Moving to Philippines from China
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from China to Philippines — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from China to Philippines, you would find that Philippines is 7.8% cheaper than China overall. A CN¥500,000 salary in China would need to be roughly ₱4,340,000 in Philippines to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Filipino. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Manila averages 88°F vs 68°F in Shanghai, 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 China?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 1.2% less
Groceries
pay 23.8% more
Transportation
pay 15.3% less
Housing
pay 3.6% less
Childcare
pay 64.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.3% less
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?
CN¥500,000 → ₱4,340,000
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 7% less than cities in China.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from China to Philippines, based on official data.
Who's moving to Philippines?
Top countries of origin for Philippines's foreign-born residents.
-
1.38,269
China
- 37,857
- 14,634
- 11,323
- 7,350
- 6,123
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from China to Philippines.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
China generally does better on safety, though Philippines leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Philippines leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
China generally does better on environment, though Philippines leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
China generally does better on infrastructure, though Philippines leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
China generally does better on employment & economy, though Philippines leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
China generally does better on family life, though Philippines leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), State Administration of Taxation (2016), Bureau of Internal Revenue (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Philippines vs China
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Shanghai | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/36°F (10°/2°C) | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/60°F (23°/16°C) | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 62°/47°F (17°/9°C) | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
View all months
| Month | Shanghai | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C) | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) |
| Feb | 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C) | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) |
| Mar | 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C) | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C) | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) |
| May | 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C) | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) |
| Jun | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C) | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) |
| Jul | 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) |
| Aug | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C) | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) |
| Sep | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Oct | 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Nov | 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C) | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) |
| Dec | 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.4°C) | 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) |
Data:
China Meteorological Administration,
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Can you move from China to Philippines?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between China 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.
China passport holder visiting Philippines
Visa Free
Philippines passport holder visiting China
Visa RequiredData: 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 China?
Yes — Philippines is on average about 8% cheaper than China. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Philippines?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₱1,085,000 in Philippines on a CN¥500,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Philippines?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Philippines has 7.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Philippines safe for expats?
China generally does better on safety, though Philippines leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Philippines is 4.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.
How is healthcare in Philippines compared to China?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Philippines leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 7.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Philippines, compared to 31.1 in China. Philippines scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).
What's the weather like in Philippines compared to China?
The average high temperature in Manila is 88°F, compared to 68°F in Shanghai. Manila receives around 86.7 in of rainfall per year, while Shanghai gets 43.8 in.
What language do they speak in Philippines?
The official languages in Philippines are English and Filipino. In China, the official language is Chinese.
