Philippines vs South Africa
Philippines costs roughly 4% less than South Africa. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Philippines is approximately 4% less expensive than South Africa 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 56.9, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Philippines is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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
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About South Africa
Safety is the dealbreaker: a 25.3 safety index puts South Africa firmly in caution territory, with the advisory level of 2 underscoring that. Retirees on fixed budgets should look past this for the math: $2,050/mo qualifies for the retirement visa, while rent runs under $500/mo in city centers. Low cost, low safety, weigh accordingly.
$1,873/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
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Country Details →Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Philippines | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 96.9 | 152.4 +55.5 |
| Healthcare Index | 67.3 +3.5 | 63.8 |
| Safety Index | 56.9 +31.6 | 25.3 |
| Cost of Living Index | 28.8 +1.2 | 30 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $520.8 +124.2 | $645 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $1,854 +445.6 | $2,299.6 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $332.57 +149.09 | $481.66 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $186.21 +203.26 | $389.47 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $663.94 +310.21 | $974.15 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $362.86 +394.54 | $757.4 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 187.25 Mbps +138.9 | 48.31 Mbps |
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Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for Philippines and South Africa, side by side.
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