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Zamboanga del Norte
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Is Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines safe for expats, and is the cost of living cheaper there than the rest of the Philippines?
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No it’s not safe for expats. Most western governments have travel warnings about going to any part of western Mindanao. Now I know there are a few expats living there, and they might tell you it is safe, but they are usually guys married to local girls, living simple lives, and keeping a very low profile. But they are still at some risk. Most of the rebel groups in western Mindanao are Muslim extremists and they have kidnapped for ransom many westerners in the past, and many have been beheaded when ransoms haven’t been paid. Zamboanga del Norte might be marginally safer than Zamboanga del Sur, but that’s subjective. My Australian step-brother lived in adjacent Misamis Occidental for a short while and said he didn’t feel unsafe, but he gets around looking like a “man from the bush” and doesn’t look wealthy, so would have been able to stay under the radar. Personally I wouldn’t go any further west than CDO although I know there are quite a few expats who live in Bukidnon because of the slightly more temperate climate there, but I don’t think I would take the chance to live there permanently. The cost of living in Zamboanga del Norte is cheaper than the cities but much the same as other provincial areas of the Philippines. That’s assuming you are eating local foods. If you are looking for western foods, then it will be more expensive because you would have to have them shipped from Davao.
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Those expats there seem to keep a close eye on each other in case one goes missing. It is relitive safe. The military today recovers over 50% of them that go missing alive. Food prices are far lower than further north. & wages for workers lower by some. So cheaper there. It is heaven on earth there as far as living there. For sights to see & places to live. If you enjoy nature. But travel in groups & take your rifles with you. It does have a rebel problem there.