For those who prefer having a laid-back lifestyle in a warm climate surrounded by numerous palm trees, the Philippines would be the best corner of the world to turn.
The Philippines is located on the east side of Vietnam in between the south china sea and the Philippine sea. This geographical situation allows the country to possess this beautiful tropical marine climate.
In the Philippines, the monsoon season works differently in southwest and Northeast areas compared to other western countries. November to April Monsoon stays in Northeast corner while in the southwest it starts from May to October, quite fascinating right?
The capital of this country, Manila, is vastly known as “The Pearl of the orient.” In this buzzing center of the country, more than 21 million people reside. Keeping that figure in mind, no wonder why the Philippines comes 13th among the most populated countries across the Globe.
Relocating to the Philippines from the US is an exciting opportunity to experience the rich culture, beautiful landscapes, and warm hospitality of this Southeast Asian country. However, moving internationally can be complex and challenging. EarthRelo offers comprehensive moving services to the Philippines, designed to make your transition as smooth and stress-free as possible. Our expert team handles every aspect of your move, ensuring that your belongings are transported safely and efficiently to your new home in the Philippines.
Undoubtedly, the Philippines is an exquisite country to live in, but Moving to Philippines from the US could be a bit tricky and complicated process.
Both countries are situated in the opposite direction in all terms from the standard of living to the weather. So, moving to Philippines from the US could not be a mere relocation, but one needs to prepare for every element of this country, especially when they are moving to Philippines with their family and kids.
Here, We come into the picture to save you from all the trouble and clumsy relocation situations.
Our skilled experts will guide for a thorough procedure from visa to the Philippines’ healthcare and education system so that you can make stress-free relocation address the more exciting part of the journey, the experience!
If you are moving to the Philippines from the USA for a significantly long period. In that case, it could be quite a grueling process for you to relocate all your furniture and delicates as you are not just only changing countries but entire continents as well!
To ease your complexity, we have gathered average shipping rates for various Philippines locations from the USA to give you a fair idea of what amount you would need to be prepared to spare while relocating.
In general, the Ocean freight rates range from $3500 to $4500 to the capital of the Philippines from different locations in the USA.
Let’s explore more fares in detail to get you a precise idea of the particular location when you are moving to the Philippines.
| USA | Philippines | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | Manila | $1,561 |
| Cincinnati | Manila | $1,721 |
| Los Angeles | Manila | $1,098 |
| Houston | Manila | $1,338 |
| Charleston | Manila | $1,081 |
Best shipping rates for 20 FCL containers to the Philippines from US.
| USA | Philippines | 20FCL Rates |
|---|---|---|
| New-York | Manila | $1,071.40 |
| Miami | Manila | $1,071.40 |
| Jacksonville | Manila | $1,071.40 |
| Charleston | Manila | $1,071.40 |
Earthrelo provides shipping assistance in multiple ways providing the best price and service in the industry for your moving to the Philippines.
We will provide you profound assistance from the Moving process to the settling-in process through our well-versed and highly experienced movers.
Now, let’s get a panoramic view of the top cities of the Philippines which will enable you to get the best lifestyle of the Philippines with the ample availability of resources to reside there comfortably.
The Philippines is filled with numerous Metro cities and states with splendid scenic views and robust infrastructure through which the Philippine economy is built. Expats choose their destination based on their employment opportunities, the education system for their kids and
Let’s move forward by taking the first destination, the capital of the country, Manila!
The Metro city of Manila is widely known for its expat friendliness. Cities like Bonifacio Global City and Makati city may top the list of the top favorite destinations for Expats coming to the Philippines from every corner of the world.
As these cities are one of the popular cities in the country, one needs to pick an accommodation place very wisely as these cities are significantly populated and therefore, always consider the elements like available transportation services, commute hours at the time of choosing the place to stay.
After Manila Metro city, Cebu is the second popular choice for expats to reside. Cebu offers almost every facility and comfort as Manila with less air pollution and urban congestion.
So it’s like a win-win situation that nobody could refuse!
The international Airport of Cebu connects you directly with several other international cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur in a single flight. Hence, connecting to other parts of the Asian region becomes convenient from Cebu.
Moreover, internal parts of Cebu, like Mactan, are considered a safer place for expats and Foreigners, so most of them tend to prefer living there as they find their community there.
