Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
How Philippines compares across key indices
Cost of Living
36 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
72/100
Healthcare
50/100
Quality of Life
128/200
How far your money goes in Philippines
Cost of Living
36
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
27
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
36
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
38
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Philippines - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
72/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Philippines has 525 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $786 in Butuan to $945 in Manila. Iligan City leads on safety, scoring 72/100. Iligan City ranks highest for quality of life at 133/200.
Butuan
$786/mo
Iligan City
72/100
Iligan City
133/200
Manila
62/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manila | $945 | 67/100 | 131/200 | 62/100 | 49 |
| Quezon City | $874 | 67/100 | 131/200 | 59/100 | 49 |
| Davao | $854 | 69/100 | 132/200 | 58/100 | 47 |
| Caloocan | $852 | 69/100 | 132/200 | 57/100 | 46 |
| Taguig | $841 | 69/100 | 132/200 | 57/100 | 45 |
| Budta | $840 | 69/100 | 132/200 | 56/100 | 45 |
| Malingao | $836 | 70/100 | 132/200 | 56/100 | 45 |
| Zamboanga | $832 | 70/100 | 132/200 | 56/100 | 44 |
| Cebu City | $829 | 70/100 | 132/200 | 56/100 | 44 |
| Antipolo | $828 | 70/100 | 132/200 | 55/100 | 44 |
| Pasig City | $825 | 70/100 | 132/200 | 55/100 | 44 |
| Cagayan de Oro | $820 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 55/100 | 43 |
| Valenzuela | $819 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 55/100 | 43 |
| General Santos | $819 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 55/100 | 43 |
| Paranaque City | $817 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 55/100 | 43 |
| Las Piñas | $812 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 54/100 | 42 |
| Calamba | $810 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 54/100 | 42 |
| Makati City | $805 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 54/100 | 42 |
| Lapu-Lapu City | $805 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 42 |
| Angeles City | $803 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Imus | $803 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Iloilo | $802 | 71/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Marikina City | $802 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Mandaluyong City | $802 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Bacolod City | $801 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Mansilingan | $801 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Dasmariñas | $800 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Mandaluyong | $798 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Pasay | $797 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Tarlac City | $797 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Cotabato | $794 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 53/100 | 41 |
| Malabon | $793 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 52/100 | 40 |
| San Jose del Monte | $792 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 52/100 | 40 |
| Bacoor | $792 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 52/100 | 40 |
| San Pedro | $791 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 52/100 | 40 |
| Cabanatuan City | $790 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 52/100 | 40 |
| Iligan | $790 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 52/100 | 40 |
| Mandaue City | $789 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 52/100 | 40 |
| Iligan City | $787 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 52/100 | 40 |
| Butuan | $786 | 72/100 | 133/200 | 52/100 | 40 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Philippines. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
62
Verified records
20
Cities covered
6
Credential signals
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school, International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Taguig City
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Taguig
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Cainta
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Davao City
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Quezon City
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Taguig
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Alabang
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Quezon City
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Clark Freeport Zone
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Pasig City
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Quezon City
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Tarlac
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Cavite
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Bacolod City
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Pasig City
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Philippines
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Philippines
Pollution Index
41/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
20.3ug/m3
Moderate
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Philippines, answered with data
Philippines has a cost of living index of 36 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $743 in Calasiao and reach $945 in Manila.
Calasiao is the most affordable city in Philippines in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $743 for a single person including rent. Isulan is the next most affordable at $744/mo.
Philippines has a safety index of 72/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Isulan scores highest on safety at 75/100.
Santa Cruz ranks highest for quality of life in Philippines, scoring 135/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $746/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Calasiao offers the lowest monthly costs at $743/mo.
Philippines scores 50/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it adequate by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Philippines's cost of living is roughly 64% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 73% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Your pre-departure checklist for Philippines
Where Can I Move?
Check whether this country fits your passport, budget, work setup, safety floor, and priorities.
Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Get a multi-currency account before you leave. Essential for managing money abroad.
eSIM, VPN, and reliable internet - sorted before you land.
Secure at least your first week. Having a home base makes everything else easier.
Find the cheapest flights with flexible date search. Set alerts for price drops on your route.
Follow Philippines
Future guides and articles for Philippines will land in your inbox.
Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
Freedom Abroad helps you figure out the part nobody talks about: how to actually build a life in another country. Films, tools, and data. No fluff.
Learn about our mission