Moving to Philippines: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
Philippines: foreigners: 0% on foreign income · up to 35% on local income. The cheapest route to residence is sRRV: deposit USD 10-20k (kept): USD 20k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 1,400 in fees, in about 2 months. Living costs about USD 710 a month for one person in Quezon, USD 410 in Dasmarinas, and around USD 390 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | foreigners: 0% on foreign income · up to 35% on local income |
| Foreign income | resident foreigners: not taxed (only Philippine income) |
| Gains · dividends | local only · local only |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | none · 6% estate tax on Philippine assets for non-citizens |
| Cheapest residence | SRRV: deposit USD 10-20k (kept) |
| Money needed | USD 20k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 1,400 in fees |
| Time | about 2 months |
| Doable yourself? | Yes, with a checklist |
| Days you must spend there | - |
| Citizenship | - |
| Online business | 25% effective, about USD 1,000 a year to run: resident aliens are taxed on Philippine-source income: remote work done there may count |
| Living (one person a month) | Quezon ~USD 710; bare minimum ~USD 390; family of four ~USD 1,450 |
| Good for | BPO and call centres (cheap English labour); PEZA zones 5% on gross income |
| Common set-up | SRRV + foreign income |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Programmes
| Programme | All-in, one person | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Resident Retiree's Visa | USD 22k | 2 | Age 50+; USD 20k deposit (USD 10k with a pension). |
Questions
- How much does residence in Philippines cost?
- SRRV: deposit USD 10-20k (kept): USD 20k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 1,400 in fees, about 2 months.
- Does Philippines tax foreign income?
- Resident foreigners: not taxed (only Philippine income). In one line: foreigners: 0% on foreign income · up to 35% on local income.
- What does it cost to live in Philippines?
- Living costs about USD 710 a month for one person in Quezon, USD 410 in Dasmarinas, and around USD 390 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from Philippines?
- Effective tax about 25% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 1,000 a year: resident aliens are taxed on Philippine-source income: remote work done there may count.
- What is the catch in Philippines?
- Traffic, typhoons; Foreigners can't own land
- What residence or citizenship programmes does Philippines have?
- Special Resident Retiree's Visa: about USD 22k all-in for one person, ~2 months
Compare
- Hong Kong: 0% on foreign income · 15-17% on Hong Kong income · 0% on dividends and gains
- Singapore: 0% on foreign income · up to 24% on Singapore income · 0% on gains and dividends
- Malaysia: 0% on foreign income (individuals, until 2036) · up to 30% on Malaysian income
- Thailand (LTR visa): LTR visa: 0% on foreign income · others: foreign income taxed when brought in · up to 35% local
- Indonesia (Bali): first 4 years (experts): 0% on foreign income · up to 35% on local income
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://pra.gov.ph
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (livingcost.org, June 2026), rounded