This Fruit Basket of the Philippines has everything to lure the expats towards the city. Davao is considered one of the prosperous and vibrant cities of the country due to multiple reasons like its Expat friendly community and its warm-hearted people.
It is also known as the main hub for commercial exchanges. If you are looking forward to experiencing the authentic culture of the Philippines, then Davao is the perfect destination to live in for the long term or at least a few years.
Davao largely makes its maximum revenue from the production and export of vast varieties of fruits. Mainly agriculture and gardening is the main source of income of the people of Davao.
To discover more about these while you are moving to Philippines and more fascinating cities of the Philippines, connect with the experts knowing locals and begin your life in the Philippines stress-free!
Even though most people consider the Philippines only as a popular travel destination, the Philippines has one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asian region.
Astonishing for many, the main source of income is not tourism of this country, but the Manufacturing and Agricultural business earn the highest percentage of income.
It simply means the Philippines also give vast opportunities for employment to the expats and its local community.
As an expat, if you are seeking a job in this booming economy, there are few factors that you would need to consider before applying anywhere.
This factor includes understanding the country’s social security system and how the hierarchy of the local business culture works in the Philippines.
As local government is making their full efforts to compete with other developed Asian Countries, as a positive consequence, the employment infrastructure can create more job opportunities for people in the country.
If we look into the employment structure in the Philippines by the job profile, each one has a different pay scale and demand of a worker in that particular sector.
Here are the rough latest estimations of salaries(In USD) of various professionals in the Philippines that one should look at least for if they are skimming the job market in the Philippines.
| Profession | Median Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $42,000 |
| Dentist | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $26,000 |
| Teacher | $22,000 |
| IT Manager | $21,500 |
| Finance Manager | $20,800 |
| Web Developer | $11,000 |
| Nurse | $5,000 |
| Cashier | $4,200 |
| Waiter | $3,900 |
Work Visa Requirement
Every individual who moves to the Philippines from the USA must get AEP- Alien Employment Permit to start working in the Philippines. On average, the whole process of acquiring a work Visa can take around two to three months.
Every expat must report to the Philippine Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) to get their AEP. For Non-immigrant visa holders, one can also acquire this report at the nearest consulate or the embassy in their country.
Moreover, Your work position and the duration of the contract largely affect the AEP validity. For private-sector employees, in most case scenarios, the social security services are covered. Although, voluntary coverage could be taken for the spouses and family members whose coverage is not included in certain categories of the insurance policies.
On the other hand, military personnel and Government employees have their insurance system figured out.
Quick Fact: the Philippines has been ranked 12th from the 40 countries in the Asian Pacific region in the Index of Economic Freedom in 2021, reporting only a 2.2 unemployment ratio in the country.
Since 1991 Local Governments of the Philippines have taken the responsibility of running the Healthcare system in domestic areas. Although the Private sector and Government both are well established and trusted for medical services in Filipinos.
However, Private Medical services are majorly popular and available in the urban areas of the Philippines. On the other hand, the Government rules the rural areas to serve the best healthcare by providing and building regional and specialty hospitals and health centers for common people.
In general, one can diversify the public medical services in three major ways based on the providers. National, Provincial and Local Government Providers are targeting various localities as per locations.
Unfortunately, the medical services are considered quite lower quality than the services offered by the private sector.
Hence, while thinking about Moving to the Philippines from USA, one must be prepared to loosen up few bucks if they require to get frequent medical attention.
A proper housing facility is more necessary than a mere need if you move to the Philippines from the USA with your family and kids.
Fortunately, the Philippines have multiple lifestyle choices to offer you when you decide to live here. From Rural farmhouses to condos, you can find every kind of housing facility per your requirements and budget.
Usually, the rents are not quite high due to the low cost of living in the Philippines, yet you can find them high in urban areas like the Metro city of Manila.
To find the best housing for you and your family, you can rely on certain internet listings and national daily newspapers. The rent is usually paid on an annual basis and that too in advance by postdated checks.
Expats moving to Philippines normally prefer living near where most people of their community live. However, safety is never an issue when it comes to Housing facilities in the Philippines.
