ExPat Philly

With over 7,500 islands, a warm marine climate, many top-ranked beaches worldwide, and over 8million tourists yearly, it is no wonder people choose the Philippines as their home. Additionally, the Philippines’s natural beauty and low cost of living make it a sought-after destination for expats.

Affordable living, stunning scenery, delicious food and friendly people, what more could you ask for… This is what you will be welcomed with when you set foot in the Philippines. Compared to the cost of living in the US, UK & Europe, there is just no comparison, you will find looking for a home will give you far more for your money than your home country, giving you a lifestyle for those back home to be jealous of.

Prior to moving to the Philippines, here are a few things you need to know before you have an exciting and quality time in this paradise of a place.

Living in the Philippines is much cheaper than living in the US, UK, Canada & Europe. Transportation, housing, food and utilities are far cheaper than we expats are used to in our home countries which makes the Philippines an amazing and affordable country to move too.

The Philippines was voted as one of the 10 friendliest countries in the world in the 2022 Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) Readers’ Choice Awards. Filipinos are known for their kind nature, friendliness, and friendly hospitality, probably due to their strong cultural and family values, along with the Filipino people’s welcoming nature that will help give you a sense of belonging and make you enjoy moving to the Philippines as well as close relationships are seen to be highly valued in the Philippines leading to strong family ties and hospitable nature.

One of the first things you will notice living in the Philippines is the much cheaper cost of living compared to what we expats are used to in our home countries, much much cheaper.

The cost of transportation, housing, food, utilities and entertainment etc are much more affordable in the Philippines, giving you a better level of living.

Many of us expats will be used to four seasons, cold winters, grey wet autumns and if we are lucky, we get a good summer. So if you are looking for a country with warm weather, then Philippines is perfect!

The country has a tropical humid equatorial climate with an average annual temperature of 27.1 Degree’s C with just a dry and wet season. Most days are sunny, so great for people who love the outdoors, exploring and seeking new adventures.

With 7,500 islands making up the Philippines, you will not be disappointed with the beaches across the islands. So it wont surprise you that the Philippines are known for having stunning picturesque beaches.

You will find these stunning beaches in different parts of the country. Some are famous for their white sand and clear water, while others are known for their vibrant nightlife scene. If you are looking for the perfect remote beaches that you find on a postcard, then the Philippines is where you need to be!

If you are an expat working in the Philippines, you can access the Public Healthcare in the Philippines managed by PhilHealth, which is government-owned, expatriates who are employed in the Philippine territory are required to be affiliated with PhilHealth. Your employer will handle the registration, and Expatriates who do not have an employment contract are eligible for PhilHealth if they have residency status in the Philippines. The expatriate’s family can benefit from the coverage by being declared by the expatriate.

Filipino cuisine is composed of the cuisines of more than a hundred distinct ethnolinguistic groups found throughout the Philippine archipelago. A majority of mainstream Filipino dishes that compose Filipino cuisine are from the food traditions of various ethnolinguistic groups and tribes.

Influence from Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, American, Korean & Middle Eastern influences over the centuries has given Filipino cuisine a rich wide variety of flavours which also has its more indigenous regional delicacies.

Restaurants in the Philippines show this variety of rich flavours and culture from the more traditional to the more American pizza places and fried chicken takeaways.

Popular chains to check out are Jollibee (a Filipino chain similar to McDonalds), Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Angel Pizza, Kenny Rogers Roasters & Mang Inasal.