Moving to Philippines from South Carolina
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Carolina to Philippines? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Carolina to Philippines, you would find that Philippines is 53.0% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly ₱2,229,260 in Philippines to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Manila averages 88°F vs 66°F in Columbia, 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 South Carolina and Philippines.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ₱2,229,260
To maintain the same standard of living in Philippines
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 76.7% less
Groceries
pay 32.6% less
Transportation
pay 34.5% less
Housing
pay 68.4% less
Childcare
pay 80.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 52.3% 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.
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 South 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 South Carolina.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Philippines performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
South 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
South Carolina generally does better on employment & economy, though Philippines leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
South 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 | Columbia | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
View all months
| Month | Columbia | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) |
| Feb | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) |
| Mar | 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) |
| May | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) |
| Jun | 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) |
| Sep | 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Oct | 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Nov | 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) |
| Dec | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°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 South Carolina?
On average Philippines is about 52% less expensive than South Carolina, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Philippines?
Budget about ₱557,315 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 South Carolina and Philippines are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Philippines compared to South Carolina?
Philippines performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Philippines compared to South Carolina?
The average high temperature in Manila is 88°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Manila receives around 86.7 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.
What language do they speak in Philippines?
The official languages in Philippines are English and Filipino. In South Carolina, the official language is English.
