching for your Lifestyle
- Vetted Local Partner Directory
Population
109,581,085
Currency
PHP
Timezone
UTC+08:00
Calling Code
+63
Week starts on
Monday
Gini Coefficient
42.3 (2018)
Traffic side
right side
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.