Country research
Philippines
Prices overall are about 0.33 of United States prices at market exchange rates, and EF ranks English proficiency 28th of 123 (2025: 569). People with United States, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passports can enter without a visa for 30 days. A retiree visa is open from age 40 with a deposit of about US$15,000 to US$50,000, and the 2025 Digital Nomad Visa cannot yet be applied for. To be safe, have more than US$51,000. [C1] [F1] [K3] [R1] [K1]
The Fernshore Index
How it grades, factor by factor.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
90 of 100Strong
Price level 0.332 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Philippines. Checked 15 October 2026.
Climate
0 of 100Weak
Manila (Port Area), the main city: only January (29.9 °C, 19.4 mm) is both 30 °C or under and under 150 mm, so 1 comfortable month. Baguio, in the mountains, has 6; Cebu and Dumaguete 2 each.
Source: Climate normals 1991–2020, Port Area Manila (WMO 98425). Checked 16 October 2026.
Safety
33 of 100Weak
Global Peace Index 2026: 102nd of 163.
Source: Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank. Checked 15 October 2026.
Healthcare
33 of 100Weak
WHO UHC service coverage index 69 (2023), on the weak line.
Source: UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1). Checked 15 October 2026.
Schools
Unknown
Our research doesn't cover schools yet.
Community
Unknown
Not covered by Expat Insider 2026
Lifestyle
Unknown
Not covered by Expat Insider 2026
Work and career
15 of 100Weak
Weak: Executive Order 86 (2025) allows a one-year Digital Nomad Visa, but its guidelines are not published and the visa is not offered on the Department of Foreign Affairs e-visa portal, so we found no working residence route for remote workers; fixed broadband is 7.1 per 100 people (2024), under the 30 line.
Source: Executive Order No. 86: Authorizing the issuance of Digital Nomad Visa; Welcome to the Philippine Visa Online Portal (PH Visa Policy); Philippines Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Status & Reality; Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Philippines. Checked 16 October 2026.
Retirement
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: the Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV Classic) is open only from age 40, with a visa deposit of about US$15,000 to US$50,000 by age and pension. The page describes indefinite stay and permanent residency, but the age minimum makes the grade mixed.
Source: Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV). Checked 16 October 2026.
Internet
15 of 100Weak
7.14 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (2024).
Source: Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Philippines. Checked 15 October 2026.
English
80 of 100Strong
EF EPI 2025 score 569, rank 28 of 123 (above the 550 line).
Source: EF English Proficiency Index 2025: Philippines. Checked 16 October 2026.
Visa, United States passport
Unknown
Research for United States passports is being checked
Visa, Canada passport
Unknown
Research for Canada passports is being checked
Visa, Australia passport
Unknown
Research for Australia passports is being checked
Visa, New Zealand passport
Unknown
Research for New Zealand passports is being checked
Topics
The detail on Philippines.
Guides
Philippines, by passport.
Each guide is written for citizens of one country.
Questions about Philippines.
Do I need a visa to visit the Philippines on a US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport?
Not for a first stay of up to 30 days: the Department of Foreign Affairs portal lists all four. For longer, the Bureau of Immigration describes extending from inside the country, but the Philippine posts in Vancouver and Wellington tell Canadians and New Zealanders to apply for a visa first. Ask your consulate.
Is there a remote work or retirement visa in the Philippines?
The SRRV Classic retiree visa is open from age 40 with a deposit of about US$15,000 to US$50,000 by age and pension (to be safe, hold more than US$51,000). A 2025 order allows a one-year Digital Nomad Visa, but neither the e-visa portal nor the bureau's visa list names it; a guide says its guidelines are unpublished.
How do prices in the Philippines compare with the United States?
Prices overall in the Philippines are about 0.33 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 2025). That is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household, and it does not show what rent, food or any single item costs.
How hot and rainy is the Philippines?
