How much do I need to retire in the Philippines?

There is no official number. Third-party estimates range from about $1,000/month (Forbes, single, modest) to $1,500–$2,500/month for a couple (Taxes for Expats). Add health insurance and SRRV costs if you use that visa.

Which city is cheapest?

On Numbeo (Oct 2026, crowd-sourced) rents in Dumaguete, Davao and Iloilo are lower than Metro Manila or Cebu City. Small samples; verify locally.

Philippines Retirement Cost of Living 2026: Monthly Budget by City

Philippines retirement cost of living: monthly budgets by city

Every fact links to its source. Last checked Oct 18, 2026. Anything we could not confirm from an official source is marked [unverified].

Disclaimer: This guide is general information only. It is not legal, immigration, tax, insurance or financial advice. Visa rules, deposits, fees and benefits change. Figures were checked Oct 18, 2026 against the sources linked. Verify current requirements with the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), the Bureau of Immigration, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) and Medicare, or with a licensed professional, before acting.

How much does it cost to retire in the Philippines? Below are crowd-sourced monthly costs for seven cities, third-party retiree estimates, and the official fixed costs (visa, PhilHealth) you should add on top.

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Monthly costs by city (crowd-sourced, Numbeo, updated Oct 15, 2026)

City	Single person, excl. rent	1-BR rent, city centre	1-BR rent, outside centre	Basic utilities (85m² apt)	Rough single budget*
Metro Manila	$585	$542	$280	$122	≈ $865
Cebu City	$546	$506	$302	$120	≈ $848
Davao City	$543	$275	$171	$107	≈ $713
Baguio	$480	$402	$196	$140	≈ $675
Iloilo City	$423	$311	$249	$63	≈ $673
Dumaguete	n/a	$234	$207	$67	Not enough data
Angeles (Clark)	n/a	$342	$197	$176	Not enough data

USD figures read from each city's Numbeo page on Oct 18, 2026 (pages say "Last update: 15 October 2026"). Numbeo is crowd-sourced, not official, and smaller cities have few data points, so treat these as rough. *Our arithmetic: single person excl. rent + 1-BR outside centre. It excludes health insurance, visas, flights home and travel, which are often the biggest items for retirees. Dumaguete and Angeles pages did not show a single-person estimate.

What others estimate for retirees

Taxes for Expats says a couple can live comfortably on about $1,500–$2,500 a month. Taxes for Expats
Forbes profiled places to retire in the Philippines "on $1,000 a month" (June 2025). Forbes

These are third-party estimates, not official figures. Lifestyle (air-con use, imported food, car, household help) moves the number far more than city choice.

Fixed retirement costs that are official

Item	Amount	Source
SRRV Classic deposit (pensioner 50+)	USD 15,000 (one-time deposit, not a fee)	PRA SRRVisa page
SRRV processing fee	USD 1,500 one-time	PRA SRRVisa page
SRRV Classic annual fee	USD 360/year (principal + 2 dependents)	PRA SRRVisa page
PhilHealth for SRRV holders	PHP 15,000/year under 2017 rules [current rate unverified]	PhilHealth Circular 2017-0003
Medicare abroad	Generally pays nothing for care in the Philippines	Medicare.gov

Budget items people forget

Health insurance. The State Department says Medicare and Medicaid do not cover bills abroad, care isn't free even at public facilities, and some hospitals want cash upfront. State Dept Get real quotes for your age; we don't publish premiums we can't verify.
Medicare Part B decision. Keeping or dropping it affects costs if you return; see Medicare.gov and our Social Security guide.
Trips home. Check current US–Philippines fares on Kiwi.com.
Exchange rate. SSA pays Philippine accounts in pesos at the daily rate, so your budget moves with USD/PHP. See Money in the Philippines.
Typhoon season (most typhoons July–November per the State Dept): generator, insurance, repairs.

Planning a scouting trip?

Most people who retire here visit first, often for a month or more. Compare flights from the US to the Philippines on Kiwi.com · see our Flights to Manila guide · stay connected with an Airalo Philippines eSIM (eSIM guide). Arriving? Read NAIA airport guide and eTravel registration.

FAQ

How much do I need to retire in the Philippines?
There is no official number. Third-party estimates range from about $1,000/month (Forbes, single, modest) to $1,500–$2,500/month for a couple (Taxes for Expats). Add health insurance and SRRV costs if you use that visa.
Which city is cheapest?
On Numbeo (Oct 2026, crowd-sourced) rents in Dumaguete, Davao and Iloilo are lower than Metro Manila or Cebu City. Small samples; verify locally.