Visayas · City
Cebu City
Urban conveniences and island access.
Premium · Couple: ₱105,000–₱160,000/month
Explore Cebu City →Destination explorer
Where would you feel at home?
Explore destinations across the Philippines. Choose an island group or lifestyle to narrow your options. Filter by region, lifestyle and our retirement cost-planning tiers. The estimates cover a comfortable, non-luxury retired couple, not every household.
35 destinations
Luzon · City
Bonifacio Global City
Modern, walkable districts and Metro Manila amenities.
Luxury · Couple: ₱180,000–₱280,000/month
Explore Bonifacio Global City →
Visayas · Quiet
Dumaguete
A smaller coastal city with a relaxed pace.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱65,000–₱95,000/month
Explore Dumaguete →
Visayas · Beach
Panglao, Bohol
Island living near beaches and tourism infrastructure.
Moderate · Couple: ₱75,000–₱115,000/month
Explore Panglao, Bohol →
Mindanao · Beach
Siargao
Surf culture and tropical island living.
Premium · Couple: ₱90,000–₱160,000/month
Explore Siargao →
Visayas · City
Iloilo City
Heritage neighborhoods and city amenities.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱70,000–₱105,000/month
Explore Iloilo City →
Mindanao · City
Davao City
A major Mindanao urban center.
Moderate · Couple: ₱85,000–₱125,000/month
Explore Davao City →
Luzon · Cooler climate
Baguio
Highland living with cooler weather.
Moderate · Couple: ₱90,000–₱135,000/month
Explore Baguio →
Luzon · City
Metro Manila
The capital region, with a wide variety of neighborhoods and services.
Comparable couple budget not yet assigned
Explore Metro Manila →
Visayas · City
Bacolod
Negros Occidental’s major city, known for its laid-back urban feel.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱65,000–₱95,000/month
Explore Bacolod →.jpg?width=680)
Luzon · City
Subic and Clark
Two destinations with airport access and established expat communities.
Comparable couple budget not yet assigned
Explore Subic and Clark →
Visayas · Quiet
Smaller Cities and Hidden Gems
Explore smaller destinations beyond the major cities.
Comparable couple budget not yet assigned
Explore Smaller Cities and Hidden Gems →
Luzon · Quiet
Province Life
What to consider about living outside the big cities.
Comparable couple budget not yet assigned
Explore Province Life →
Mindanao · City
General Santos City
An affordable South Cotabato regional hub with shopping, airport links, and private healthcare to investigate.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱60,000–₱90,000/month
Explore General Santos City →Mindanao · City
Cagayan de Oro
A Northern Mindanao urban base with access to regional services and outdoor trips.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱70,000–₱105,000/month
Explore Cagayan de Oro →Luzon · City
Makati City
Premium Metro Manila business district with specialist healthcare, dining, and walkable pockets.
Luxury · Couple: ₱150,000–₱230,000/month
Explore Makati City →Luzon · City
Muntinlupa / Alabang
Southern Metro Manila neighborhoods combining private healthcare with suburban residential choices.
Premium · Couple: ₱120,000–₱180,000/month
Explore Muntinlupa / Alabang →Luzon · Cooler climate
Tagaytay City
A higher-elevation city near Manila, with leisure amenities, traffic, and seasonal visitors to consider.
Premium · Couple: ₱100,000–₱150,000/month
Explore Tagaytay City →Luzon · Quiet
Puerto Princesa
Palawan's provincial capital with an airport and access to island nature, balanced against service distances.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱70,000–₱105,000/month
Explore Puerto Princesa →Luzon · City
Naga City
A Bicol regional city offering urban essentials and regional travel connections.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱60,000–₱90,000/month
Explore Naga City →Luzon · Beach
San Fernando / La Union
Coastal La Union living with surf-oriented communities and access to regional services.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱60,000–₱95,000/month
Explore San Fernando / La Union →Luzon · City
Lipa City
Batangas regional city with cooler elevated districts and access toward Metro Manila.
Moderate · Couple: ₱75,000–₱110,000/month
Explore Lipa City →Luzon · City
Legazpi City
Bicol urban center near Mayon Volcano, with rainfall and transport considerations.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱65,000–₱100,000/month
Explore Legazpi City →Mindanao · Quiet
Dipolog City
Smaller Zamboanga del Norte capital with a coastal setting and regional airport.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱58,000–₱90,000/month
Explore Dipolog City →Visayas · Quiet
Roxas City
Capiz provincial capital offering a smaller-city pace and access to Panay.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱60,000–₱95,000/month
Explore Roxas City →Visayas · City
Tacloban City
Eastern Visayas regional center where typhoon and storm-surge planning are essential.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱70,000–₱105,000/month
Explore Tacloban City →Luzon · Quiet
Vigan City
Historic Ilocos Sur city with a distinctive heritage district and regional access.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱65,000–₱100,000/month
Explore Vigan City →Luzon · City
Batangas City
Southern Luzon port and commercial city with urban services and ferry connections.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱70,000–₱105,000/month
Explore Batangas City →Luzon · City
Santa Rosa / Nuvali
Laguna suburban communities with modern developments and travel links to Metro Manila.
Moderate · Couple: ₱95,000–₱145,000/month
Explore Santa Rosa / Nuvali →Luzon · City
Ortigas / Pasig
Dense Metro Manila business neighborhoods with shopping, condos and private healthcare options.
Premium · Couple: ₱130,000–₱210,000/month
Explore Ortigas / Pasig →Luzon · City
Quezon City
Large Metro Manila city with diverse residential districts, universities and urban services.
Premium · Couple: ₱110,000–₱180,000/month
Explore Quezon City →Luzon · Quiet
Antipolo City
Elevated Rizal urban neighborhoods with scenic surroundings and Manila commuting tradeoffs.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱70,000–₱110,000/month
Explore Antipolo City →Luzon · City
Laoag City
Ilocos Norte regional center with an airport and access to northern Luzon destinations.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱65,000–₱100,000/month
Explore Laoag City →Luzon · City
Dagupan / Pangasinan
Pangasinan regional service area with coastal access and central Luzon connections.
Budget-Friendly · Couple: ₱65,000–₱100,000/month
Explore Dagupan / Pangasinan →Luzon · City
Calamba / Los Baños
Laguna urban and university areas with hot springs and proximity to major transport corridors.
Moderate · Couple: ₱75,000–₱120,000/month
Explore Calamba / Los Baños →Cost tiers and couple-budget planning ranges come from our July 2026 35-city retirement research workbook. They are modeled estimates, not verified household expenses or current quotes. Broad combined destinations and Metro Manila as a whole are left unassigned rather than treating one neighborhood as the entire region. Read the cost of living guide →
Photo sources and license details are listed on our photo credits page. Destination cards link to their detailed city research. Some broad destination categories use a representative location photograph.