Everyone’s so excited about their retirement. Who doesn’t look forward to the day they will stop going to their boring and exhausting job, right? It’s a permanent escape from the ever-stressful life of being a slave to your company, just kidding! But retirement is really your way to freedom so it is only fitting for you to carefully think about your retirement plan, especially the location. The usual retirement age is 60 years old and above, but nowadays you can retire at any age as long as you’re capable enough to sustain your living without working. And where would be the best place to retire in the Philippines? There are so many real estate options that you could choose from, by the way, which can be quite overwhelming given the 7,107 islands of the Philippines! Aside from location, you have to consider the neighborhood, whether to rent or buy a condominium or buy a permanent house and lot. After all, it’s the place where you will spend the rest of your life that is at stake here, so you really need to be wise in making the decision. Foreigners typically reside in large cities here in the Philippines because they want to live close to their places of employment as well as because their want to be exposed to and immerse themselves in Filipino culture and customs. Being the most tropical nation in South East Asia, anywhere in the Philippines is the perfect spot to live, whether you wish to retire from the city or just settle down and take things slowly. Continue reading the list below to help you plan your retirement and find the best retirement homes in the Philippines.
- Metro Manila
Surprisingly, Metro Manila continues to remain the main draw for retirees in the Philippines. After all, it is still home to world-class hospitals, exciting lifestyle and leisure options, and real estate. Additionally, the introduction of the live-work-play paradigm in the city makes it more even attractive. Retirees have several retirement home options because of the fact that Metro Manila is where most real estate development takes place. The environment’s declining quality is, however, the main drawback. But still, this is the place to be if you want to see how urban Filipinos live. The neighborhood is friendly and safe and exudes an urban vibe thanks to its commercial centers and cozy cafes.
It’s worth mentioning that Makati City is one of the safest cities to live in the Philippines. The city is a southern residential, financial, and industrial suburb of Manila with a large, modern manufacturing complex, which is home to a number of national and foreign firms. Numerous foreigners live in Makati’s Forbes Park neighborhood, often known as Millionaires Row.
- Baguio City
Baguio City, the Philippines’ Summer Capital is a must-see if you want to retire on top of the mountains with cool weather all year long to enjoy! This place, located on a plateau in Baguio province, is open all year as a giant Christmas town with its lush trees and fresh air cool enough, if you’re down for a simple life! It will only take you four to six hours (4-6 hours) of drive to arrive in Baguio, away from the hustle and bustle of Manila. This short amount of travel time should clearly give you a hint that Baguio City is so close to Manila that you just want to spend your retirement life away from the city.
Baguio is beautiful because it welcomes everyone with open arms, whether they are locals, tourists, or the most diverse people on the planet. Citizens will always greet you warmly, and probably this is the most persuasive reason for you to choose Baguio as the safest city to live in. Baguio City has one of the lowest crime rates, which makes it one of the best places to retire in the Philippines, due to a variety of factors. Solving crimes in Baguio City has always been a collaborative effort between the police and the community, making policing simpler. Law enforcement officers who enforce discipline also implement progressive safety programs that create additional safeguards to ensure the city’s law and security.
- Davao City
Davao City, the biggest city in Mindanao, is the ideal location for you if you genuinely want to escape city life! This city, which combines tropical and urban vibes, will give you a hundred reasons why foreigners and former OFWs retire here, thanks to its lovely beaches and breathtaking scenery! Oh, and don’t forget to mention that there are numerous places to eat food at very low costs and of excellent quality. The street cuisine and waterfalls are both incontestable highlights of this city plus its rich culture, natural beauty, commerce, and fresh food. You could spend your entire life discovering this city, which is rich in culture and offers a wide variety of delectable cuisine. Both residents and visitors agree that the Roxas Night Market is the greatest location for sampling Durian fruit and eating street food. The popular Mount Apo, the nation’s highest peak, as well as opulent beach resorts on Samal Island’s adjacent island are only a short distance away.
The city’s real estate market is equally active: Bria Homes has dominated the land of Promise as they continuously provide the numerous sustainable projects in Davao. Bria Homes’ affordable house and lot for sale in Davao Region can be found in these following progressive cities and municipalities:
- Bria Homes Digos
With a total of 17 hectares, Bria Homes Digosis located at Brgy. Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur Digos City, a second-class component city in Davao del sur, also known as the Philippines’ Mango Capital City. As it fosters peace and order to guarantee the protection and security of every neighborhood, especially Bria Homes Digos, it is also greatly known as the Gate City of the South and one of the most livable cities in the aforementioned province.
- Bria Homes Panabo
With a total of 14 hectares,Bria Homes Panabo is located at Brgy, Salvacion, Panabo City, Davao del Norte. Davao del Norte’s third-class component city has earned the nickname “Banana Capital of the Philippines” due to the abundance of banana plantations that are distributed around the city and are operated by both international and local companies. Panaboans hold their Binulig Festival during the second week of October to honor their sense of pride in the abundant harvest of banana fruit. Further, Bria Homes Panabo is near to a number of hospitals and educational facilities in Panabo City, which offers its residents a safe and peaceful neighborhood.
