Moving to Philippines from Arkansas

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Arkansas to Philippines — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Arkansas to Philippines, you would find that Philippines is 61.2% cheaper than Arkansas. A $75,000 salary in Arkansas would need to be roughly ₱1,830,000 in Philippines to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Manila averages 88°F vs 72°F in Little Rock, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Philippines cheaper than Arkansas?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 76.7% less

Groceries

pay 31.6% less

Transportation

pay 34.9% less

Housing

pay 75.7% less

Childcare

pay 74.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 57.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 62.99 PHP (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Philippines?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → ₱1,830,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Philippines

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Philippines cost about 49% less than cities in Arkansas.

Arkansas

Jonesboro 52%

Philippines

Pasig 30%
Angeles 28%
Batangas 25%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Philippines

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Arkansas to Philippines, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
37,857 ↑ 6% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Philippines · UN DESA

Who's moving to Philippines?

Top countries of origin for Philippines's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Arkansas and Philippines stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

AR
38.3%
PH
9.6%

Philippines performs significantly better than Arkansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

AR
84.9%
PH
67.3%

Arkansas performs better than Philippines across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AR
4.2%
PH
2.2%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

AR
$47,319
PH
$4,171

Philippines generally does better on employment & economy, though Arkansas leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

AR
73.8 yrs
PH
70.0 yrs

Arkansas performs better than Philippines across all family life metrics.

Weather in Philippines vs Arkansas

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Little Rock Rain: 50.0 in/yr (1271 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Manila Rain: 86.7 in/yr (2201 mm)
88° / 77°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Little Rock Manila
Jan–Mar 56°/38°F (13°/3°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) 91°/79°F (33°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/70°F (32°/21°C) 88°/78°F (31°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) 87°/77°F (30°/25°C)
View all months
Month Little Rock Manila
Jan 49°/33°F (9.7°/0.4°C) 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C)
Feb 54°/36°F (12.4°/2.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)
Mar 64°/44°F (17.6°/6.8°C) 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C)
Apr 73°/53°F (22.7°/11.6°C) 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C)
May 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.4°C) 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C)
Jun 88°/69°F (31.2°/20.7°C) 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C)
Jul 92°/73°F (33.4°/22.7°C) 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C)
Aug 92°/72°F (33.3°/22.2°C) 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C)
Sep 84°/65°F (29.1°/18.1°C) 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C)
Oct 73°/54°F (23.0°/12.3°C) 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C)
Nov 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.6°C) 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C)
Dec 51°/35°F (10.7°/1.7°C) 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

Can you move from Arkansas to Philippines?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Philippines. To live, work, or study long-term in Philippines, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Philippines's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Philippines

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Philippines without a visa.
Philippines passport

Philippines passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Philippines passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Philippines than Arkansas?

Generally yes: Philippines runs about 61% cheaper than Arkansas on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Philippines?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around ₱457,500 in Philippines for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Philippines?

Working remotely from Philippines's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Arkansas and Philippines.

How is healthcare in Philippines compared to Arkansas?

Philippines performs significantly better than Arkansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Philippines compared to Arkansas?

The average high temperature in Manila is 88°F, compared to 72°F in Little Rock. Manila receives around 86.7 in of rainfall per year, while Little Rock gets 50.0 in.

What language do they speak in Philippines?

The official languages in Philippines are English and Filipino. In Arkansas, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

PH
Population 3,114,791 116,786,962
Currency United States Dollar ($) Philippine Peso (₱)
Languages English English, Filipino
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +63
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 911