Retire in the Philippines
To retire in the Philippines most people use the SRRV: from age 40, a $15,000 deposit with an $800 monthly pension, or $30,000 without one. Prices run at about 36% of the US, and a foreign pension is not taxed.
What it takes, what it costs, and where retirees settle, from the Philippines' law and official data. Checked on Oct 7, 2026.
- Retiree visa
- From $800/mo A lifetime pension, such as US Social Security, the UK State Pension or a company pension,…. Philippine Retirement Authority; PRA citizen's charter; PRA Citizen's Charter 2025. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Price level
- ~36% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- 0% A foreign pension is not taxed. PwC Tax Summaries. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Travel advisory
- Level 2 of 4 Exercise Increased Caution. US State Department. Updated Aug 31, 2026.
- Health spending
- $194/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- US tax treaty
- Yes An income tax treaty with the US is in force. IRS. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Do you qualify?
The Philippine Retirement Authority's SRRV Classic is open from age 40 and gives an indefinite stay. Everyone places a dollar deposit in a Philippine bank: $15,000 from age 50 with a lifetime pension, $30,000 without one, and twice that at 40 to 49.
SRRV Classic visa: documents and feesRetiring in the Philippines, topic by topic
Visa
SRRV Classic visa requirements
Documents, government fees and the other routes to residency.
Healthcare
Healthcare for retirees
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance covers, and Medicare abroad.
Money
Banking, pensions and tax
How US, UK and Canadian pensions reach a local bank, and what you report at home.
Budget
Cost of living
Official prices and a budget built from your own rent.
What it costs
Household prices in the Philippines run at about 36% of US levels. Rent is the line nobody publishes officially, so the cost of living page builds your budget from your own rent; food starts from the official basket.
Build your budgetOfficial food threshold, family of five, 2023 (full year)
Philippine Statistics Authority. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Where retirees settle
Metro Manila
- Capital region, about 14.0 million people (2024)
- Makati Medical Center and The Medical City, both JCI accredited
- Food threshold PHP 10,972 a month, family of five
Cebu City
- Capital of Cebu province, about 965,000 people (2024)
- Chong Hua Hospital, over 1,000 beds
- Food threshold PHP 10,374 a month, family of five
Davao City
- About 1.85 million people (2024)
- Davao Doctors Hospital, 250 beds
- Food threshold PHP 9,135 a month, family of five
Dumaguete
- Capital of Negros Oriental, about 142,000 people (2024)
- Food threshold for Negros Oriental PHP 8,936 a month, family of five
Wikidata; Makati Medical Center; The Medical City; Philippine Statistics Authority; Chong Hua Hospital; Davao Doctors Hospital. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Philippines compared
More guides on the Philippines
Visiting the Philippines first
Most people spend a few weeks in the Philippines before they apply for anything. Two things to sort out for that trip:
Kiwi.com
Flights to the Philippines
Compare routes and dates before a scouting trip.
Airalo
eSIM for the Philippines
Mobile data from the day you land, without a local SIM.
Partner links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. How this works.
Retiring in the Philippines: questions
Can I retire in the Philippines on Social Security alone?
Yes, if it pays at least $800 a month: a state pension paid for life meets the SRRV Classic rule. A comfortable life usually needs more; build a budget from your own rent on the cost of living page.
Is the Philippines safe for retirees?
The US State Department rates the Philippines Level 2, exercise increased caution.
Do I pay tax in the Philippines on my pension?
No. A foreign resident is taxed only on income from sources within the Philippines, so a pension from abroad is not taxed there. US citizens still file a US return.
Where do retirees live in the Philippines?
Mostly Metro Manila, for the JCI-accredited hospitals; Cebu City and Davao City, which have large private hospitals of their own; and smaller cities such as Dumaguete and Baguio.
What do I need to retire in the Philippines?
Most retirees use the SRRV Classic: from age 40, a lifetime pension of $800 a month and a $15,000 deposit from age 50, or a $30,000 deposit with no pension. A foreign pension is not taxed in the Philippines.
