Retirement Paradise- Top 10 Best Places To Live In The Philippines For (2024)

There are many reasons whyexpats choose to move to the Philippines: The cost of living in the Philippines is only a fraction of the price in the US or Western Europe. Filipino people are some of the friendliest warm-hearted people you will ever meet. Most Filipinos, especially anyone younger than 40, speak English.The Philippine government offers aneasy long-term visasincluding theirsimple retirement visa.The country has an abundance of natural beauty; along with rainforests and waterfalls, three islands in the Philippines have been voted the "most beautiful island in the world."

With over 7500 islands, there is a place for every lifestyle. The Philippines has large cities with bustling nightlife, tranquil island beach villages, hippy surf communities, and even cool mountain towns.

Whether you are the type to sit peacefully on the beach watching the sunset with a drink in your hand or prefer a more active lifestyle of surfing in the afternoon and beers at the pub at night, the Philippines has something for everyone. The question is, with so many possibilities, where should you go? This article focuses on the Top Places To Live In the Philippines for Expats. I cover the rough costs, the attractions, and whether the place is better suited for expats looking for peace and quiet or an active social life.

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Dumaguete won a similar award in 2019, as the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Retirement Authority awarded the city as the best place to retire in the Philippines.

Why is Dumaguete attracting all this attention? Forbes specifically noted the city's cost of living, beaches, and healthcare.

I have to agree with Forbes. It's hard to complain about the beauty surrounding Dumaguete. The town's main promenade fronts the East Bohol sea, with Cebu and Apo islands to your left and the locally dubbed "witchcraft island" of Siquijor to your right. Scuba divers and snorkelers can find giant whale sharks and families of sea turtles less than 50 yards off the beach.

Dumaguete itself is a charming town with a Spanish colonial feel. Seeing a brightly colored horse-drawn carriage, called a kalesas, passing you as you stroll through town doesn't seem that out of place here.

The low cost of living in Dumaguete (and the Philippines in general) is one of the main draws of a retirement community. Even compared to other cheap places to live in the Philippines, Dumaguete is inexpensive. And if you compare against the US, Canada, or the UK, housing, eating out, and other living expenses are a fraction of the cost. Even on just social security or a modest pension, expat retirees can live comfortably and still have a lot of money to spare for entertainment and social life.

Dumaguete is the best place to live in the Philippines for expats looking for the quintessential island lifestyle, with enough modern amenities to make expat life convenient.

Makati is the place most foreigners in the Philippines look to live. As the country's commercial and financial hub, Makati is the bustling city center that makes the Philippines go. Home for the country's major banks and headquarters for most multinational corporations, if an expat is here for work or to find business opportunities, Makati is the place.

While cheaper than living in the US, expat life in Makati will be pricy by Philippine standards. Makati city is arguable the most upscale place in the Philippines. With plenty of international restaurants and loads (and I mean tons) of malls and shopping centers, expats living in Makati can find all the western conveniences, foods, and consumer products they miss from home.

For big city nightlife and entertainment, it's hard to compete against Makati.

A younger expat, especially a single person, will find Makati the best place to livein the Philippines for nightlife. Makati and Bonifacio Global City (BGC) are the best destinations for an active social life and nightly entertainment. If you are looking to toss back a few beers at an Irish pub, sip on co*cktails on a rooftop bar, or dance until the sun comes up, you'll find a place in Makati.

The downside to being the center of attention is the traffic. City living means crowds and Manila is the most densely populated city in the world. There is no way to talk about living in Makati without discussing the parking-lot traffic that occurs every rush hour in Manila. If you live in Makati but work outside the central business district (CBD), you will lose at least 2 hours of your life every day in traffic. If you work and live in Makati and think walking will be your solution, note that congestion means plenty of air pollution while traffic is less of an issue. Walking, while faster, is by no means an enjoyable stroll.

The Philippines is a tropical island paradise for most expats, but when the summer heat index hits above 45 C or 113 F, even the most die-hard beach lover looks for an escape.

Baguio City, located about 5-hours north of Manila, in the mountains of Northern Luzon island, is the best place to live in the Philippines if you want a cool climate. At over 5,200 feet elevation, the Baguio sports chilled mountain air and moderate temperatures all year long. After a few months living in Baguio, expats find themselves sporting having to dig out their winter jackets and sweaters they never thought they would wear in the Philippines.

While you won't find the same selection of international restaurants or upscale dining options as in Manila, there are plenty of delicious casual dining options. Plus, prices in Baguio are 40% less than in Makati. Additionally, all the major supermarkets and shopping centers are present in Baguio. Still, veteran expats and locals know Baguio City Public Market is where you find the best deals on the freshest fruits and vegetables.

