If you’ve been dreaming about moving away from inflation thanks to all the lefties who over regulate life & add to inflation through mismanagement – then becoming a digital nomad in Asia might be for you.
I moved to the Philippines 12-months ago for a change of pace, to enjoy the nature, beaches, friendly people, fruit & seafood, lower cost of living, & to build my business.
“As a person who loves Asia, & living in Davao Del Norte, here are my Top Ten Benefits of being a Digital Nomad in Asia.”
Since 2003, I had travelled to Asia for holidays, starting with Bali Indonesia, which has an amazing Hindu culture & cuisine (nasi goreng & satay sticks), & a good mix of challenging waves, like Uluwatu & Padang Padang, & fun waves like Dreamland Beach.
I found Thailand in 2008 which has interesting Monk culture, large temples, an amazing Golden Palace along the Chao Phraya river, some of the tastiest food (duck curry), relaxing beaches in Phuket, & the city of Chang Mai with mountains & art factories.
I fell in love with the Philippines in 2011 – which has my favourite surfing destination Siargao Island, my beautiful wife Luchie from Davao Del Norte, & plenty of palm tree lined beaches like Mati, Lanca, & Panglao with coral reef snorkelling.
1. Change of Pace
I learned from travelling in Asia there’s a change of pace if you’re staying in smaller provincial cities or coastal towns. It might be early in the week & you can hear music playing, or karaoke any time of the day, that helps you keep relaxed.
I enjoy working on websites & writing articles while listening to chillout “Costa Del Mar” or reggae music, which helps to keep the creative ideas flowing.
“I find the slower pace good for my mental wellbeing & for working online, but you need to have discipline to say no to invitations, & be able to zone out distractions.”
Depending on your social or family circles, it’s common to be invited to birthday parties anytime, or have family or friends drop by, which can be a good break from the screen for a coffee & a chance to be social.
Not everyone works in large companies, many people have Sari stores (home shops), food/drink kiosks, & Street carts, so there’s always people around in the daytime, unlike back home where everyone is out working due to the high living costs.
I start my day mid-morning & work late into the evenings when it’s cooler. Waking up without an alarm is a bonus, then easing into my workday is golden after many years of working in corporate with 8.30am starts.
I can recommend this change of pace to anyone who’s feeling over-worked, under-valued & burnt-out in western countries or busy cities.
2. Cost Of Living
For your own accommodation in Brisbane it’s common to pay AU $600 per week for a 3-4BR unit/villa, whereas in a provincial city in the Philippines, this money will get you a similar place for two-months & close to the malls.
“Lower cost of Living is a major advantage of being a Digital Nomad in Asia”
Food is less due to the lower property, transport, & labour costs. My weekly groceries P4000 (AU $108) for two, are half the cost of AU groceries. I buy seafood, fruit & vegetables at the markets, e.g. Marlin/Tuna P300 per kg (AU $8), a quarter of AU price.
Eating out is possible! The cost of eating in local cafes/restaurants can be one third of the cost in AU, or lower in local eateries. P500-1000 (AU $12-25) gets a nice meal for two with four seasons juice or iced tea/coffee.
Public transport is less, P50 (AU $1.35) will get you a motor or tricycle to the mall or intercity bus terminal, & P120 (AU $3.24) will get you to the next city. Whereas I was paying almost $5 for a 15km bus ride to Brisbane CBD.
Private vehicles cost about the same to buy, but are less for registration & insurance, P3,960 (AU $107) gets you 12-months registration, an emission test, & third-party ins. My registration in Brisbane was $793 for 12-months with public liability insurance.
Car insurance is less, P9000 (AU $243) gets you full comprehensive insurance, for about one third or in some cases a quarter of the cost of an experienced “Rating-1” driver in AU.
Car servicing is less, my last oil & filter change was P2300 (AU $62), & if you buy parts online from Lazada or Shopee you save. My Subaru fuel pump & filter cost P5900 (AU $160) from Lazada & it arrived in one week.
Fuel is less, I pay P55-60 per litre of fuel (AU $1.48-1.62/L), back home it ranged from $1.80-2.20/L, & mostly around $2.00/L. So I save AU $30c/L consistently ($15 per tank).
Electricity is a little less, I pay around P4000 (AU $108) /mth., run 2 fans during the day, AC overnight & some afternoons. I payed around AU $115 /mth., using ceiling fans.
3. High Speed Internet & Mobile
My home Internet is less with PLDT cable & it achieves 200+ MBPS download consistently, on a P1700 (AU $46) monthly plan. Whereas I was on a $59 monthly plan in AU with TPG achieving 50-100 MBPS download.
I find PLDT home cable Internet is reliable & fast for working online & it comes with a landline with free calls (PLDT to PLDT). Starlink is also available with 200 Mbps plans from P2700 (AU $73) monthly (plus P28,000 AU$756 kit).
