I get a lot of questions from people who want me to help them decide where in the Philippines they should retire. What city is best for a foreigner? Well, that question has as many answers as there are people! Everybody is different, has different interests and desires vary from person to person.
Maybe you are a person who likes a lot of privacy and quiet? If so, maybe you would be making a mistake by settling in a City, perhaps some secluded beachfront in the middle of nowhere would be more suited to you. Maybe you are the type who enjoys beaches. If so, you wouldn’t want to settle in Baguio, because it isn’t on the beach. Again, if you are looking for warm weather and sunshine, Baguio offers a cooler climate with more rain and probably wouldn’t suit your needs. If you are hooked to your foods that you enjoy in your home country, better to settle in a larger city like Manila, Cebu or Davao (and a few others) to ensure that you will be able to get a good supply of imported goods. Every city is different, and offers different benefits (and drawbacks too), so just do some research before making your decision.
Another thing to remember – narrow your list down to a few cities that are of interest, then go and see them! It is not expensive to travel around the Philippines, so you have the perfect chance to do some investigation and sample the flavor of each city that you think is interesting.
Now, with those things in mind, let’s look at a few cities that seem to be favorites of ex-pats:
- Angeles City: This is probably the favorite retirement haven for Americans, and Australians are starting to favor it too. There are a huge number of US Military retirees here, due to the fact that this is the former home of Clark Air Force Base until it’s closing in the 1990’s. Angeles City is famous for it’s bar scene, with plenty of liquor flowing, and plenty of girls dancing at the bars. For me, that is not what I was looking for when I moved here, so it is not the right environment for me
- Baguio City: Not as popular as Angeles, but a totally different atmosphere. If you are looking for cooler weather, Baguio should be high on your list. Baguio is known as the City of Pines because it sits among lush pine trees, which is unusual for the Philippines. This is not really a tropical atmosphere as you find in most of the Philippines.
- Manila: Personally, I don’t care for Manila. It is too polluted and crowded for my enjoyment. Also, the cost of living is very high there. However, if you want to be where the action is, that’s Manila. Any kind of activity that you may enjoy would be available in Manila. All kinds of foreign goods can be purchased there too.
- Cebu City: I would guess that among foreigners, Cebu is a close second to Angeles City when it comes to retirement destinations. Cebu is hugely popular among foreigners coming to the Philippines. Cebu is also going the way of Manila when it comes to overpopulation and such, though, so at some point in the future it may not be such a desirable location. At this time, though, Cebu probably has among the best infrastructure to be found in the Philippines, good shopping, good access to air travel, both domestic and international. Cebu would be fairly high on my list if I were to reconsider where to live.
- Davao City: A lot of people are scared to death when they think of coming to Mindanao, let alone living there. However, for me, I consider Davao as the best place to live in the Philippines. I feel that Davao is extremely safe, despite all that you hear about danger in Southern Mindanao. Davao has a hard line Mayor who does not put up with crime – petty or violent! Davao offers many of the advantages of Manila and Cebu, while maintaining more of a “small town” feel. Personally, I would not consider moving from Davao, I find it to be a perfect location.
- Cagayan de Oro City: Many of the same comments that I said about Davao apply here. Cagayan is, in my opinion, a safe place to live. It offers many activities for foreigners, and makes for a nice retirement area. Keep in mind that Mindanao is the only island in the Philippines that is outside the typhoon belt, so no matter where you choose to live in Mindanao, you will experience better weather than in many other Philippine destinations.
Of course, ex-pats choose many other towns and cities in the Philippines. I have just listed a few places that seem to have higher ex-pat populations. For me, a higher number of ex-pats means that you are more likely to find the goods and services that you expect or hope your new home to have.
Bob, I must agree with your comments on Davao City. Whilst I have not retired yet, I have been travelling to Davao (from Darwin, Australia) for a number of years and find it safe, welcoming and a great city to be in. I do plan to set a business there and (depending on the success of the business/s) settle there full time in the not too distant future.
The other thing to bear in mind, over the coming decade with the increase in mining activity in Mindanao, Davao City will become an increasingly popular spot partciularly with expat miners.
Hi Quentin – you are right about the mining, and more foreigners coming to Davao in connection with mining. Most of the mining is up in Davao del Norte and in the Compostela Valley, so Davao is the natural place for the people to come for recreation and to recharge from their work. I do find Davao to be a great place to live. If you are in the area, be sure to look me up!
