Pros and Cons of Living in Manila, Philippines

Pros and Cons of Living in Manila

Last updated on Feb 11, 2022

Summary: Like any big city, the list of pros and cons for living in Manila is long. But, most foreigners there will agree that the friendly, family-oriented Filipino people top the list of Pros and make living there enjoyable. Cons? Bureaucratic red tape is a big one. Plus, you'll need to adapt to the indirect communication style of Filipinos.

What are the pros and cons of living in Manila?

Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in Manila responded:

"One hour from Manila airport. Plenty of excellent supermarkets. And a few good restaurants," said another expat in Manila.

"Most can understand English, especially the younger than 40. Older than 40 is a problem. The country changed to English about 30 years ago. They had 93 dialects before," remarked another expat in Manila.

"Where i live overseas, I live my own life mind my own business do my own thing, i enjoy doing what i do, I find my life overseas is very similar to my life here only cheaper, entertainment is on every street corner,hilarious to see how people manage busy roads crowded walkways heaps and heaps of people doing this and selling that funny so very funny," explained one expat in Manila.

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What do expats in Manila appreciate most about the local culture?

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame is the Founder of Expat Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Some of Betsy's more popular articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Italy, 12 Things to Know Before Moving to The Dominican Republic and the Living in Panama Guide. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.

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