Mauritius vs Philippines: which nomad visa wins?
Philippines is easier to qualify for, and Philippinesis cheaper day to day. Here's the full breakdown — then model it with your own income.
Updated November 2026 · figures in USD for a single applicant.
| Metric | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Income needed (single) | $1,500/mo | Flexible |
| Tax on foreign income | 0% | 0% |
| Special tax regime | — | — |
| Path to citizenship | No residency path | No residency path |
| Comfortable budget (solo) | $1,708/mo | $1,327/mo |
| Visa length | 1 year | 1 year |
| Safety index | 78/100 | 55/100 |
| Internet | 90 Mbps | 95 Mbps |
| English | High | Very high |
| Region | Middle East & Africa | Asia-Pacific |
See it with your numbers
Set your household, how you earn and your income — both countries recompute live.
Optional — unlocks age- and savings-gated visas (retirement, youth-mobility, golden visas).
Live — adjust who's going, how you earn and your income above and both columns update.
Effective tax at different incomes
Approximate all-in rate for a solo employee who becomes tax-resident.
| Monthly income | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| $6,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| $12,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Choose 🇲🇺 Mauritius if…
An Indian-Ocean idyll with a free visa, low taxes and English-French ease — safe, beautiful and refreshingly simple to set up.
- No visa fee at all.
- Foreign income tax-free unless remitted.
- Safe, bilingual and beautiful.
Choose 🇵🇭 Philippines if…
A brand-new 2025 visa for the English-speaking, island-hopping nomad: potentially tax-light and ultra-affordable — but still rolling out, so confirm it's live and what it requires before you plan around it.
- English is near-universal — almost no friction.
- Possible 0% on foreign income (unconfirmed) and very low costs.
- Thousands of islands and a warm culture.
Want the numbers for your income and family, with more countries?
Mauritius vs Philippines: FAQ
Is Mauritius or Philippines better for digital nomads?
Philippines has the lower income bar, tax treatment is similar, and Philippines is cheaper to live in. Neither nomad visa leads directly to citizenship.
How much income do you need for Mauritius vs Philippines?
Mauritius requires about $1,500/mo for a single applicant; Philippines requires about $0/mo.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Mauritius or Philippines?
Mauritius: Foreign income is taxed only if remitted to Mauritius; resident rates are progressive: 0% to MUR 500,000, 10% on the next MUR 500,000 (to MUR 1M), 20% on the next MUR 11M (to MUR 12M), and 35% above MUR 12M — the new top band, in force from the income year starting 1 July 2026 (Finance Act 2026), replaces the Fair Share Contribution surtax that applied through 2025/26. — Philippines: EO 86 grants no tax exemption (it only directs the BIR to study the matter), so treatment is unsettled. Work done while physically in the Philippines may be treated as Philippine-source income; the 0% shown is a best-case planning assumption.
Figures are 2026 planning estimates in USD for a single applicant. Confirm details on each country's official source before applying.