Based on HSBC’s Expat Explorer Survey for 2018, expats ranked the Philippines one of the best places in Southeast Asia to find love and raise kids, but not an ideal place to live and work.
The country was ranked among the countries at the “bottom,” sliding to the 28th spot from last year’s 17th place. Thirty-one economies qualified to the poll this year.
In the survey that requires multiply answers, 56% of the 22,318 respondents said that living in the Philippines has brought them closer to their partner. More than sixty percent of them, 64%, of them found their love in the country.
Also, 56% believed raising children in the Philippines is financially cheaper compared to their homeland; 42% are predominantly satisfied with the quality of life the Philippines can offer to their kids.
Cultural differences, including faith and tradition, did not hinder expats to mingle well with the locals as 69% of the respondent enjoy being treated as “family” in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, some of the surveyed expats are seemingly not satisfied with their income in the Philippines. Fifty-percent said they have more disposable income in the country, and 20 percent asserted that they have lower than expected.
“Some may have more to save and invest but tax challenges, currency risk and different spending needs all make an expat’s money management more demanding,” the HSBC survey said.
Singapore ranked first as the best expat destination for the fourth consecutive time, while highest salary for expats can be found in Switzerland.
