Moving to Philippines from Puerto Rico
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Puerto Rico to Philippines — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Puerto Rico to Philippines, you would find that Philippines is 47.7% cheaper than Puerto Rico overall. A $75,000 salary in Puerto Rico would need to be roughly ₱2,468,540 in Philippines to maintain the same lifestyle.
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 Puerto Rico to Philippines.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ₱2,468,540
To maintain the same standard of living in Philippines
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 67.5% less
Groceries
pay 35.4% less
Transportation
pay 37.5% less
Housing
pay 65.7% less
Childcare
pay 56.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 45.7% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Puerto Rico 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
- · · ·
-
81.53
Puerto Rico
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Puerto Rico to Philippines.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Philippines performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Philippines performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Puerto Rico 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
Philippines generally does better on employment & economy, though Puerto Rico 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
Puerto Rico generally does better on family life, though Philippines leads in education spending.
Data: Puerto Rican Department of Treasury, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Puerto Rico 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.
Philippines passport holder visiting Puerto Rico
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 Puerto Rico?
Yes — Philippines is on average about 46% cheaper than Puerto Rico. 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 ₱617,135 in Philippines on a $75,000 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 7.6 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 Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Philippines is 4.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 14.2 in Puerto Rico.
What language do they speak in Philippines?
The official languages in Philippines are English and Filipino. In Puerto Rico, the official languages are English and Spanish.