- Bria Homes Carmen
With 16 hectares total of land, it can be found at Brgy. Sto. Nino, Carmen, Davao del Norte. In Davao del Norte, the municipality of Carmen is currently a first-class municipality. It is a municipality situated between Panabo City and Tagum City, two of Davao del Norte’s largest cities. The location of Bria Homes in Carmen, which is only along the municipality’s National Highway, makes it the most convenient and most accessible among other real estate projects in the said city. Indeed, it is among the best projects of Bria Homes with the best location in the entire Davao Region.
- Bria Homes Tagum
It can be found at Brgy. La Filipina, Tagum City, Davao del Norte. Tagum City is the “Home of Festivals,” hosting sixteen (16) different festivals annually. It is also regarded as one of the best place to retire in the Philippines. The community of Bria Homes Tagum is situated in a highly advantageous area where all of its residents’ needs are met.
- Tagaytay City
Tagaytay is the best place to retire in the Philippines if you want to live in a small and quiet town. This city is the right spot for you if your ideal setting is a little town tucked away in serene mountains and surrounded by peaceful jungle. Similar to Baguio, the town is elevated (at a little over 2,000 feet above sea level), providing relief from Metro Manila’s unbearable tropical heat. Tagaytay is not, however, six hours’ drive from Metro Manila, unlike Baguio. With a travel time of less than 90 minutes, Tagaytay makes for an easy weekend getaway from the busy metro.
- Cebu City
Cebu, known as the Queen City of the South is named the richest province in the Philippines. It has a one-of-a-kind combination of urban and rural attractions. The Metro Cebu area, has excellent location for schools, hospitals, a plethora of entertainment options, and an international airport. Another reason why Cebu is one of the best place to retire in the Philippines is that Manilenos may be unaware that Cebu’s advancement is on par with that of the National Capital Region. Cebu has its own metro system as well as several business districts. Prestigious schools can also be found in Cebu, as can well-known family names in the business world. Cebu City has long been regarded as the main business hub of Central Philippines, and it is now a growing medical tourism destination thanks to its hospitals. Many large real estate developers have unveiled their own projects in Cebu in recent years, one of them is Bria Homes Danao. If you’re into condominiums, BRIA Homes also offers picturesque condo living in Cebu with its BRIA Condo Mactan, a mid-rise condominium project in Sudtunggan, Lapu-Lapu City.
Mactan Cebu International Airport, or MCIA, is located on Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City and is the Philippines’ second busiest airport after Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It opened in June 2018 and since its inception, it has been a source of pride for Cebuanos due to its design and the service and convenience it provides as one of the largest airline hubs outside of Manila that caters to international flights.
- Bacolod City
Bacolod City, which is situated in one of the Philippines’ Sugar Bowl Regions, will draw you in with its beaches, historical sites, and abundance of sweet foods like cakes and sweets. You’ll have plenty of reasons to adore the island of Bacolod!
One of the Philippines’ most family-friendly cities, Bacolod has a strong local community and thriving region. Bacolod, popularly referred to as the “City of Smiles,” has a glorious past, a vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine. It is hospitable and significantly less expensive than bustling Manila. The regular excursions to their favorite eateries, where you’ll order the locals’ signature sweets and chicken dishes, show that the locals genuinely enjoy eating. One of Negros Province’s self-sufficient and independent cities, Bacolod is also a major hub for commerce and development.
Further, statistics show that the city’s crime rate is comparatively low and has been declining. Thus, the city is generally a good location to live and definitely one of the best place to retire in the Philippines.
To help you decide on what city is the best place to retire in the Philippines that is inexpensive and livable, below are some factors to be considered for your cost of living in a city
- Restaurants
A lot of affordable restaurants can be found in this country, like karinderya, or those local, small eatery that serves fresh and home cooked meals. Eating in a karinderya will definitely save you a lot of money and you can never never go broke eating there everyday.
- Markets
Aside from eating out in karinderya, cooking your own home-cooked meals are definitely cheaper than eating out. Local market or palengke offers really affordable goods.
- Transportation
If you don’t want to hassle your self with the horrible traffic of Metro Manila, it would be the best choice for you to retire in the place with minimal to zero traffic footing to save up transportation costs.
It goes without saying that the Philippines is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Travelers from all over the world adore visiting the nation’s white, fine-sand beaches and pure, blue waters, as well as its numerous mountains and virgin hills, stunning islands, delectable cuisine, and friendly residents. It is no surprise why so many foreigners enjoy not only visiting but also residing here or even retiring. In general, Philippines’ cost of living is really low and affordable. But this article might help you to find some of the most affordable cities to live and retire in the Philippines and to maximize your retirement savings.
