Moving to Philippines from Washington
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Washington to Philippines — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Washington to Philippines, you would find that Philippines is 58.3% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly ₱2,069,142 in Philippines to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Manila averages 88°F vs 60°F in Olympia, 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 Washington to Philippines.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ₱2,069,142
To maintain the same standard of living in Philippines
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 77.2% less
Groceries
pay 33.4% less
Transportation
pay 49.0% less
Housing
pay 69.9% less
Childcare
pay 85.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 64.5% 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 56% less than cities in Washington.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Washington to Philippines, based on official data.
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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Washington to Philippines.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Philippines performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Washington 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
Washington generally does better on employment & economy, though Philippines leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Washington 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 | Olympia | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
View all months
| Month | Olympia | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) |
| Feb | 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) |
| Mar | 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) |
| Apr | 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) |
| May | 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) |
| Jun | 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) |
| Jul | 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) |
| Aug | 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) |
| Sep | 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) |
| Nov | 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) |
| Dec | 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°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 Washington?
Yes — Philippines is on average about 55% cheaper than Washington. 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 ₱517,286 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?
Usually fine from major cities in Philippines. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Philippines compared to Washington?
Philippines performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Philippines compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in Manila is 88°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Manila receives around 86.7 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in Philippines?
The official languages in Philippines are English and Filipino. In Washington, the official language is English.