“Fast Internet & Mobile for less is a big advantage for Digital Nomads the Philippines.”
My mobile is less with a Smart Talk & Text (TNT) Magic Data+ P849 (AU $23) plan, you get 60GB, 900 mins. talk, 900 text with no expiry. Whereas I was on a $45 lite Vodafone monthly plan in AU with 60GB data & unlimited calls & text.
The mobile plans are different to AU, some with time-limited credit (1 day, 7days, 30days) for Data only, or Talk & Text only, or Data+ Talk & Text, & some plans are limited by gigs on Apps like FB or TikTok, whereas other plans have no expiry.
Landlines are excluded from your Talk & Text credit on some mobile plans (talk’s mobile to mobile), but on other plans landlines are included – international calls are excluded.
I use a TNT sim on the Smart network, & have the Smart App to buy my plan on card. There’s also Globe network, & I sometimes switch sims when travelling for coverage.
Keep your AU number for 2FA when mobile banking, or managing digital affairs, & checking SMS messages from back home. Call your provider before you go to change to a pre-paid plan – I use Vodafone $40 Pay&Go which lasts up to 1-year.
I use a VPN Service for Internet security while on public & private networks, & to enable my AU Apps to work in the Philippines, e.g. Nine Now, Netflix, & Foxtel. I purchased a Black Friday deal for $79 for 29 months from Surfshark.
Be aware of power outages when lines are being repaired & long-term visitors might consider a solar system or generator. In Tagum city, we can lose power on a Sunday for 8hrs, occasionally. If this happens, go to malls & co-working spaces with generators.
4. Islands, Beaches & Nature
The 7000+ islands, beaches, & tropical nature is what draws many of the 5.45 million tourists to the Philippines annually. With places like Palawan, Boracay, Bohol, & Siargao Island to choose from, there’s a lot of choice.
“Siargao Island, the surfing capital of the Philippines with more than a dozen breaks like Jacking Horse (new), to Daku Island (mid), & Salvcation (exp) is my favourite.”
When I found Siargao in 2011, I was stoked thinking this is like Bali in the 70’s, you take a short pump-boat ride to a variety of powerful breaks. These days it’s busier with tourists, but well worth going for the waves & Island vibe. See Siargao Surf Guide.
Tinuy-an Falls is probably the tallest & widest waterfall I have seen in the Philippines, go on a bamboo raft under the falls & if the season is wet, expect a lot of water. It’s a nice place for a day trip picnic or BBQ in a Kubo by the falls.
A trip to Cebu, Bohol, & Panglao was amazing. My wife & I stayed with some expat friends in Cebu, then enjoyed nightlife in the city. After Cebu we travelled on an air conditioned fastcraft to Panglao Island which connects to Bohol by bridge.
We joined a day tour to Bohol, starting in a Butterfly Sanctuary holding an albino python, then visited an ATV park, the Chocolate Hills for pictorials, the Bilar man-made forest, the Loboc River Cruise & buffet was a highlight with cultural music & dancing, then to the Baclayon 1727 church, built from coral stone by the Jesuits.
Mati is my local surf break for day trips or overnight stays. It has a slow-paced local vibe, & the surf breaks over a rocky ocean floor along a 5km stretch of the Dahican-Bobon Rd.
Aliwagwag Falls is something to see in the wet season (Jul. to Dec.). It’s a unique rocky & wide waterfall that slopes back up the hill. I went there a few years ago & it was raging from recent storms, with lush green plants. To my surprise they allowed us to swim.
San Victor Island Baganga is a unique place if you like, small deserted tropical islands, a short ten-minute boat ride, take your own picnic or BBQ seafood, walk around the island until the wind stops, then surf with no one in the line-up.
Palawan is next on my bucket list with volcanic rock islands, & hidden beaches & lagoons. Plus unique snorkelling over volcanic rocky peaks, & canoeing in tall rock-lined lagoons.
5. Convenient Travel Hub
Flying from Davao to Cebu, or Manila, or Singapore are common routes & affordable. My last trip to Cebu was P5940 (AU$160) for 2 pax return, & you can fly to Manila for similar.
“Travelling on local airlines with Philippines Airlines or Cebu Pacific, & by inter-city busses to the airport is generally affordable, reliable, & safe.”
I have travelled to Bangkok from Davao via Manila with Cebu Pacific, & from Bali to Davao via Manila with PAL. I find it easy to travel around South-East Asia from Davao.
I live in a provincial city partly due to the light traffic, unlike in the cities of Manila, Cebu, & Davao, where traffic congestion is daily, so keep this in mind when considering your base.
Be patient on the roads in capital cities, as the roads are congested & smaller, & traffic is usually hectic with pedestrians, motorcycles, tricycles, cars & trucks all jostling to move.
