Siargao
Southeast Asia · Philippines · Asia
Palm-forested surf island where Cloud 9 barrels, motorbike days, and a growing nomad scene set the rhythm.
Siargao is the Philippines' surf island, built around the Cloud 9 break, with palm-lined roads, lagoons, and a fast-growing nomad and surf scene. It went from secret to hotspot quickly, so there's now decent food, co-working, and nightlife, but also a 2021 typhoon recovery still felt in places and growing pains. Power and internet can be unreliable, and it's a flight-plus-boat to get anywhere. Best for surfers and remote workers who want a tropical, social island that hasn't fully lost its rough edges.
comfortable monthly budget
1-bed rent, good area
Best for
Not for
A young, international surf-and-nomad crowd mixed with warm local communities; it's social and easy to plug into. Friendships form fast around the surf and a lively bar scene, though it's transient like all surf towns.
Where to land
The scorecard
Tax in Philippines
Special regime: Resident foreigners taxed only on Philippine-source income
Resident aliens are taxed only on local-source income, so foreign earnings are generally untaxed.
Representative estimate — not tax advice. · source
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Find my placePhoto via Wikimedia Commons · source