😎 Love your site…you tell it like it is! I want to retire in the philippines too. I currently live in Oregon and travel to cebu/bohol every jan. Married to a filipina. Hope to live there someday. Keep ut the great site thanks.
Steven.
Hi Steven – Thanks for visiting the site, and I'm glad that you find it useful. I do try to tell it like it is, having lived here for 7 years I sort of have gotten to where I know the goods and the bads. Luckily, it's mostly good stuff about living here, and I hope to help keep it that way!
Hey, where do you hail in Oregon? I came from Vancouver, Washington before moving here, which is right on the border, near Portland.
hi bob,
greetings again ! kumasta po ? i noticed you omitted subic ? is there a particular reason for this ? my wife and i honeymooned there and we loved it ! ran into a lot of expats too. seems like it would be a good place to settle down in. any thougts on this ? salamat po……
ps……coffee or lunch sounds good someday ! sige po……..
Hi Danny – While I am not certain why, I rarely hear of foreigners settling down in Olongopo City/Subic. Yes, there are some, but it does not seem to have the attraction that some of these other places have. Certainly, if you have an interest in that area, I would pursue it and see if you find it a good fit for your lifestyle!
Hi Bob, you may want to consider adding to that list La Union (great for surfers), Vigan, and Ilocos Norte (the Marcoses' hometown). Developers are popping everywhere in that region because of the accessibility to the ocean, the mountains, and the rich soil for growing. The region also has clean air and as not as populated. However, that may change in a couple of years. Till next time….
Hi Julius – thanks for the info. I didn't realize that many foreigners were flocking to those areas too. It's good to know!
Everyone seems to favor areas near the water and on higher grounds to avoid flood zones. Myself, I live in a flood zone area, so my van performs two duties. A family van and an amphibious vehicle. We bought a property (about 375 square meter) in Tagaytay, but it'll take a couple of years before the subdivision starts construction. The property is pres-selling right now. So I'm looking to relocate somewhere less congested, polluted, and away from flood zone areas. Till next time….
Hi bob you have any information about vigan plan
I have plan stay and live thear but I don't know if live
foreigners thear if you have any information or site on internet
is good for me.
regards
Hi Zois – Sorry, I haven't been up that far north yet. Maybe somebody else can post a comment to let Zois know whta it is like in Vigan.
Bob,
I hate to see that kind of "driveby' shooting comment on Angeles. Angeles has a famous strip of bars "fields Avernue", as does almost _any_ Philippine City of any size, and many little country towns as well. But Angeles City has possible the best infrastructure for US retirees of any town in the Philippines, especially for military retirees. Doctors, hospitals, supermarkets, specialty shop delis, US mail service, some of the best subdivisions and most US-oriented homes in the Philippines etc. I hate to see such a clean, progressive, retirement–friendly area be run down with the common "it's all bars" talk … that's very bogus information, in my view. There is also a lot of American investment and even jobs in the Clark special economic zone.
You should also add Olongapo City, home of the former US Navy Subic Bay facilities. It's also a progressive, economically booming city which sadly suffers from the recollection that there is, indeed (Barrio Baretto) an area of bars and "flesh pots". The Subic Bay metro adaptation of the Navy bases has alot of opportunity and investment happening too.
If I drove around Davao City for say an hour, how many "GRO wanted" or Videoke bars or "Taxi hotels" do you guess I could count? I'm not a supporter or patron of these places, but they are hardly isoolated to the former US bases "dens of iniquity".
Hi Dave – I only wrote about Angeles based on my visit there. I wrote what I felt about the place. I have not visited Olongapo before, so I cannot write about it and give my feelings. I just re-read what I wrote and I felt it was pretty accurate based on my experience, and also pretty mild.
You'd be surprised if you visit Davao. Nudity is not allowed in the bars, any girls who are dancing must be clothed, even bikinis are not allowed here, based on a law passed this year. Yes, there are a few short time hotels and such in town, but not many.
By the way, if you re-read what I wrote, I never said that Angeles is "all bars" as you wrote. I said that it is famous for it's bar scene, which it is. No, the bar area does not take up the entire town, only a portion of it. When I visited Angeles, it was in the middle of the day, and I was with my wife and another lady who is a friend of ours. We were obviously together. While walking down the sidewalk, I was approached by street ladies, and they made offers to me in front of my wife. I found it offensive.
