Cabanatuan vs Roxas: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Roxas costs roughly 4.1x less than Cabanatuan. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Cabanatuan is approximately 6% less expensive than Roxas based on cost of living including rent. This makes Cabanatuan a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Cabanatuan has a FIRE Score of 80/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 67, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Cabanatuan is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Cabanatuan
Cabanatuan is a budget expat's dream if you can stomach the trade-offs. A one-bedroom outside the center costs just $40 a month, and your entire comfortable monthly budget of $611 is less than the rent alone in most Western cities. But the local average salary of $159 a month makes the city's economy lopsided, and with very few expats around, you'll be on your own socially. It's a cheap place to park yourself, not a place to build a community.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$2,700/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Roxas
Roxas is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $319/mo and a single adult's budget tier at $750/mo, but the average local net salary of $574/mo means most residents are not the ones renting those center apartments. The overall expat score of 82/100 and FIRE score of 84/100 look strong on paper, yet a retiree score of 57/100 and limited English proficiency suggest this is not a soft landing for everyone. Digital nomads get a workable 50 Mbps and a $22/mo internet bill, but the SEZ Remote Work Visa ties you to a PEZA zone, which is a real constraint. Come for the $3 restaurant meals and the 3 m elevation, not for the healthcare, which is only fair.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$1,950/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Cabanatuan | Roxas |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $300 | $318.8 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $39.71 | $220 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $620 | $520 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $450 | $350 |
| Safety Index | 67 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 50.5Mbps | 50Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Cabanatuan | Roxas |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $315/mo | $476/mo |
| Excluding rent | $275/mo | $256/mo |
| Rent | $40.00/mo | $220/mo |
| Groceries | $99.00/mo | $103/mo |
| Dining out | $40.00/mo | $28.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $43.00/mo | $32.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $93.00/mo | $93.00/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Cabanatuan vs Roxas -- Frequently Asked Questions
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