Moving to Philippines from North Carolina
What to Expect
Considering a move from North Carolina to Philippines? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from North Carolina to Philippines, you would find that Philippines is 54.8% cheaper than North Carolina. A $75,000 salary in North Carolina would need to be roughly ₱2,231,726 in Philippines to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Manila averages 88°F vs 67°F in Asheville, 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between North Carolina and Philippines.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ₱2,231,726
To maintain the same standard of living in Philippines
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 73.8% less
Groceries
pay 34.8% less
Transportation
pay 38.3% less
Housing
pay 67.8% less
Childcare
pay 83.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 57.9% 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.
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 North Carolina.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Philippines
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from North Carolina to Philippines.
Who's moving to Philippines?
Top countries of origin for Philippines's foreign-born residents.
- 38,269
-
2.37,857
United States
- 14,634
- 11,323
- 7,350
- 6,123
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Philippines compared to North Carolina.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Philippines performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
North Carolina 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
share of people below the poverty line
North Carolina generally does better on employment & economy, though Philippines leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
North Carolina performs better than Philippines across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Asheville | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 52°/32°F (11°/0°C) | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/53°F (24°/12°C) | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 58°/38°F (15°/3°C) | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
View all months
| Month | Asheville | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/28°F (8.1°/-2.4°C) | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) |
| Feb | 50°/31°F (10.2°/-0.6°C) | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) |
| Mar | 58°/37°F (14.4°/2.9°C) | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.9°/11.7°C) | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) |
| Jun | 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) |
| Jul | 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.1°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) |
| Aug | 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.7°C) | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) |
| Sep | 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.8°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Oct | 68°/46°F (19.9°/7.9°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Nov | 58°/38°F (14.7°/3.1°C) | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) |
| Dec | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-0.9°C) | 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 holder visiting Philippines
Visa Free
Philippines passport holder visiting United States
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 North Carolina?
On average Philippines is about 52% less expensive than North Carolina, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Philippines?
Budget about ₱557,932 for 3 months in Philippines (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Philippines?
From major Philippines cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in North Carolina and Philippines are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Philippines compared to North Carolina?
Philippines performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Philippines compared to North Carolina?
The average high temperature in Manila is 88°F, compared to 67°F in Asheville. Manila receives around 86.7 in of rainfall per year, while Asheville gets 37.0 in.
What language do they speak in Philippines?
The official languages in Philippines are English and Filipino. In North Carolina, the official language is English.