It depends where. Manila's average daily highs run from 29.9 to 33.7 °C, with 19.4 mm of rain in January and 492.5 mm in August. Baguio, at 1,500 m, runs 22.4 to 25.5 °C, with 963.2 mm in August. Canada says there are about 20 typhoons a year, mostly June to November.
How much English will I find in the Philippines?
The EF English Proficiency Index 2025 scores the Philippines 569, 28th of 123 countries and regions. The index comes from people who chose to take EF's online test, so it does not show how much English is used in a given city, workplace or neighbourhood.
How safe is the Philippines, and what is healthcare like?
The Global Peace Index 2026 ranks it 102nd of 163, a national score; WHO's service coverage index is 69 of 100 (2023). Canada says to exercise a high degree of caution, with regional advisories, and that good medical services are limited, especially outside major urban areas.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [C1] Price level index (GDP), Philippines, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 33.16 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [F1] EF English Proficiency Index 2025: Philippines, EF Education First (private test-taker index). Checked 16 October 2026. Score 569, rank 28 of 123 countries and regions (read on the page on 16 October 2026; the page does not print a proficiency-band word); the 2026 edition was not yet published on 15 October 2026.
- [K3] Welcome to the Philippine Visa Online Portal (PH Visa Policy), Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of Consular Affairs (eVisaPH). Checked 16 October 2026. Lists the types of Philippine visa: 9(a) temporary visitor visas (a-1 to a-8) and visa-free entry for 30 days for nationals of listed countries, which include the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The page names no Digital Nomad Visa.
- [R1] Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), Philippine Retirement Authority. Checked 16 October 2026. Page read 16 October 2026. SRRV Classic: principal applicants aged 40 and over; visa deposit USD 15,000 (pensioner, 50 and over), USD 30,000 (non-pensioner, 50 and over), USD 25,000 (pensioner, 40 to 49) or USD 50,000 (non-pensioner, 40 to 49); a lifetime pension of at least USD 800 a month (USD 1,000 with dependents) for pensioners; PRA processing fee USD 1,500; annual fee USD 360. Benefits listed include "permanent residency in the Philippines" and "multiple entry and indefinite stay", and exemption from separate work or student permits. The page lists no maximum age.
- [K1] Executive Order No. 86: Authorizing the issuance of Digital Nomad Visa, Office of the President of the Philippines (text hosted by The Lawphil Project, Arellano Law Foundation; the Official Gazette refused automated access). Checked 16 October 2026. Signed 24 April 2025. Lets the Department of Foreign Affairs issue Digital Nomad Visas for up to one year, renewable, to people aged 18 or over who show proof of remote work, "sufficient income" earned outside the Philippines (no amount), no criminal record and health insurance, from countries that offer such visas to Filipinos. Section 7 gave the Department 30 days to issue implementing guidelines.
- [G3] Philippines: Administrative Division (Regions and Provinces), Philippine Statistics Authority (2024 Census of Population, reference date 1 July 2024), as compiled by City Population (citypopulation.de, a private site); psa.gov.ph refused automated access (HTTP 403). Checked 16 October 2026. Metro Manila (National Capital Region) 14,001,751 people on 1 July 2024, the largest city region; Davao City 1,848,947, Cebu City 965,332 and Dumaguete 142,171 are in the city files. Supports the "city" setting (500,000 people or more).
- [G5] Rural population (% of total population), World Bank, World Development Indicators. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 44.2% of the population is rural (national definitions).
- [G6] Agricultural land (% of land area), World Bank, World Development Indicators. Checked 15 October 2026. 2024: 42.7% of land area.
- [G7] The World Factbook: Philippines (Geography; People and Society), Central Intelligence Agency (text read from the factbook.json mirror on GitHub; cia.gov refused automated access). Checked 16 October 2026. Coastline 36,289 km; highest point Mount Apo 2,954 m; terrain mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands; Filipino and English are official languages; major urban areas (2023): Manila 14.667 million, Davao 1.949 million, Cebu City 1.025 million. The mirror's text was not checked against cia.gov.
