I know I know, this is subjective and I’m sure I’ll get a lot of flack for this article and ultimately it’s up to you. Alright now that’s out of the way here’s why the Philippines is[way] better than Thailand for single men.
English is King
Unless you’re only looking for a quick lay communication is key to any relationship which means you two need to speak the same language. Outside of the tourist/expat bubbles Thais are terrible at English.
Thailand ranks 106 out of 116 on the English Proficiency Index and is classified as ‘Very low proficiency”
They do teach English in schools but they focus on grammar rules, reading, and writing
In 2023 Thai grade 12 students scored an average of 26.19% in English proficiency tests
Vietnam has a higher English penetration than Thailand
Thai itself is very difficult to learn and it is classified as a “hard language” by the US Department of State
This all means that if you go to Thailand you’ll be stuck in the expat tourist enclaves where they few locals that speak English live and hang out. Ergo you’ll be messing with the same girl that your neighbor banged last month and your gym buddy the month before that.
You’ll end up with girls who know the game and will expect a lot from you. She’ll be constantly comparing you to that guy she banged last week who took her to Mezzaluna on the first date. It’ll be only a half step up from dating a Western woman.
In the Philippines, almost all of them speak a semblance of English
80% of Philippine adults can comprehend both spoken and written English
The Philippines ranks 22 out of 116 and #2 in Asia in the English Proficiency Index
47% of Filipinos said they can think in English (the strongest level of fluency)
All this to say that you won’t be stuck in Makati to find an English-speaking girl. In fact, I recommend staying away from Makati unless you want to experience the same thing you would in Thailand. If you’re looking for a good take-home-to-mom kind of girl then you’re better off looking outside of Metro Manila or Cebu.
Visa Rules Aren’t Constantly Changing
This is a bigger plus than people realize. The Philippines makes it extremely easy to stay there long term. As a Westerner you can come here, island hop for 36 months, decide which island and girl you like best, then get a marriage visa and stay forever.
No stressful visa runs and your immigration status won’t be determined by the mood of the immigration officer reviewing your case. If you’re on a tourist visa you can just go to the Bureau of Immigration office inside the mall every 2 months to extend it.
Thailand was getting cocky and making it difficult for Westerners to stay long-term unless they were rich. They seemed to have eased up on that but still it feels like they’re always changing the rules with your life hanging in the balance. The Philippines, by contrast, still operates off the Immigration Act of 1940 which was signed by Theodore Roosevelt.
…But Not if You’re Broke
Just to make this a fair article I need to talk about some of the downsides and who shouldn’t come to the Philippines.
Broke guys, if you don’t have a job or a pension you may struggle here. You can’t teach English here to make ends meet and it’s very difficult to get a work permit unless you have some in-demand skill (or a call center manager). Additionally, even if you do manage to find someone willing to hire you the salary may be very low unless you’re a highly skilled worker. That’s why I always say the most important thing you need to come here is income not just money. This leads me to my next point…
Guys who can’t control themselves. Let’s be real, I was probably a 3 or a 4 back home. Then with the touchdown of an airplane, I became an 8 or a 9. It was very difficult for me to control myself and Manila is actually an expensive city compared to Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh. Even if you’re not simping just taking a girl out on dates and trips can empty your coffers real fast.
Philippines vs Thailand Safety for Expats
Just looking at the numbers the Philippines and Thailand are pretty much neck in neck in terms of safety but in terms of perception, people feel safer in Thailand. In Thailand, 81.31% of residents feel safe walking alone during daylight, and 61.27% feel safe at night. In contrast, in the Philippines, 72.47% feel safe during daylight, and 54.54% at night.
But these numbers don’t tell the whole story. When it comes to fighting I hear many more stories of a guy getting his ass kicked by Thais than I do Filipinos. Thais are small but they’ll gang up on you. Filipinos tend to be passive-aggressive. Also, domestic violence, I hear much more about guys who experienced violence from their Thai partners than their Filipino partners. In both countries, most crimes against expats and tourists are opportunistic like pickpocketing and stuff like that. So just take standard precautions like not leaving your wallet out when you take a girl home.
Filipinos are Friendly!
I have expat friends in both Thailand and the Philippines, not one of them in Thailand has a close local male friend.
That’s not to say that Thais are unfriendly both the Philippines and Thailand have reputations for being welcoming to foreigners, but the way that friendliness is expressed differs between the two cultures. The Philippines consistently ranks higher in global expat surveys for friendliness, with 74% of expats in the Philippines saying it is easy to make friends, compared to 54% in Thailand (InterNations Expat Insider report).
Filipinos are known for their hospitality and English proficiency, which makes interactions more natural for many Western expats. Strangers often smile, engage in small talk, and go out of their way to help—sometimes even inviting foreigners to family gatherings after just a short conversation.
Thailand, on the other hand, has a more reserved and formal approach to friendliness. Thais are generally polite and respectful, and service workers often greet customers warmly with a wai (traditional greeting).
However, deeper friendships can take longer to develop, and cultural barriers—including language differences—can make it more challenging for expats to integrate. While both countries are welcoming in their own way, the Philippines tends to feel more socially open and easier for foreigners to build genuine friendships, while Thailand offers a more structured, polite friendliness that can sometimes feel transactional.
The Philippines vs Thailand for Single Men: Winner Philippines
Yes, if you’re a single man looking to build a life with a traditional, take-home-to-mom, wife-material kind of girl, the Philippines is the better choice. The ease of communication, thanks to widespread English proficiency, makes relationships smoother—not just with your woman but also with her family. Traditional gender roles are still valued here, which I find refreshing.
On top of that, the immigration situation in the Philippines is far more relaxed. Unlike Thailand, where visa rules seem to change every six months, the Philippines offers long-term stability, allowing you to focus on your relationship instead of worrying about paperwork. For men looking for something meaningful and sustainable, the Philippines comes out on top.