My next trip to AU will be from Davao to Brisbane via Manila with Philippines Airlines, or you can fly with Scoot via Singapore to Sydney, then get a Jetstar flight to Brisbane.
Overall, it’s easy to travel by road around provincial & coastal cities in the Philippines, most people ride motorcycles, or drive Utes & SUVs, but I prefer my Subaru Forester.
I drive 120 kms to Mati & stay in a lush native place called Surf Huts with locals & a few foreigners (community style), & a western quality place called The Ameri, which has a stunning swimming pool with ocean views, & villas with private pools.
If you’re looking to buy a car, make sure it’s strong & reliable with good suspension, as the roads are a mix of cement, bitumen, & bumpy dirt roads in the provincial towns.
6. Visa Options for Digital Nomads
You can start on a 30-day visa on arrival (Canada, AU, NZ, & EU citizens) or 59-day VOA (US citizens), then extend on a Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension for 6-months, at BI.
I qualified for a Balikbayan (free) privilege for marrying a Filipina, which entitled my wife & I to reside here for 12-months, with the option of extending up to 6-months for a fee.
In May 2023, BI announced plans for the launch of a new Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), to catch up with other South-East Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand, & Malaysia.
Holders of the DNV will be able to reside in the Philippines & work for foreign businesses online for an initial period of 12-months, with the option to extend 12-months.
“One advantage of the DNV, when enacted, is holders will be exempt from paying local income tax, but still need to pay taxes in their origin country.”
To quality, you’ll need a valid passport with 6-mths. beyond your stay, & demonstrate income of at least US $24,000 per year (AU $37,500) from foreign employment contracts or self-employment, have health insurance, & police clearance.
Insurance starts from AU $1250 pp on a 12-month plan with World Nomads which is fine for most people, & you can upgrade to Explorer Plan for AU $1500 pp (more allowances).
Until the DNV is enacted, stay as a tourist & extend up to 6-mths on the LSVVE. Some people do this for a year & it costs P2060/mth. (AU $56) with the add-ons, plus an express fee P1500 (AU $41) each time, & an ACR-I card P2965 (AU $80) after 6-mths.
It’s important to know your tax implications back home before you leave.
AU nomads are encouraged to keep their permanent domicile & live in both countries (6-mths & 6-mths) to retain their tax residency under the ATO domicile & 183-day rules.
The ATO discourages long-stays abroad, & it’s up to their discretion whether you’re taxed as a resident (Starts 13-22% approx.), or foreigner (Starts 32% approx.).
If they claim you’ve abandoned your home in AU, by renting or selling it, or you’ve set-up a place overseas, or you’ve been abroad for 2-3 years, then you’re taxed as a foreigner.
In ATO examples, working away 1-year & returning to AU keeps your tax residency, however they consider 2-years substantial, & most of their 3-year examples who return are taxed as foreigners from departure!
So if you’re an Asian adventure-seeking spirit like me, don’t let the tax office & some minor tax rules hold you back from living the dream! Consider a Territorial Tax System.
7. Friendly & Respectful People
Filipinos are well known for being friendly hospitable people, & most foreigners who come here are welcomed with open arms, with many invitations to birthdays & family events.
In my experience, younger Filipinos can speak & understand English, as it’s learned in school, & the older generation mostly understand me, but my accent, shortening words, or using Aussie slang can confuse people.
“The Philippines is a very polite & respectful place, where children & teens will greet you with a blessing gesture, it’s very different to what I’m used to in AU.”
In Mindanao the residents mainly speak Bisayan/Cebuano with each other or Tagalog with visitors from Northern & Central Philippines. People from Luzon & the Visayas use Tagalog as their main language. In outer provinces there’s also many different dialects.
I was walking down the beach on a Sunday with families enjoying the water, & multiple groups of people were welcoming me with “Hey Joe Shot”. This is a local way of saying hello friend come over & share a drink of beer, rum, or gin with us.
The respect I receive from people feels nice – you might be in a café or getting something in a supermarket or store, & cashiers will say “hello sir”, “afternoon sir” or “thank you po.”
If you’re looking for a new beginning or want to make new friends & experience an awesome culture & cuisine, then come to the Philippines – you will be very welcome.
8. Community of Nomads & Expats
There’s a community of expats & digital nomads in the Philippines, making it easy to connect with like-minded people, especially in the areas of Cebu, Davao, & Siargao.
I’m living in a provincial city called Tagum, next to the capital city of Davao, which is very livable being a smaller city – with the largest car & truck overpass in Mindanao.
I was walking to the local bakery one day & a retired American on a motorcycle pulled over to say hello offering to get together for walking exercise, & we met up at a hotel.
“I have met a few Australians who own surf resorts on Siargao Island & in Mati.”
