Travel
Best Places to Live in the Philippines (Aside from Manila)
Many single men want to move to the Philippines to retire in a tropical paradise, date and marry a local, or both. And perhaps the most famous destination? Manila.
It’s the capital. It has everything you could possibly think of, and places like Makati and Bonifacio Global City (BGC) come close to what you might be used to in the U.S.
But here are the best places to live in the Philippines aside from Manila.
Cebu
Cebu has that mix of urban and rural charm. The city area is like Manila, with big malls, tall corporate buildings, and trendy cafes and restaurants. Even the traffic is pretty similar. But unlike Manila, it’s pretty close to beaches and mountains.
For instance, it’s only a 30-minute drive from the city to Mactan, where all the great beach resorts are. Perhaps the furthest drive (2–3 hours) is to Moalboal and Oslob, where you can go snorkeling and diving to see sardine runs and whale sharks.
Traveling to other places in the Philippines and abroad is also quite easy when you’re in Cebu. Their airport is leagues better than NAIA (which is still under renovation as of writing). It’s quiet, clean, and was even awarded Airport of the Year-Asia in the Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025.
Cebuanos are also really fluent in English. Many of them prefer to speak it rather than Tagalog when interacting with local tourists. And if you’re planning to date and marry a Cebu Woman, don’t worry; it’s the norm here. You won’t get any judgmental or curious stares. If you want to find someone to relate to, the city has a large expat community.
One downside, however, is the flooding. There’s a whole controversy surrounding this, especially since the recent typhoons in the country. Long story short, it was pretty bad. Even two-storey houses weren’t safe. One American expat on social media shared that they didn’t have electricity or running water for days. It was a good thing he lived in a high-story apartment, and the neighbors helped each other.
One good thing about Filipinos is that you can count on them during times of calamity. And if you’re considering living in Cebu, choose a non-/less-flood-prone location.
Davao
Davao is a major city in Mindanao. But it’s more provincial compared to Cebu.
The cost of living is lower. Monthly rent for a condominium unit can range from around 5,000 to 25,000 pesos, which is $85 to $450. More about this here.
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The city is also very safe. No, it’s not full of terrorists. In fact, it’s the third safest city in Southeast Asia. There are plenty of police checkpoints, and the government often encourages the locals to report suspicious activities. You can walk around at night without worrying whether you’ll get pickpocketed or stabbed. Then again, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.
There are also cool places to hang out and visit. And often, the atmosphere is laid-back. Locals complain about the traffic, but it’s really not that bad.
If you were to compare it to Cebu and Manila, it somehow falls short, because again, it’s more provincial. News says, however, that more foreign investors are looking to plant some seeds in the city, so you can expect it to come close to the big cities soon.
Iloilo
Iloilo is a mix of Cebu and Davao. It’s smaller, but it’s also a blend of urban and rural, and is known for its safety. The nearby island, Gigantes, is about 4–5 hours away. You would have to travel by land, then by boat to get there, but it’s worth it. There’s a beautiful sandbar, and the seafood (especially the scallops) is top-tier.
Plenty of areas are walkable. There are set lanes for pedestrians and cyclists (which you don’t often see in the Philippines), and they have scenic views, too. You’ll particularly enjoy waking along Esplanade, a long park by the river, during sunset.
The city is really catching up to its bigger counterparts. During the pandemic, it was even called the Wakanda of the Philippines because of its government’s quick and good response to the needs of the people.
The locals are also very friendly (It’s likely a given in the Philippines). But if you’re looking for an expat community, it’s small. You'll only see few foreigners. Most likely, it’s because the airport is a bit far from the city and doesn’t offer a lot of international flights, making it a bit inaccessible.
A few honorable mentions of the best places to live in the Philippines are Dumaguete, Bacolod, and Baguio. How about you guys? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
References
Palicte, Che. 2025. “Davao City ranks 3rd safest in Southeast Asia.” Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1242155.
Rosales, Elijah. 2025. “MCIA bags award as airport of the year.” Philstar Global. https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/11/27/2490050/mcia-bags-award-airport-year.
