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I have my queen already for 15 years already ,could not wish for a better one !! I pay 100 dollar a month for house in caloocan city and we are stil happy best that ever i ever had !
BASIC living expenses (USD) for me and my GF in Davao City: 420 - 2 bdrm condo (gated community, pool, gym, parking) 400 - food (mostly cooking at home) 33 - internet 64 - electric (AC 50-60% of the time) 11 - water 29 - visa extension (not including annual cost of ACR card) 7 - netflix Have my own scooter and gas is nominal (less than $10/month) Insurance for it is $7/year! So it's possible to live just fine for around $1000/month. When you factor in travel, entertainment, clothing and dining out, monthly expenses can rise quicker than a homesick angel. Thank you Miss Pea! You continue to be extraordinary...
@@flicks28 I read these budgets that people post and have a good laugh. If I only include the categories that many of these guys include, it is cheaper to live in rural Arizona. A lot of these guys are sold a bill of goods about how cheap things are and then find out that if you have a heart attack and need a by-pass, the cost is USD $15k in a Manila and they are not covered by Medicare or similar social insurance programs or they will get minimal coverage through Philcare.
I've lived in the Philippines for 5 years, and it's just me and my wife, she already had a house so we have no rent, we live on about 800.00 a month and it gets tight sometimes, we have a savings we dip into if we need. I retired early so I don't get my full pension yet, when I do we will have at least a 1,000 more a month. Being here as long as I have, learning to adapt and eat like a Filipino most of the time, buying the tshirts and shorts Pea spoke of has taught me how to live comfortably on 800.00 a month, but I would recommend at least 1,200-1,500 a month to not shave it so close. Good fortune to all who wish to retire to the Philippines.
@@user-fk8wm4gm8v my wife is a sweetheart, we share the same faith and morals, and we aren't young, she never married or had any kids, so I don't think there will be many surprises from my wife. I have heard horror stories, but I didn't rush into anything, I knew my wife very well before we got married, and she is still the same today as yesterday, I guess I was blessed. :) I'm here to live my retirement with my wife, if ever I was alone then maybe I'd feel different about living here, but as long as I have her I'm very content. I can always go back to the States if needed, however I don't plan on it, I'm a permanent resident. In essence I'm here not because of some big dream, but simply because I met my wife. She didn't have any ambition to live in the states, she has been there plenty of times, we decided we could live comfortably here.
@@jeromehaymaker5071 absolutely myself being a farmer that just comes second nature. I prefer to grow everything myself and not eat the stuff that is being sprayed with arsenic and pesticides because people just wanna get their crop off and make money. It's better to raise your own chickens have eggs raise a pig and instead of selling it butcher and story in your freezer for your own use you're still gonna get away cheaper if you're feeding it your house leftovers. I've raised pigs in Hawaii and if you take the boxes of vegetables that you get from wherever and you actually cook it all up in a large pakini over a fire cooked food makes pigs grow chatter quicker than just feeding it rice bran
I have a 3 bdr 2 bath condo in Novaliches for 30k php per month. Air con, swimming pool, next to SM. Another 30k per month for my Filipinas expenses. We go to movies and eat out every once awhile. So we spend about 70k php per month ($1200 usd) and we live very comfortably. We’re looking at getting some land and build a house on Ticao island for retirement later.
It's relative to what a person wants. A good idea is to come there and see what you want and what it costs. Then, add in another 25-50% to cover incidentals. You gave a good list of things to consider.
Totally agree, personally I chose a conservative traditional Christian province woman. Never married, no kids, got various business hustles going to provide for herself and some for the family. Frugal minimalist, just like me, so how much do I need to live like my version of a king, very little. But each to their own, so I say good luck to everyone. Cheers Aussie John
*Pea is a 1%er for sure!* Hotel rooms near the beaches of Dumaguete run from $480 to $1600 a month, from under 2 miles to the beach to right near the beach. Maybe not king, but that is at least prince living. In PI, eat seafood, maybe pork and chicken, island fruits. Adapt. Flights are decent to some world cities: Taipei (2.5 hrs), Hong Kong (2.5), Macau (2.5), Naha Okinawa (2.75), Shanghai (3.33), Jakata, (3.5) Kuala Lumpur (3.5), Bangkok (3.5) , Busan (4), Seoul (4.25), Tokyo (4.5), Sydney is far at 7 hours and Honolulu is farther still at 10.5 hours.