- [G8] Surigao del Norte: municipalities, population, Philippine Statistics Authority (2024 Census of Population, reference date 1 July 2024), as compiled by City Population (citypopulation.de, a private site); psa.gov.ph refused automated access (HTTP 403). Checked 16 October 2026. General Luna (Siargao) had 25,208 registered-census residents on 1 July 2024, a small town by size; supports the "small_town" setting.
- [W1] Climate normals 1991–2020, Port Area Manila (WMO 98425), PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI. Checked 16 October 2026. Manila (Port Area), the main city for the Philippines' climate grade: highs 29.9 to 33.7 °C, and only January is both 30 °C or under and under 150 mm of rain. Mean daily highs (°C): January 29.9, February 30.7, March 32.1, April 33.7, May 33.6, June 32.8, July 31.5, August 31.0, September 31.2, October 31.4, November 31.3, December 30.3. Rainfall (mm): 19.4, 21.9, 21.8, 23.4, 159.1, 253.3, 432.3, 492.5, 396.4, 220.6, 119.9, 98.5. Comfortable (18 to 30 °C and under 150 mm): January (1 month). Station at 14°35′N, 120°58′E, 15 m.
- [W2] Climate normals 1991–2020, Mactan International Airport Cebu (WMO 98646), PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI. Checked 16 October 2026. Mactan airport, by Cebu City. Mean daily highs (°C): January 29.7, February 30.0, March 31.0, April 32.2, May 32.8, June 32.3, July 31.6, August 31.9, September 31.9, October 31.4, November 31.0, December 30.3. Rainfall (mm): 135.1, 88.9, 60.9, 55.6, 94.4, 180.8, 210.6, 158.2, 190.4, 207.6, 131, 172. Comfortable (18 to 30 °C and under 150 mm): January, February (2 months). Station at 10°19′N, 123°57′E, 24.3 m.
- [W3] Climate normals 1991–2020, Dumaguete City Negros Oriental (WMO 98642), PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI. Checked 16 October 2026. The station is in Dumaguete City. Mean daily highs (°C): January 29.2, February 29.4, March 30.2, April 31.2, May 32.0, June 31.7, July 31.4, August 31.9, September 31.7, October 31.2, November 30.7, December 30.1. Rainfall (mm): 96.7, 73.7, 68.2, 49.1, 84.5, 143.7, 146, 104.6, 116.8, 158.6, 148.8, 127.8. Comfortable (18 to 30 °C and under 150 mm): January, February (2 months). Station at 9°20′N, 123°18′E, 8 m.
- [W4] Climate normals 1991–2020, Baguio City Benguet (WMO 98328), PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI. Checked 16 October 2026. The station is in Baguio City, at 1,500 m; used for the "mild" weather type (the warmest month's high is 25.5 °C and the coolest 22.4 °C). Mean daily highs (°C): January 23.1, February 23.7, March 24.8, April 25.5, May 24.7, June 24.3, July 23.1, August 22.4, September 23.0, October 23.6, November 23.9, December 23.6. Rainfall (mm): 16.4, 23.7, 49.9, 99.5, 340, 406.1, 772.7, 963.2, 537.3, 489.6, 96.1, 41.6. Comfortable (18 to 30 °C and under 150 mm): January, February, March, April, November, December (6 months). Station at 16°24′N, 120°36′E, 1500.18 m.
- [S1] Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank, Institute for Economics and Peace. Checked 15 October 2026. The Philippines ranks 102nd of 163 countries.
- [H1] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026. The Philippines: 69 out of 100 (2023).
- [K4] Philippines Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Status & Reality, LiveInPH (private relocation guide, not official). Checked 16 October 2026. Says that on 15 October 2026 the Digital Nomad Visa was "created in law, not operational": the implementing guidelines were not published, no fee or country list had been set, and the visa was not among the options on the Department of Foreign Affairs e-visa portal. We confirmed the portal part on the portal itself (K3); the rest rests on this guide.
- [K2] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Philippines, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2024: 7.14 per 100 people, read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.