Philippines vs Thailand
Philippines costs roughly 17% less than Thailand, though Thailand scores higher on healthcare. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Philippines is approximately 17% less expensive than Thailand 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 $800/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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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
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About Thailand
Thailand is best for retirees seeking low costs, with a Retirement Visa requiring only ~$1,800/month income. Living costs are a third of US norms: a single person spends $603/month excluding rent, and a 1-bedroom in a city center is $475. However, the main trade-off is no clear pathway to citizenship, and political stability is weak with a negative score of -0.49.
$1,922/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Philippines | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2 — Increased Caution | Level 2 — Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 96.9 | 106.2 +9.3 |
| Healthcare Index | 67.3 | 77.5 +10.2 |
| Safety Index | 56.9 | 62.7 +5.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 28.8 +4.9 | 33.7 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $520.8 +82.3 | $603.1 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $1,854 +348.6 | $2,202.6 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $332.57 +142.26 | $474.83 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $186.21 +96.09 | $282.3 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $663.94 +608.41 | $1,272.35 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $362.86 +315.14 | $678 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 187.25 Mbps | 355.22 Mbps +168.0 |
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