Hi Pea another great video. You are right it depends how you want to live and for the most part I don't watch too many videos about how much it costs to live here. My monthly expenses are around 40,000 peso so that is about $1,000 Canadian or $750 USD. I have a nice apartment in a new building, I bought a golf cart style e-bike that is cheaper then a motorbike. I don't need to have western food all the time as I do like Filipino food and can cook some Filipino dishes. I am single so that helps to keep my expenses down. My rent is about a quarter of what I paid in Canada. Food is about the same but varies each month. Transportation is 400 pesos a month or less since my e-bike I can just plug in at home and costs about 25 peso per charge. I do have an entertainment budget and since I can save money here unlike at home I sometimes get over that part of my budget. It is more fun in the Philippines and more economical for me. Keep smiling and stay safe
@@TheFilipinaPea you can't help everyone but money is a tool and I have found to help others is to help yourself,, I've helped people before and shortly after it seems I was blessed by God and rewarded,, I've noticed people all my life that were greedy that never went anywhere in life because they were always spending time being jealous of other people,,, some even seemed to develop bad health earlier in life
I am in downtown Houston, Texas to renew my USA passport today. I spent 2 hours walking amongst the skyscrapers, awing at the expense of the building and the salaries the employees must cost. I chose to live in the remote province area around Malitbog, Southern Leyte. Once I bought our ADV160 and got the house in order, I spend around $200 a month. I have a bit of an income from pensions and rental properties, so my choice to live like a local are exactly how I want to live. I cannot imagine spending $1000 or more on monthly expenses in the Phils, those guys are definitely living extravagantly.
@KKemp-bt6nl I drink water and eat local fish and produce. 5 gallons water cost me 30 pesos about once a week. Not drinking alcohol and being a very good cook at home, it is hard to spend money.
Hi Pea! We here in the US sure could you as a spokesperson for seminars promoting the Philippines. You have a wealth of knowledge that would be valuable for retires and expats. And being beautiful doesn't hurt either! As Gordon Gecko once said,"the most valuable commodity I know of is information". God speed Pea!
@markwukoman6847, so you want as many people as possible to know what is out there so that more and more people take advantage until the positives about it are eventually saturated? That’s like living in any formerly great city in America (Denver, Austin, etc.) and seeing transplants flood into the place because it is hyped up and ruin it. Great logic you have lol
Great Video Ms. Pea. Most expats who come to the Philippines are retired, probably on SS and/or a pension from work. The income from the Western countries would barely get them by in their home country, but in the Philippines would be able to stretch the money more easily. For me, I would prefer a major city, but on the "outskirts" of the city, and probably rent a condo rather than a home. So, I estimate about $2000 per month to live comfortably in the Philippines with an occasional vacation in the Phillippines. The other issue for expats, from what I learned, is that expats need to have a backup plan for whatever income they are receiving. And since Foreigners on visitor visas cannot work technically in the Phillippines, anything online might be a bonus on whatever skills they have.
The majority of them have an income of $2k to $3K which is not enough to live in a developed country so they come to Philippines or other undeveloped country so they can survive.
Hello pea! I don't think how much money you have makes you live like a king. Im far from rich. But with my wife and 2 daughters i am truly living a kings life. Rich in love.
True dat. For example the best tip Filipinas give is to post on a dating app and get a foreign guy to buy you land and a house. Great money saving tip.
This financial assessment is spot on from what my wife and I experience living just outside Cebu City. We live in Philippines part of the year and in US the majority of the time.
It's all about balance, I have found that out after living outside the US since 2021. The only way to know what works is to try it. Some things will be a shock, and there's ALWAYS adjustments to be made. Great advice, no hype, delivered with a dose of humor.
I'm low maintenance myself. So a good woman and a roof over my head is about it. Grew up in the country using outhouses and no running water in the house...roof leaked though LOL. So anything above that is a step up. :) I don't eat out and my food is simple enough as is. Ramen noodles, rice, fish, and some veggies. I will be good to go. By the way sis...always thought you would get more beautiful as you grew older and I am happy to say I am right!