Anyway, everybody is free to view any town or city the way that they see fit. I don't fault you for your view of any city, Angeles or otherwise. I should also be free to express my opinion. This was no "driveby shooting" just me relating what my preference is. I don't believe I said anything that was inaccurate.
ahh come on everyone knows about angeles city and what its famous for! any filipino i ever heard talk about it says the same thing its where guys go to have a good time! and in the same sense some places in mindinao are really not safe if you dont know whats going on ! you can defend both places but the stereo types are true !
Hi mike – Here's a question for you… have you ever been to either Angeles or to Mindanao?
my mother in law is from mindinao,and i have several american friends who have lived in around gen san and i had a friend who got kidnapped in davao and let go later on .and i also know filipinas who are from angeles city who were putas before they married there husbands at clark and moved to america!
i am not saying both places are totally no good its just like any place on earth you have to know where to go and where not to go,i am originally from new york city there are places that i wouldnt reccomend to hang out because its dangerous and your not welcomed! but if you know your surroundings and your enviorment youll be fine!
Hi mike – I asked if you have ever been to Mindanao or Angeles. You didn't answer the question. You said that you know people from these places…. that's not what I asked you.
Hi Bob , you got some great information, Iv been to the philippines 3 times now ,l many hug around Manila( QC, Makati, ) and stayed at a town called Bataan were my brothers wife is from,but it was a bit small for me ,l never been to Angeles or Davao city as yet ,but will on my next trip in july.
I’m 43 single and had a gut full of Melbourne Australia..so my next trip ill be traveling around looking for a nice place to stay a while and if l really like come home sell the house and go back but l dont think l could sit around and do noughing l would like to buy a small take away or something.. , l would like to check out Davao City.. just a question for you ,l am Catholic Christian.l dont want to sound racist with my question but is there more Christians or Muslim in Davao..also can a foreigner only own Condos?
Keep up the great work:)
Hi Darren – Davao City is about 85% Christian and 15% Muslim. A foreigner can own a condo, as long as no more than 40% of the condos are owned by foreigners.
Hi Bob!
My ex-wifes family lives in Davao and i’ve been there several times! I like it there! Especially Paradise beach! I’ve got a new girlfriend now..who lives in Cebu. I plan on retiring there within 5 years to be with her. Do you have any advice more on the financial side? Such as how to transfer my S.S. money, healthcare costs, renting vs buying, rules on how to start a business. Etc. It would be greatly appreciated!
Henry Kirk
Hi Henry – Great news, and good luck with your pending move to the Philippines! That is great news!
Regarding the topics you are asking about, I have literally written dozens of articles on this site regarding these topics. Do a bit of searching and you will find lots! Here is a bit of information, but you can get more extensive information by reading the site.
Social Security – I would recommend that you have your funds direct deposited into a Philippine bank for easy access. Read this article.
Healthcare costs – they are cheap. Check into registering for PhilHealth, the Philippine national health care insurance. It is not comprehensive coverage, but it is dirt cheap, and whatever they cover will put you money ahead. Read this article.
Renting vs. buying – I recommend renting, at least for the first few years until you have decided what is right for you here. Read this article.
Rules for starting a business – I recommend my book: 49 Ways to Make a Living in the Philippines.
Good luck to you!
HI BOB
I AM A NATURALIZED AMERICAN CITIZEN FROM THE PHILIPPINES. I KNOW I CAN OWN A CONDOMINIUM BUT CAN I OWN REAL ESTATE ( VACANT LAND )
THANKS .
ERNIE
PS. I ALMOST MADE IT TO DAVAO 2 YEARS AGO TO MEET YOUR WIFE FEYMA ABOUT SOME REAL ESTATE IN SAMAL ISLAND BUT HAVE TO CUT MY STAY SHORT DUE TO A HEALTH ISSUE. I WILL TRY AGAIN THIS YEAR.
Hello Bob, maybe going to your website is a solution to my problem. I am from Cebu City, 53 years old and a single mom. I wonder if one of your respondents is looking for a househelper for hire. I wanted to relocate. I hope for a favorable response. I can explain more details.