Cebu International School
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Country guide
Overview
Philippines🇵đź‡
At a Glance
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
Cost of Living
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
Safety & Crime
Low RiskHow safe residents feel in Philippines - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
72/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
Daytime100
Nighttime100
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in Philippines
Philippines has 300 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.
đź’¸Most Affordable
Butuan
$786/mo
Safest
Iligan City
72/100
Best Quality of Life
Iligan City
133/200
Best Healthcare
Manila
62/100
City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 300 shown| 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
Families
Schools
62 verified school profiles across 11 cities in Philippines — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.
Chiang Kai Shek College
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
German European School Manila
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Career Related
Ib Diploma
Ib Primary Years
Domuschola International School
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Primary Years
Assumption College San Lorenzo
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Bannister Academy
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
38 more verified schools in Philippines are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.
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
Healthcare system overview for Philippines
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A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Environment
ModerateAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in Philippines
Pollution Index
41/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
20.3ug/m3
Moderate
Environmental Quality
Air Quality100/100
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in Philippines, answered with data
What is the cost of living in Philippines?
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.
What is the cheapest city in Philippines for expats?
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.
Is Philippines safe for expats?
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.
What is the best city in Philippines for expats and digital nomads?
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.
How good is healthcare in Philippines?
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.
Is Philippines cheaper than the United States?
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.
Before You Go
Core tools and insurance next steps for planning a move to Philippines
Plan Your Move
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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.
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Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
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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
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