This jibes with what my old CPO told me. He lives like a king on $2900 a month despite making more than double that (military pension + social security). Since he moved there in 2008, he's dropped 140lbs by adjusting his diet and the constant walking he does every day. He says moving to PI added 6 years to his life expectancy.😲 Great video, Pea! EDIT: I'm an idiot. The 'better than Dramaguete' series is about exactly what I was asking for.
My uncle in North Carolina served in the Army for 20 years and also worked in post office for 20 years after (Both Gov Services / Agency retirees) don't get social security. Only pension from both Army and Post Office.
Retired military get social security they paid into while on active duty and paid after they retire from the military at there cilvilan job. It has been like that for a long time. When I was station in subic I knew a lot of retirees.
On transportation: I bought a Piaggio trike for 186,000 (+/- 3,400 US) cash in Febuary 2023. Since then, they have become very popular in Dumaguete. To me, that is one of the best option: cost between a car and a bike for purchase, maintenance, much safer and passenger possibility. Thanks Pea. I love you 😂😂
My chinese ex told me (I used to ride a motorcycle) that they have a saying. You can put the metal around the meat or the meat around the metal. Be safe out there!
Magandang Buntag Pea! I definitely appreciate all of the effort you put into your videos. These are ALL things to consider when making such a big change in life!
Your content has been super useful. I've been studying & watching for the last 6 months while preparing for my first visit to the Philippines. Thank you 🙏
You've found some good thrift shops. That's another very attractive dress you're wearing! I'm a tee shirt and cargo shorts guy here in TX, only moving up to cheap Walmart jeans for the winter months. I'm still able to maintain a $1,000 a month budget living a quiet life and feel I'm doing pretty good. Big wide screen TV, new car, air-conditioning, and steak on the bbq now and then. The key is no debt. Food costs are my biggest variable because if it ain't on sale I'm not buying it. Another great video from my favorite Polynesian Princess, Ms Pea. 😉
If you’re single, you could still be doing so much better abroad. Sometimes it’s not what you’re affording, but the peace away from war-mongering and feminism of USA.
Understood, but at 73, I have health issues and need to be close to VA health care. I'm happy to live vicariously through those who can take the plunge.
Thank you for the invites, but I'm settled in here for the duration. There are too many conveniences here to move on again. I've had many adventures throughout my life. Memories I cherish. I lived on Guam for 18 months many yrs back, which will have to do. Here, Walmart will deliver grocery orders to your door for free. The VA clinic is 10 min away by local senior bus with door to door service. When I decline to the point I can't get around on my own, there are services to make life comfortable. If I was 25 yrs younger, maybe, but that ship has sailed.
I am currently in Cebu Business Center on my first retirement reconnaissance trip to the Philippines. This is one of the most expensive areas in Cebu so please keep that in mind. I looked at condos in The Alcove, Park Point and Solinea. One bedroom 65,000 Two bedroom 75,000 The furniture in these units is hit and miss. Some decent but most not near as nice as you get in Thailand. However, there was one of the five I looked at that was very nice so you really need to look at more than one Food costs at the Ayala mall are pricey and maybe 10% less then I pay in Houston One last thing. If you think as a western guy you are going to walk the mall and have all kinds of Filipinas smiling come hither smiles at you think again. I am a decent looking guy in good shape and I got maybe three smiles that, if I was staying, I would have talked to. Better than the states yes but just manage your expectations. Thank you Pea for all you do!
Solinea sucks. Overpriced shoebox. Poor hot water, shitty a/c, guests have to pay to use the pool, gym is always crowded, could not find a treadmill to save my life. Avoid at all costs
@@Freddy4fingers2 A lot of vloggers live there. They say great place for 450 a month .. You are spot on they are living in a tiny bedroom.. Of course they don't show a picture of the room. Its all about the views..
No idea why you’d spend so much on these condos here. I haven’t seen 1 that’s even worth 50k. You’re better off finding one that’s maybe a 10-15min drive for 35k. I’m at Baseline and my 1br condo is 35k but talked them down to 30 for a year and a half. It’s nice af too. Better than any apartment I’ve had in the west and it also doesn’t feel like a hotel.
