Roxas vs Mambajao: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Mambajao costs roughly 6% less than Roxas. Roxas has significantly faster average internet speeds (50 Mbps vs 20 Mbps). Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Roxas is approximately 3.2x more expensive than Mambajao based on cost of living including rent. This makes Mambajao a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Mambajao has a FIRE Score of 84/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 66, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Mambajao is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Roxas
Roxas is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $319/mo and a single adult's budget tier at $750/mo, but the average local net salary of $574/mo means most residents are not the ones renting those center apartments. The overall expat score of 82/100 and FIRE score of 84/100 look strong on paper, yet a retiree score of 57/100 and limited English proficiency suggest this is not a soft landing for everyone. Digital nomads get a workable 50 Mbps and a $22/mo internet bill, but the SEZ Remote Work Visa ties you to a PEZA zone, which is a real constraint. Come for the $3 restaurant meals and the 3 m elevation, not for the healthcare, which is only fair.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$1,950/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Mambajao
Mambajao is a bargain hunter's dream: a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $56/mo and an inexpensive restaurant meal costs $1, so your pesos stretch absurdly far. The catch is that the local average net salary is just $151/mo, which tells you the economy here is not built for earning, only for spending. Pair that with a retiree score of 58/100, limited English, a small expat community, and a wet season from June to November, and Mambajao suits self-funded hermits and FIRE true believers, not anyone chasing a social scene or a local paycheck.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$2,766/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Roxas | Mambajao |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $318.8 | $99.62 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $220 | $55.79 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $520 | $239.1 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $350 | $159.4 |
| Safety Index | 70 | 66 |
| Internet Speed | 50Mbps | 20Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Roxas | Mambajao |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $476/mo | $234/mo |
| Excluding rent | $256/mo | $178/mo |
| Rent | $220/mo | $56.00/mo |
| Groceries | $103/mo | $67.00/mo |
| Dining out | $28.00/mo | $14.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $32.00/mo | $13.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $93.00/mo | $84.00/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Roxas vs Mambajao -- Frequently Asked Questions
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