Philippines vs Timor-Leste
Philippines costs roughly 5% less than Timor-Leste. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Philippines is approximately 5% less expensive than Timor-Leste based on cost of living including rent. This makes Philippines a more expensive option for expats considering a move.
Timor-Leste has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 53.57, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Timor-Leste 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 Timor-Leste
Low income tax (max 10%) paired with a Digital Nomad Visa ($1,500/mo requirement) suits remote workers testing frontier markets before committing elsewhere, not retirees, since there is no retirement visa and a complex path to residency. Safety score is moderate (53.57/100) and English proficiency is low, so this fits someone comfortable navigating bureaucracy without local language skills. Bad fit: anyone needing English-speaking healthcare, established expat infrastructure, or a clear long-term residency plan.
$2,231/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
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Country Details →Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Philippines | Timor-Leste |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 96.9 +70.9 | 26.05 |
| Healthcare Index | 67.3 +16.2 | 51.14 |
| Safety Index | 56.9 +3.3 | 53.57 |
| Cost of Living Index | 28.8 +1.3 | 30.1 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $520.8 | $381.8 +139 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $1,854 | $1,285 +569 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $332.57 +54.93 | $387.5 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $186.21 +88.79 | $275 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $663.94 +111.06 | $775 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $362.86 +62.14 | $425 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 187.25 Mbps +187.3 | 0 Mbps |
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in Timor-Leste. File confidently from abroad.
File your taxes →International health insurance from $45/mo
Get covered before you move to Timor-Leste. Genki Traveler offers insurance designed for nomads and expats.
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