All non-immigrants can move to the Philippines from the USA through various visa categories like Business visas, Investors visas, and the most popular pre-arranged employment visas.
While moving to Philippines, the visa process is not necessarily a tedious process for this country as it does not require much documentation and formalities to be done.
Philippine Department of Affairs verifies the residential and family details of the visa applicant and then stamps the approval on the visa application considering various documents from the applicant like-
Having legitimate employment of the Philippines-based company could benefit the visa application of the applicant in significant ways.
If you are worried about the drastic change your kids might face while changing countries and the possible mode of change in education they are getting till now, then put yourself at ease as the education system in the Philippines is pretty similarly modeled after the US education system.
As education is not a choice but compulsory in the country, the literacy ratio is pretty high here. Mostly the higher education is run by private schools and churches.
The Government has prominently focused on primary education. Hence, the drop-out ratio after primary education is quite high. However, the initiatives have been started to develop the education system on the primary level and cover each level of education for the kids.
Comparatively the higher education in the Philippines cannot come that up to the mark as the USA. Still, the opportunities of higher education are there if one wants to pursue through private institutions.
One of the biggest flex of moving to Philippines from US is the low cost of living compared to the USA.
If the numbers speak approximately, the consumer prices are 83% higher in the USA than in the Philippines. This allows the Expats more opportunities for Saving and Investing.
If we go for the domestic expenses in both the country’s everyday consumer items, you can see the drastic difference between prices.
To get the precise idea, let’s explore the cost of everyday essentials.
| Essentials | Philippines | USA |
|---|---|---|
| A meal in a regular diner/restaurant | $150 | $215 |
| 1 cup of Cappuccino | $115 | $215 |
| 1 Liter Milk | $87 | $43 |
| Eggs | $88 | $115 |
| Cigarettes | $110 | $400 |
| Taxi-Normal Tariff | $40 | $162 |
| Monthly Local Transport | $550 | $3,200 |
| Pre-school 1 month | $9,800 | $46,000 |
| Primary school-Yearly | $270,000 | $770,000 |
| 1 bedroom apt in City center | $15,600 | $66,000 |
The inexpensive cost of living in the Philippines makes this destination more favorable to live in the Expats from the western countries for moving to Philippines.
Yes, it is relatively easy for an American to move to the Philippines. The country has a welcoming attitude toward foreigners, and there are several visa options available, including the Balikbayan Program for those with Filipino family members, the Retirement Visa (SRRV) for retirees, and various work and student visas. The process for obtaining a visa is straightforward, and many Americans find the transition smooth, especially since English is widely spoken in the Philippines.
The amount of money needed to move to the Philippines depends on your lifestyle and location. Initial moving costs, including flights, shipping, and setting up your home, can range from $3,000 to $10,000 or more. Monthly living expenses in the Philippines are generally lower than in the US, with a comfortable budget for a single person ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on your housing, lifestyle, and location. Major cities like Manila and Cebu are more expensive than rural areas or smaller towns.
The Philippines is considered a good place to move to for many reasons. The country offers a warm climate, beautiful beaches, and a low cost of living. It also has a large expatriate community, making it easier for newcomers to settle in. The people are known for their friendliness and hospitality, and the widespread use of English makes communication easy for Americans. However, it’s important to consider factors such as healthcare quality, infrastructure, and the potential for natural disasters when deciding to move.
US citizens can stay in the Philippines for up to 30 days without a visa. If you wish to stay longer, you can apply for a visa extension, allowing you to stay for up to 59 days initially. Further extensions can be granted, allowing a stay of up to 36 months on a tourist visa. For those planning to live in the Philippines long-term, it’s advisable to apply for a more permanent visa, such as the Retirement Visa (SRRV) or a work visa, depending on your circumstances.
Most Americans in the Philippines live in areas with well-established expatriate communities and good amenities. Popular locations include:
These locations offer a mix of urban convenience and access to the natural beauty of the Philippines, making them popular choices for American expatriates.
The Philippines is the tap of opportunities for everyone, especially for the digital nomad community who loves to explore new experiences with the perfect work-life balance.
At Earthrelo, our seasoned Movers will cater to your exact requirement and are aimed to provide you a custom service as per the size of your move and location.
Don’t take our word for it ask our more than 10,000 satisfied customers till now.
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