I Tested Ormoc City as an Expat Destination: Full Cost Breakdown
Good day, folks. LJ Esquire here. I’ve been living in Ormoc City Philippines for about a month, and I reckon I may have stumbled onto a bit of a hidden gem. Just over a month before I arrived, I’d never even heard of the place. Now I’m enjoying the lifestyle enough that I wanted to break down the costs, the day-to-day, and whether Ormoc could work as a retirement or long-stay spot in Southeast Asia.
First impressions of Ormoc City Philippines
Ormoc is a seaside city with a population of over 200,000. You’re right by the beach — not some tiny village off the map. My first impressions when I got here: there was a lot more going on than I expected.
You’ll find yourself near the bus terminal in the centre of town. There aren’t many jeepneys, but there are those little taxis getting people around. And you can’t miss the big pineapple. Ormoc is famous for its pineapples — spinning pineapple lights and all the rest of it at night.
One thing to know straight up: if you’re a foreigner, people will stare. I am often the only foreigner around. There are a few older expats I see from time to time, but mostly it’s just me. That can be a pro or a con. For me, it’s a bit of a con. Still, the vibe overall feels safe and family-friendly. They say it’s one of the safest cities in the Philippines, and I definitely feel that. Beautiful lights at night, old churches and cathedrals — it’s a pleasant place to walk around after dark.
How to get to Ormoc
I got here by ferry from Cebu. I’d been staying in Cebu for a while, so I caught the ferry from Pier 3 in Cebu City. It was about three hours — could have been closer to five; I wasn’t watching the clock that hard. I got myself a nice air-conditioned sleeper, and it was a pleasant trip across the water.
Your other main option is flying into Tacloban Airport, then driving across. That run is about two and a half hours. So you’ve got two solid ways in: fly into Cebu and ferry over, or fly into Tacloban and drive.
Cost of living, cafes, and getting around
Cost of living here is very low. I’ve been on a motorcycle for daily trips — coffee shops, errands, that sort of thing — and I’m spending about 250 pesos a week on gas. Traffic is very reasonable. Cheap fuel, easy to get around.
Plenty of cozy little cafes serving excellent coffee. I’ve been knuckling down on online work for a few hours at a time without any drama. Eating has been comfortable too. There are two big shopping malls, both with cinemas. Robinson’s and modern supermarkets with imported goods. There’s even a vegan restaurant doing local Filipino cuisine vegan-style — really good food at a really good price. I’ve been out for dinner there and been happy with it.
Local markets have been excellent for produce. I’ve been picking things up every few days and doing clean home cooking. Between the markets, the malls, and the cafes, I haven’t felt short on options.
Gyms, nature, and staying active
There’s a great gym scene here — quite a few good gyms, actually. Perfect for what I like doing. Open space for CrossFit-style workouts, and very cheap compared to Cebu — less than half the price. There are also badminton and pickleball courts, so it’s easy to stay active and not get bored.
I’ve ventured a bit out of town to nature spots — waterfalls among the pineapple plantations. Good country for long runs. Speaking of which, I joined a half marathon here a couple of weeks ago and came in fifth in the over-40s. Not bad for a bloke who’s meant to be working.
There are a couple of big beautiful resorts with huge swimming pools. You can go in on a day pass for just a couple of hundred pesos, enjoy the pool, order a meal at the restaurant by the ocean, and get a bit of a luxury day out without spending big. I’ve also explored cafes on the outskirts of town. There are a few hidden gems once you poke around.
The house: two storeys, oven included, and the rent
I moved into a big two-storey rental — more of a house than an apartment. Spacious. Living pretty well here, to be honest.
Ground floor: bathroom with hot water (nothing fancy, but it does the job), a modern air-con unit (not one of those big square rattle boxes you see all over the Philippines), fridge-freezer with plenty of space, pots and pans included, and — get this — an oven. I can’t remember the last time I had an oven living in Southeast Asia. There’s a washing machine too. Netflix and Wi-Fi are included.
Upstairs: another bathroom, a spare room (currently the junk room), and the master bedroom with a ceiling fan, good AC, plenty of cupboard space, and natural light. Sleeping well. Life is good on the second floor.
I also picked up a nylon-string guitar at the local music shop for a couple of hundred bucks. Nice little bonus for downtime.
The price reveal
I paid 35,000 pesos for one month. No contract. No lock-in. Just one month. That includes Wi-Fi and water. Electricity gets billed when I check out — I reckon that could be an extra 6,000 or so, who knows. I left a 10,000 peso deposit, and they’ll likely take the electricity out of that.
Overall I’m pretty happy. Very peaceful. Lovely spacious home for the money.
Pros, cons, and what’s next
Pros: low costs, safe feel, beachside city life, solid cafes and gyms, two malls, easy ferry or Tacloban access, and a proper house rental without a long contract.
Cons: you’ll get stared at as a foreigner more than in bigger expat hubs, and the foreigner scene is thin — mostly a few older expats around.
Next time you see me, I’ll be in Tagbilaran. First time there. Expect a video or two from that run.
Watch the Full Video
I filmed all of this on the ground in Ormoc — the beachfront, the house tour, and the full cost breakdown.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF1GGTe70_0
This video is on my Esq Unltd Daily channel. For the main travel and expat content, subscribe to @EsquireUnlimited.
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