If the Filipina Pea were there, 99% of the quality life is already filled. Another awesome video Pea. Thank you for such consistently high-value content. Dear God: Thank you for creating such a beautiful lady as the Filipina Pea so she can bless the lives of so many people around the world.
"Common sense is the least common sense"... ...and how much of it is needed to grasp this topic! It is as it's almost a matter of choosing the correct CZcamsr to get a budget that fits your needs! Great video, Pea! Santiago
A big consideration on purchasing a used vehicle is not outside appearance but inside the running gear. How well was it maintained? Frequent oil changes are a must. A well maintained used vehicle has value but a poorly maintained vehicle isn’t worth much. Engine rebuild isn’t cheap. Transmission breaks electric components etcetera get costly.
I was really smart once and bought a used mazda miata when I still lived in CA. Got 6 weeks out of her before "poof" engine gone. I am not a fan of used cars. Nor bikes. I felt the sand falling down the glass each day I rode, until one day it was just no longer more fun than inevitable. I'm not having a crash in my 60's! Although I do see ex-pats riding outside of the city and that seems a decent bet with loads of optionality for going places off the beaten path.
Enjoying half Filipino, half "semi-western" foods, doing most of my own cooking, eating out only at inexpensive places, I spend about 400 a month for two to eat, including a few snacks and sweets. I'm frugal, but have plenty of fresh meat and veggies. I cut some basic corners and shop for the best deals, but I never do without or feel unsatisfied. Lots of variety.
Great video, my wife(filipina) and I have a farm in Kabankalan and are basically self sufficient on food we produce ourselves. Costs are electricity and fuel, the biggest cost is a private medical fund. I am white South African so easy to adapt in Philippines, love it.
So, what’s wrong with drinking the tap water? I’ve been doing it since I arrived. I realize that the locals prefer bottled water but maybe they don’t like the taste of the tapwater, but I find it to be just fine. Since we bathe in it, we’re gonna get some of them in our mouths anyway. So, it seems perfectly safe to me.
We are building a house in Province Not terribly far from where my wife’s parents live. Meantime, I’m staying with my wife, three children, three of her siblings and her parents. I have two pensions, One for about $1400 a month which I seldom go through and another for about $1800 which I bank. I love my new family and I buy most of the food willingly. I also pay the utilities and other miscellaneous things. I fear is free and easy and the location is beautiful.
I don't need to live like a king 😂, I just need to live like a good man with a good wife at a good level that is at least comfortable middle class with no financial worries 😊. Even if I was rich, I would live at middle class level and enjoy my life. My dream house will be perfect.
as retirement looks closer and closer, your constant updates, advice, practical side of things in living in the Philippines is worth its weight in Gold.. not Pesos... cant thank you enough for the constant stream of excellent videos you provide.
It's been my lifelong experience you want to live as close to a grocery store as possible, it makes a world of difference. I've had relatives who lived 45 miles out from the nearest supermarket, and my apartment in Northern Virginia is right across the street from a supermarket. I pop over there everyday for this or that, takes about 15 minutes and saves me the hassle of that big weekend trip most people need to make.
Have watched many Ph vids, enjoy them all. Some patterns I've picked up are many westerners retiring early and having modest income, as well as the Filipina trap who courts several westerners to meet her lifestyle and support her family. I guess when your an old man who retired early and requires any sort of companionship, you set yourself up for whatever comes.
Can confirm your numbers are very close to reality from my experience having lived in ncr (5yrs) and now negros oriental (3yrs- a few hours north of you). Nice job. Newbies having never lived in developing countries might need more on the high end to adjust to and work through the culture shock.
As an Expat living here in the Philippines, your advice is right on. But I would add one very important consideration. Not only does the person have to consider where in the Philippines they’re going to live, and there are some very big differences, but it also depends on what state you are comming from in the USA. If you’ve been living most of your whole life in the San Francisco Bay Area - most any part of the Philippines is a definite net-plus, but if you are coming from a very rural part of Mississippi, you might not find the cost-of-living difference that great.
