Roxas vs Donghai: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Donghai costs roughly 55% less than Roxas. 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.
Donghai is approximately 6% less expensive than Roxas based on cost of living including rent. This makes Donghai a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Donghai has a FIRE Score of 93/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 75, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Donghai is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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
About Donghai
Donghai is a brutally cheap place to live well, with a one-bedroom in the city center running just $300/mo and a full budget-tier lifestyle at $700/mo, making it a top-tier FIRE destination at 93/100. The trade-off is real: English is limited, the expat community is small, and the air quality index of 68 will make you cough, but the safety index of 75 and decent healthcare keep it livable. If you're chasing early retirement or just want your paycheck to stretch absurdly far, this is a no-brainer, but don't expect a cushy international scene or easy language navigation.
About China
China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.
$1,800/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Roxas | Donghai |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $318.8 | $300 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $220 | $200 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $520 | $600 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $350 | $400 |
| Safety Index | 70 | 75 |
| Internet Speed | 50Mbps | 150Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Roxas | Donghai |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $476/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $256/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $220/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $103/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $28.00/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $32.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $93.00/mo | N/A |
| 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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