There’s a small number of foreigners in Tagum which are slowly increasing over the years. I have a neighbour from Brisbane in my sub-division, along with a German, & a Canadian.
Accommodation for foreigners in Tagum is good, there’s plenty of boarding houses, Airbnb rentals, & local rentals. You’ll get a room from P4-6K/mth, a unit from P10-15K/mth or a house from P15-20K/mth. Unlike at home where vacancy rate is 1%.
Places like Cebu or Siargao have more foreigners who are either retirees or younger ocean adventurists, & it’s easy to connect with foreigners if you have FB or Messenger.
On Siargao there’s a mix of nationalities – Americans, Australians, Brazilians, & Europeans – basically anyone who likes surfing, scuba/free diving, snorkelling, & fishing.
An Aussie expat owns Fat Lips Surf Shop on Siargao, & in 2023 he opened Fat Lips Surf Lodge in Catagnan to cater for surfing tourists. If you need a place & assistance with surf boards or finding breaks, message Tim.
An Aussie owns Ocean 101 Beach Resort on Siargao, located a short walk to the beach, plus Jacking Horse, Quicksilver, & Cloud Nine breaks. I stayed in 101 & highly recommend it – waterfront rooms & pool, western restaurant, & boat access to outer Island surfing.
In Mati an Aussie expat owns an oceanfront resort called Sheepy’s Surfside Beach Resort, western quality, with ocean-view pool, & highly rated. My family stayed there & loved it.
9. Cultural Experiences
You can immerse yourself in different cultural experiences on a regular basis in the Philippines. Every city & the smaller towns all tend to have annual fiesta celebrations.
“The kinds of activities you will see in the Philippines include mountain & volcano climbing, surfing, scuba/free diving, snorkelling, trail running & mountain biking.”
Cebu has an annual cultural celebration called the Sinulog Festival in January over nine days, where thousands of people will attend a mass & converge on the Streets for a procession, along with Street parties, live bands & fireworks – that’s on my bucket list.
I enjoyed the Mawab Festival a few months ago – a small town in the local mountains was filled with lights, market & food stalls, & a stage for a week of celebrations, that included a “Miss Mawab” talent quest, indigenous cultural shows, & music concerts.
Tagum City Hall has an amazing Christmas Lights & Garden Festival on in Dec., for a month of celebrations. It features a giant 60 mtr. LED Christmas Tree, LED lined Streets, plant stalls, market & food stalls, culture shows & concerts, spread over two streets.
I visited a local rice harvest recently in a small nearby town & was impressed with the harvester machinery, like an excavator that scoops up & bags rice seed automatically, & the strong Filipinos who carry 60kg sacks on their heads & shoulders.
The Siargao International Surfing Cup (QS 5000) has been running for 28-years. It has an amazing opening ceremony, featuring cultural costumes & dancers from different Barangays. I attended once & watched surfing from a tower built on the reef.
I enjoyed a fiesta in the port town of Dapa on Siargao a few years ago, & was impressed with the happy vibes, cultural costumes, & parade that marched around the Streets.
Mati also has a Regional Surfing Contest which I attended in 2022. It was a local-style competition with surfers from all over Mindanao, that finished with a DJ foam party.
10. Dental & Medicines
If you run into dental problems while in Asia, you can usually find a good dentist to repair fillings, root canals, & crowns. Or if you come down with a travel flu or upset stomach it’s easy to get amoxicillin, Bio Flu, or loperamide locally.
I had work done at the Yanhee International Dental Hospital in Bangkok while on holidays, & found the experience to be professional, a short wait, & an afforable price.
I had an Australian friend who wanted most of his teeth crowned & he ended up flying to Manila to get the work done for about 1/3 of the price in AU, then had a surfing holiday.
If you need dental treatment while you’re working as a digital nomad, you might have insurance with dental, e.g. World Nomads insurance has AU $2000 allowance for emergency dental, which is a lot in Asia.
But don’t worry if you have no insurance for dental, as the cost is affordable. I had a root canal done for P12,000 (AU $324) over three visits, that’s a 1/4 of AU price.
I found a young dentist who is well-trained & originating from a family of dentists. He refilled a molar that was nagging me for P1000 (AU $27) & thankfully it’s normal again.
Try to get a good dentist referral from a friend, or do your own vetting by visiting a few different dentists for examinations to find a dentist like mine.
Make sure to take cash for payment (cards usually not accepted) to settle your dental bill.
I’m sure lifestyle entrepreneurs & adventure seekers will agree, there’s many good reasons for being a Digital Nomad in Asia – including it’s really good for the soul!
With friendly people, beautiful islands, beaches, & waterfalls for a reasonable price, what more do you need – with these exchange rates; Aussie $1 (P37), US $1 (P57)?
Let me know what’s your top reason for being a Digital Nomad in Asia or wanting to become one in the comments below.