I agree that there are alot of factors, but I guess the most important benchmark for any expat would be the "bare minimum", as in: How much do you need per month for basic needs? With basic needs, I mean you have a place to live, you have food, you have water, you have some kind of cooling (as overheating is a real threat), and internet access. It is the most important number because you then know that if you earn that or more, you will at least be safe. For that, I would say that you would be able to afford that for 500 usd per month, but only as long as you stay in the provincial areas. as SOON as you go into Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, Tourist areas in Palawan and even Davao, prices quickly raise to western prices. The reason? Because filippinos know that in those areas you have alot of rich americans willing to pay alot, so they are able to raise the prices to whatever you would expect in the US or just slightly lower. Thus, if you plan to live in these cities, it will really not be cheaper than in the US. To the contrary, You will pay roughly the same but face worse network, worse traffic and people will always try to sell you stuff. That is where the 2000 USD/month comes from. I have a family consisting of my wife and 3 kids. During my stay I measured the spendings, and we basically spent around 500 USD/month in total. We were not paying rent as I previously paid for a house in my wifes name, but there were instead extra payment in fuel and transportation since the kids needed to go to the school every weekday and someone had to drive into the city to buy the stuff. We live outside of Bangued which is a small town with 50k people, and I haven't really seen almost any expats there, so it is definetly dominated by local farmers, keeping the prices relatively low there. My biggest advice to anyone trying to live cheap here and gets lots of stuff for your money; Avoid the tourist-heavy areas, move to places where you only see locals, and make sure to not pay more than the market price, a.k.a. avoid the skin tax. This is actually a morally good thing because if americans come to your area and gladly overspend their money, it will raise the prices, and it will be a loss for everyone; The expats because they no longer can live cheap, and the locals because they can't afford anything at all. As I said to my wife once - There are three types of guys; rich guys, broke guys and stingy guys. Unfortunately you met a stingy one.
Very informative, especially the 1% statistic. I'm planning an extensive trip to the Philippines this year to explore the different life style possibilities. You brought up some interesting points. Thank you.
i know when i stayed for an extended time, we had a budget of 2,000 a month. it was tight becouse we wanted to do alot of stuff, but we made it. this includes me, my wife a child and todler, carpayment and 200 rent. plus drinking with her family and buying food for bbq,
We send around $300 AUD each week since November to build our house in the Philippines, (family helping us) it is a 3 bedroom quite large nice home with beautiful roof with metal tile also, almost finished. The exchange rate is terrible & $300 a week is the cost of groceries for a family here in Australia. Don’t need Air con there too, it is no way near as hot as here in Australia & the sun is so intense it rips the paint off cars here 😂 I just saw my wifes Fathers relatives sent 1.5 million Pesos from US to build & a builder in Manila ripped them off, so far they need to rebuild. People overseas do not do their research, it can take a lifetime to truly understand how it works there, which it is common to be ripped off & scammed in Australia too with many things. If you are going to rent there, may as well live in the West. Australia’s cost of living is off the charts.
Not sure why youtube recommended me this video, but as someone who spent nearly half of his adult life in southeast asia, here's my 2 cents. In the philippines you can live a comfortable life with around 2 grand a month, provided that you keep it reasonable, middle class life standards. The figure increases to around 3k in malaysia and indonesia, jakarta in particular is surprisingly pricey to live in. Also, I would skip renting an apartment and rent a house instead, cheaper and more spacious.
Another banger from the Pea. I live in southern California and am well-to-do. My Thai gf is working class and lives in a simple apartment in Bangkok that costs $125 a month. It has AC and is close to public transport, but no kitchen, only 1 small sink, etc. Is it bad? Not at all. Life is just so much simpler there. The less you have, the fewer headaches in so many ways. Honestly, I find it refreshing to spend time there.
Yeah, you get a bunch of possessions and then you have to keep track of them and protect them against others trying to take it. Too much effort involved.
Pea, here I live on almost nothing, with food and gas being my biggest bills. I honestly think it would cost me more to live there because here my house and everything I own is paid for. I have an orchard both fruit and nut trees and I grow a garden, and I have even grape vines, asparagus,etc that come up every year. Here I know how to work every angle, but there I would have rent and everything .
