Moving to Philippines from Colombia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Colombia to Philippines — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Colombia to Philippines, you would find that Philippines is 8.1% cheaper than Colombia overall. A COP241,785,761 salary in Colombia would need to be roughly ₱4,705,387 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 61°F in Bogota, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Colombia to Philippines.
What does your salary buy?
COP241,785,761 → ₱4,705,387
To maintain the same standard of living in Philippines
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 32.5% less
Groceries
pay 41.4% more
Transportation
pay 27.1% less
Housing
pay 6.5% less
Childcare
pay 23.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 20.3% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Colombia to Philippines, based on official data.
Who's moving to Philippines?
Top countries of origin for Philippines's foreign-born residents.
- 38,269
- 37,857
- 14,634
- 11,323
- 7,350
- 6,123
- · · ·
-
60.131
Colombia
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Colombia to Philippines.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Philippines performs significantly better than Colombia across all safety metrics.
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
Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Colombia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Colombia 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
Colombia performs better than Philippines across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Philippines generally does better on employment & economy, though Colombia leads in gdp per capita.
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
Colombia generally does better on family life, though Philippines leads in literacy rate.
Data: Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bogota | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/47°F (16°/9°C) | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 60°/45°F (15°/7°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bogota | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°/42°F (16.4°/5.6°C) | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) |
| Feb | 62°/44°F (16.7°/6.5°C) | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) |
| Mar | 62°/46°F (16.7°/7.6°C) | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.6°C) | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) |
| May | 61°/48°F (16.2°/8.7°C) | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) |
| Jun | 60°/47°F (15.7°/8.3°C) | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) |
| Jul | 59°/46°F (14.9°/7.7°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) |
| Aug | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.3°C) | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) |
| Sep | 60°/45°F (15.8°/7.1°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Oct | 61°/46°F (15.9°/7.7°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Nov | 61°/46°F (16.0°/7.9°C) | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) |
| Dec | 61°/43°F (16.1°/6.3°C) | 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) |
Data:
Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies,
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Colombia 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.
Colombia passport holder visiting Philippines
Visa Free
Philippines passport holder visiting Colombia
Visa FreeData: 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 Colombia?
Costs in Philippines and Colombia are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.
How much money do I need to move to Philippines?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₱1,176,347 in Philippines on a COP241,785,761 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 7.6 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?
Philippines performs significantly better than Colombia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Philippines is 4.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 25.4 in Colombia.
How is healthcare in Philippines compared to Colombia?
Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Colombia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 7.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Philippines, compared to 24.5 in Colombia. Philippines scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Colombia: 80).
What's the weather like in Philippines compared to Colombia?
The average high temperature in Manila is 88°F, compared to 61°F in Bogota. Manila receives around 86.7 in of rainfall per year, while Bogota gets 31.5 in.
What language do they speak in Philippines?
The official languages in Philippines are English and Filipino. In Colombia, the official language is Spanish.