Expat life in Baguio is not without significant trade-offs. The mountain highlands that make living in Baguio so attractive is also the city's most significant disadvantage. Baguio is only 40 miles from La Union's fantastic beaches, but driving to the beach takes nearly two hours, and the twisty mountain roads make even the staunchest stomachs a bit queasy.

In addition, the 5+ hour drive to Manila is a substantial hassle. Expats who frequently travel find the distance to Manila's International airport a deal-breaker. And while the healthcare options in Baguio are improving, most expats still prefer the more prominent private hospitals in Manila for major health issues.

Bonifacio Global City (also known as BGC, Fort Bonifacio, or The Fort) is a meticulously designed business and lifestyle hub in Taguig in Metropolitan Manila. BGC is my choice of the best place to live whenever I stay in Manila. Slightly cheaper than Makati, with cleaner streets, better walkability, less chaotic traffic, Bonifacio Global City lures many multinational companies to move their corporate offices and headquarters away from Makati.

Similar to the paradigm in Makati, people move to locations with high-paying jobs. And with expats and wealthier Filipinos moving into the area, BGC real estate has been booming. BGC has several condominium complexes, where developers designed community and lifestyle elements directly into the buildings. These condominiums are tiny self-sustained neighborhoods with gyms, shopping areas, supermarkets, nightclubs, and restaurants available to residents without leaving the complex.

While Makati still has BGC beat in fine dining restaurants, BGC is working its way up, with four Michelin star restaurants opening in the last few years.

Makati is still the popular destination to enjoy a crazy weekend night out with friends, but BGC offers more space and less mess for everyday living.

Davao City is the biggest city in terms of land area in the Philippines, with the 3rd largest population, just a few hundred thousand residents short of Cebu (Metro Manila, the largest city, is nearly four times the size of either city). Located on the southern island of Mindanao, expats living in Davao City enjoy the lowest prices of any of the metro areas on this list. But as a trade and business hub with its own international airport, Davao City has the pre-requisite international dining options, leisure hubs, and high-end shopping malls an expat community needs.

Where Davao City stands out is the city's clean air, low crime rate, and uncongested streets. Davao was even able to garner international recognition as the only Philippine city listed on "Asia's Most Livable Cities," as ranked by CNN. Davao City was also recognized with a Safe Haven award for the city's efforts to ensure public safety and combat crime.

In addition to being the safest city to live in the Philippines, this coastal city is stunning, surrounded by natural resources, has carefully balanced the fine line between economic growth and sustainability. While Davao is one of the most developed places in the Philippines, there are still many public parks and green areas around the city. People enjoy spending time outdoors here.

Most US expats start off living in Manila. As the capital, it has the most western amenities and makes acclimating to life in the Philippines easier for Americans. But Americanized shopping malls, high-rise condominiums, and fast food options are not why Americans move to the Philippines. Not when the country is teeming with world-class beaches and is known for having the best islands in the world.

So, where is an expat supposed to live if they want urbanized city living combined with the charm and the natural wonders the Philippines is known for? Cebu City, the Philippines' second-largest metro, has the amenities and services of a major city, social activities found in a town teeming with nightlife, as well as beautiful beaches and surrounding nature.

Cebu City is sometimes referred to as the "Manila of Visayas." But calling Cebu a smaller version of Manila does not do the city justice. Cebu has arguably all the benefits of Manila but with 1/5 the population and crowds. The city has its own international airport (40 international destinations in 11 countries), high-quality hospitals, a booming BPO and outsourcing economy, international schools and universities, growing restaurant and dining options, and an active entertainment and nightlife scene. Where Cebu pulls away from the enormous Capital is Cebu City's easy access to explore breathtaking waterfalls, hike up limestone mountains vistas, go dolphin and whale watching, and island-hop to stunning white-sand beaches.

If fine dining restaurant options, endless entertainment, and quality nightlife are high on your list of priorities when choosing a place to live, a major city is your best option. And if you are looking for all the amenities of city life, without as much traffic and congestion as Manila, and still near phenomenal beaches and natural attractions, Cebu City is my recommendation for the best place to live in the Philippines as an American expat.

Adding Bacolod City to this list is both surprising and expected. Surprising because 99.999% of people outside of the Philippines will likely have never heard of Bacolod. Yet, this mid-sized city, affectionately nicknamed the "City of Smiles," is not a one but rather a two-time winner of the"Philippines' Best Place To Live"(2008- MoneySense,2019-Manila Times).

While smaller than many cities on this list (6 out of 10), local Filipinos and foreign expats feel that life is better here. Bacolod has the amenities of an urban industrial city, including a domestic airport, but with a distinct small city culture. Bacolod offers amenities, leisure, and shopping conveniences expected by expats, but without the endless traffic jams, cough-inducing pollution, and soaring crime statistics. Instead, Bacolod City offers one of the Philippines' most affordable cities (5th ranked on this list), combined with a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere and a rich cultural heritage.