General Santos, Philippines
Editor
March 12, 2023
The city of General Santos in the Philippines is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a unique and exciting place to work and explore. With its tropical climate, stunning beaches, and vibrant culture, General Santos is a great place to live and work remotely. The city is home to a number of coworking spaces, making it easy to find a place to work and collaborate with other digital nomads. The cost of living in General Santos is also very affordable, with the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment costing around $200 USD. Additionally, the city is well-connected to the rest of the Philippines, with a number of international flights and domestic flights available. With its diverse culture, friendly locals, and stunning scenery, General Santos is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a unique and exciting place to work and explore.
Living in General Santos, Philippines: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
63%
Quality of life -
20%
Cost of living -
89%
Connectivity -
66%
Weather
43
General
| Currency | PHP |
| Population (in millions) | 1.5 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | Unranked |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 40% cheaper |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Lagao, General Santos City |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 2 |
| Top selling local beer | Red Horse |
| Most popular local dish | Tinolang Manok |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Sarangani Bay, Tuna Capital of the Philippines, General Santos City Fish Port Complex |
| Discount airline | Cebu Pacific |
| Major airline | Philippine Airlines |
| Largest ride sharing company | Grab |
| Primary train stations | General Santos Station, Polomolok Station, Tupi Station |
| Primary airports | General Santos International Airport, Awang Airport, and Glan Airport |
| Best rental car company | Hertz |
| Used car costs | 200000 PHP |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | G/F KCC Mall of Gensan, J. Catolico Avenue, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | 10 Mbps |
| Power socket type | A,B |
| Supply voltage | 220V |
| Best electronics store | Abenson |
| Best internet carrier | Globe |
| Primary cellular carrier | Globe |
| Average monthly cost for internet | 1,000 PHP |
Shopping
| The best drug store | Mercury |
| Best restaurant chain | Dencio's |
| The best grocery store | SM Supermarket |
| The most popular fashion brand | SM Department Store |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $3,845 / year |
| Average annual income | $14,000 |
| Sales tax rate | 12% |
| Income tax rate | 28% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | 30 |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | 8.5% |
| Suggested ATM take out | 5000 PHP |
| Bank that has the most ATM machines | BDO Unibank |
| Average tip in restaurant | 10-15% |
| Pay using credit or debit card | Not very common |
Health
| Emergency Phone Numbers | 911 (general), 083-301-7000 (police), 083-301-3000 (ambulance), 083-301-4000 |
| Polution per square meter | 545 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | Not available |
| Main religion | Christianity |
Quality of life
63%
-
52%
Safety, freedom, rights -
87%
Traffic -
122%
Property to income -
48%
Crime -
0%
Healthcare -
66%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | ₱15,000 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 6.5% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | ₱4,792 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | ₱79,000 |
Cost of living
20%
-
Purchasing Power
25%
-
Rent
5%
-
Food
35%
-
Restaurant
17%
-
Workspace
50%
-
Transport
58%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | ₱8,000.00 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | ₱5,000.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | ₱20,000.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | ₱10,000.00 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure | ₱300.00 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | ₱80.00 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | ₱50.00 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | ₱72.00 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | ₱500.00 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | ₱30.00 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | ₱350.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | ₱60.61 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | ₱100.00 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | ₱125.00 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | ₱165.00 |
| Apples (1kg) | ₱200.00 |
| Oranges (1kg) | ₱150.00 |
| Potato (1kg) | ₱50.00 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | ₱45.00 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | ₱50.00 |
| Tomato (1kg) | ₱25.00 |
| Banana (1kg) | ₱75.00 |
| Onion (1kg) | ₱175.00 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | ₱350.00 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | ₱225.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | ₱550.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | ₱145.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | ₱62.50 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | ₱75.00 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | ₱17.50 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | ₱15.00 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | ₱120.00 |
Connectivity
94%
Infrastructure
89/100
Internet speed
92/100
Internet cost
95/100
Pre-paid plan
98/100
Utilities (Monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | ₱4,250.00 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | ₱9.00 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | ₱2,500.00 |
Sports
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | ₱1,100.00 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | ₱300.00 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | ₱180.00 |
Transportation
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | ₱8.75 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | ₱869.57 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | ₱73.03 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | ₱1,150,000.00 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | ₱1,166,666.67 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | ₱45.00 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | ₱12.50 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | ₱125.00 |
