Bulgaria vs Philippines
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Philippines is approximately 45% less expensive than Bulgaria based on cost of living including rent. This makes Philippines a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Philippines has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement.
The country's safety index is 56.6, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Philippines is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Bulgaria
Manila
Philippines
Country-level averages. N/A or Not enough data means no figure is published for that country. * Women's inclusion scores are unverified.
About these countries
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.
Philippines costs roughly 45% less than Bulgaria, though Bulgaria scores higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Philippines is approximately 45% less expensive than Bulgaria based on cost of living including rent. This makes Philippines a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Philippines has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement.
The country's safety index is 56.6, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Philippines is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Bulgaria
Skip this if you need fluent English or a large expat safety net, expat friendliness scores just 6/10 and English proficiency is medium at best. But a flat 10% income tax, $472 rent, and a 280 EUR/month retirement visa threshold (retirement visa not currently available) make Bulgaria a strong pick for budget-focused retirees or remote workers optimizing for cash flow over comfort.
$1,837/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
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.
$2,147/mo
Not sure which Philippines visa you qualify for?
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Bulgaria | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 1: Normal Precautions | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 148.5 +64.1 | 84.4 |
| Healthcare Index | 58.2 | 67 +8.8 |
| Safety Index | 64.8 +8.2 | 56.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 42.2 | 29.2 +13.0 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $690.9 | $520.8 +170.1 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $2,507.3 | $1,854 +653.3 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $472.08 | $332.57 +139.51 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $364.56 | $186.21 +178.35 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $783.4 | $663.94 +119.46 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $578.75 | $362.86 +215.89 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 94.48 Mbps | 119.03 Mbps +24.5 |
| Ballpark effective tax rate ($80,000) | 6.0% +15.0pt | 21.0% |
| Top income tax rate | 10.0% +25.0pt | 35.0% |
| Capital gains tax rate | 10.0% +5.0pt | 15.0% |
| Dividend tax rate | 5.0% +20.0pt | 25.0% |
Rights & Inclusion
Published indices. Legal protection and public attitudes are kept separate, and neither is folded into a single score.
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Bulgaria
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Philippines
LGBTQ+ legal protection score
Attitudes
Scores run from 0 to 100. Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified. Sources: Equaldex, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index. See the full inclusion ranking.
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