City in Philippines
Davao
Davao City had 1,848,947 residents at the 2024 census and is the Philippines' second-largest urban area in the CIA Factbook list. The Philippine Retirement Authority runs its Mindanao office here, and a private guide describes an active community of expat retirees. [N1] [G1] [P2] [E1]
Why it is here
Why Davao is on the list.
A city is listed when there is evidence that people move there. This is the evidence.
- Davao City had 1,848,947 people at the 2024 census, and the CIA World Factbook lists Davao second among the Philippines' urban areas, at 1.949 million in 2023. [N1] [G1]
- The Philippine Retirement Authority runs its Mindanao satellite office on Ramon Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City. [P2]
- The authority counts about 3,100 holders of its retiree visa in the Davao Region, the sixth-most of any region (approximate; regional, not for Davao City alone). [P1]
- A private retirement guide describes an active expat community in Davao, with many retirees from the United States, Europe and elsewhere; it gives no headcount. [E1]
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 100StrongCountry figure
Price level 0.332 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Philippines. Checked 15 October 2026.
Climate
0 of 100WeakOwn figure
Davao City station (WMO 98753): highs run from 30.9 to 33.1 °C every month, so 0 comfortable months.
Source: Climate normals 1991–2020, Davao City Davao Del Sur (WMO 98753). Checked 16 October 2026.
Safety
33 of 100WeakCountry figure
Global Peace Index 2026: 102nd of 163.
Source: Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank. Checked 15 October 2026.
Healthcare
33 of 100WeakCountry figure
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
UnknownCountry figure
Our research doesn't cover schools yet.
Community
UnknownCountry figure
Not covered by Expat Insider 2026
Lifestyle
UnknownCountry figure
Not covered by Expat Insider 2026
Work and career
15 of 100WeakCountry figure
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 100MixedCountry figure
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 100WeakCountry figure
7.14 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (2024).
Source: Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Philippines. Checked 15 October 2026.
English
80 of 100StrongCountry figure
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
UnknownCountry figure
Research for United States passports is being checked
Visa, Canada passport
UnknownCountry figure
Research for Canada passports is being checked
Visa, Australia passport
UnknownCountry figure
Research for Australia passports is being checked
Visa, New Zealand passport
UnknownCountry figure
Research for New Zealand passports is being checked
The country
More on Philippines.
Questions about Davao.
How big is Davao?
Davao City had 1,848,947 residents at the 2024 census. The city covers a very large land area and the metro is larger. The CIA World Factbook lists Davao as the second-largest urban area, at 1.949 million in 2023.
What does a one-bedroom condo cost to rent in Davao City?
On 16 October 2026 one portal's first page of Davao City condo listings showed 12 one-bedroom units at PHP 15,000 to 60,000 a month, most between 20,000 and 30,000. These are asking prices from one site, not a city average, and bills were not checked.
Is there a retiree visa office or an expat community in Davao?
The Philippine Retirement Authority runs its Mindanao office on Ramon Magsaysay Avenue and counts about 3,100 retiree-visa holders in the Davao Region (approximate). A private guide describes an active expat community with many retirees but gives no headcount.
What does Canada say about safety in and around Davao?
Canada's advice is regional. It says to avoid non-essential travel to Davao del Sur excluding Davao City, and to Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental, and all travel to western Mindanao provinces. Check the current advice and local conditions.
How hot and rainy is Davao?
At the Davao City station average daily highs run from 30.9 °C in January to 33.1 °C in April, so no month is both 30 °C or under and under 150 mm of rain. Monthly rain is 106.6 mm in March at the least and 194.8 mm in October at the most.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [N1] Davao City: 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. Davao City (a highly urbanized city) 1,848,947 people on 1 July 2024 (1,776,949 in 2020). Wikipedia gives the same 2024 figure. Coordinates 7.07 N, 125.61 E are from the Wikipedia article on Davao City.
- [G1] The World Factbook: Philippines (People and Society), Central Intelligence Agency (text read from the factbook.json mirror on GitHub; cia.gov refused automated access). Checked 16 October 2026. Major urban areas (2023): Manila 14.667 million, Davao 1.949 million, Cebu City 1.025 million, Zamboanga 931,000, Antipolo 960,000, Cagayan de Oro 803,000, Dasmarinas 803,000. The mirror's text was not checked against cia.gov.
- [P2] Contact Us (head office and satellite offices), Philippine Retirement Authority. Checked 16 October 2026. Head office: 29/F BDO Towers Valero, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. Satellite offices: North Luzon, Unit 8, Nevada Square Bldg. 3, 2 Loakan Road, Baguio; Central Luzon, Savers Mall Bldg., Best Western Plus Metro Clark Hotel, McArthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga; Visayas, 2QUAD Bldg., Cebu Business Park, Cardinal Rosales Ave, Cebu City; Mindanao, Plaza de Luisa Building, Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City. The page lists no office in Dumaguete or Siargao.
- [E1] Best Places To Retire In The Philippines: Expat Guide, Expatra (private expat guide, run by an insurance broker; not official). Checked 16 October 2026. Page published 12 July 2023, modified 4 June 2025 (per the page's metadata); cost data "updated July 2023". Ranks Davao City sixth of nine retirement places and says "There is an active expat community in Davao, with many retirees from the United States, Europe, and other countries"; also says it has white sand beaches along its coast. Private guide, no headcount.
- [W1] Climate normals 1991–2020, Davao City Davao Del Sur (WMO 98753), PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI. Checked 16 October 2026. The station is in Davao City. Mean daily highs (°C): January 30.9, February 31.3, March 32.3, April 33.1, May 32.7, June 32.0, July 31.7, August 31.8, September 32.1, October 32.6, November 32.2, December 31.6. Rainfall (mm): 166.8, 114.4, 106.6, 114.6, 166.2, 192.7, 168.6, 167.4, 162, 194.8, 139.7, 141.7. Comfortable (18 to 30 °C and under 150 mm): none (0 months). Station at 7°7′N, 125°39′E, 18 m.
- [P1] Geographic Concentration of SRRV Holders in the Philippines (public data feed behind the page), Philippine Retirement Authority. Checked 16 October 2026. Read 16 October 2026 from the data the page loads (pra.gov.ph/cms/whereabouts/public). Approximate numbers of Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) holders by region, rounded, with no as-of date given: National Capital Region 12,500; CALABARZON 7,200; Central Luzon 5,400; Central Visayas 4,200; Western Visayas 3,500; Davao Region 3,100; Northern Mindanao 2,800; Bicol 2,600; Ilocos 2,300; MIMAROPA 2,100; Eastern Visayas 1,900; Cagayan Valley 1,800; SOCCSKSARGEN 1,700; Zamboanga Peninsula 1,500; Caraga 1,300; Cordillera 1,200; Bangsamoro 100; "Others" 15,700 (the regions and "Others" add to 70,900). In the National Capital Region: Quezon City 2,200, Manila 1,500, Makati 1,100, Pasig 950, Taguig 900, Parañaque 850. Counts are for regions and Metro Manila cities only; no other city is listed.
- [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.
- [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).
- [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.
- [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.
- [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.
- [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.
- [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.