This is the biggest decision you'll make. Do you need a Starbucks on every corner, or does the sound of roosters crowing in the morning sound appealing?

The City Life (Metro Manila)

Pros: World-class shopping, diverse dining, excellent hospitals, nightlife, and convenience.

Cons: Horrendous traffic, pollution, higher cost of living, noise.

The Provincial Life (The "Probinsya")

Pros: Fresh air, incredibly cheap, friendly neighbors, relaxed pace, access to nature.

Cons: "Brownouts" (blackouts) can happen, slower internet (though improving), fewer imported goods, further from major hospitals.