Moving to Philippines from Taiwan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Taiwan to Philippines? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Taiwan to Philippines, you would find that Philippines is 35.3% cheaper than Taiwan overall. A NT$2,500,000 salary in Taiwan would need to be roughly ₱3,120,000 in Philippines to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Filipino.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Philippines cheaper than Taiwan?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 25.9% less
Groceries
pay 38.0% less
Transportation
pay 36.6% less
Housing
pay 31.5% less
Childcare
pay 64.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 32.0% 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?
NT$2,500,000 → ₱3,120,000
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 36% less than cities in Taiwan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Philippines compared to Taiwan.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Taiwan performs better than Philippines across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Philippines generally does better on employment & economy, though Taiwan leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
percentage of adults who can read and write
Taiwan performs better than Philippines across all family life metrics.
Sources: The World Factbook (2012–2022), World Bank (2020–2025), Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C. (2016), Bureau of Internal Revenue (2016). How we calculate this
Can you move from Taiwan to Philippines?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Taiwan 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.
Taiwan passport holder visiting Philippines
Visa Free
Philippines passport holder visiting Taiwan
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 Taiwan?
On average Philippines is about 35% less expensive than Taiwan, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Philippines?
Budget about ₱780,000 for 3 months in Philippines (based on a NT$2,500,000 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 Taiwan and Philippines are what actually decide it long-term.
What language do they speak in Philippines?
The official languages in Philippines are English and Filipino. In Taiwan, the official language is Chinese.