G’day Miss Pea! Regarding the sneaky unsubscribing of your followers, I’ve seen other CZcamsrs complain about this, too, so you’re not alone. They had suspected their content was possibly controversial as to the reason why, but that surely wouldn’t apply to your channel. Have a great day, hooroo!
I came from michigan. I was used to setting the AC at 78 F (26 C) in summer. Here, Im slowly getting used to higher temperatures. I now consider 28 comfortable. My filipina wife thinks 30 is comfortable so were always resetting the AC on each other. I run AC almost 24/7. But in the philippines you don't have centralbair, you have separate AC in each room. So during the day we have AC on in the living room and kitchen and at night we shut that off and just run AC in our bedroom. So our monthly electric bill is about P4000, or $80, which I consider not bad. When I moved here, knowing I'd be running the AC, I had braced myself for $200. (Electricity here is slightly more expensive per kWh than I paid in the US, but not outrageous.)
Something to consider is preservation of medication. Heat and humidity tend to degrade them. Antibiotics in particular. The maximum general recommendation is 25c (77f).
Pea, thank you that leaves me pretty much in the rich zone. I have a wonderful wife Filipino with family in the province everything self sustain my income as well more than 3800 US. I think my only issue now is how much the visa is and I know you’ve done videos on this before I watch them but things change.. I like your channel the most because you add humor and reality at the same time. Good job.. I don’t know if you’re coming to America anytime soon, but if I’m here you can stay with us keyword us I love my wife more than anything in the world and U2 will get along and talk to Gallo all day
Men should always invest in monthly dividend stocks to cover any child support payments in the west. Figure at least 130% of your payment to be safe when calculating how much you should invest in monthly dividend stocks
I really appreciate an updated look at expense ranges. While I'm only going to be there for a month this summer, I was planning on scouting out this very information while I was there. I still will probably look into cost of renting in the Dumaguete or Valencia area, this saves me some time researching other expenses.
I send my Filipina wife about $300 dollars per month for her and my son. I also built her a house in the Province area and helped her start a Pisonet wifi business. So she has a little side business income that we can expand on later. When I return there will be no rent to pay for me. Of course my little house has no air conditioner or running water so we will use the well pump outside to fill up our buckets. Im thinking about adding a little water tower and pipes for the house because I love showers and the convenience of a water fossit in the kitchen. Besides that when I arrive I will not need to spend very much unless I wanna eat out once a week and stroll the Mall which is my habit. For transportation we will use the tricycle to and from town. The one way fare shouldn't be more than $1.89 (100 pesos) to town for me and my wife. Groceries I suspect shouldn't be no more than $125 per month. Restaurant food per week no more than $25 dollars (things are a bit cheaper in the Phil). Other than that the electric bill and wifi is our only utility bills which is no more than $40 dollars per month. Our water is free because we have a water pump well outside the house! So my total cost of living is about $200 for myself. Extra expenses is if I wanna splurge more on my wife and son. 🎉🎉🎉 🥳
My husband is retired US army and got 4 types of retirement pay monthly. We just lived simply but comfrtably. We dont have housemaid i cooked everyday and do the household chores not just do the laundry because we pay someone to do it for us. We rented a 3 bedroom house for 120$ and nice concrete house already.
Yep, last time I did a survey of what doctor/professional top professional made in Third World countries, which was Philippines, Colombia, Thailand, Peru, etc. it was about $40K USD/yr. So things can’t get too crazy pricewise (relative to the US) if even doctors are making only $40Kyear
You are so awesome Filipina Pea!!! I appreciate you so much! I will be flying to Philippines 🇵🇭 this Summer 2024 for the first time ever and primarily because of your videos I feel like I can survive The Philippines 😂😂😂 💪 👊
A very informative video Pea, with a lot of thought provoking details. I’m a retired Brit, living in Europe, where my pension doesn’t go as far as I’d like. Imagine my surprise to learn that, in the Philippines, I’d be a one percenter! I should get a t-shirt made❣️(or perhaps advertising it wouldn’t be advisable)😳
👸 Princess Pea: Amazing helpful information that you have given. This even helps me and I lived in the Philippines 🇵🇭 before. So, a real new person just won the information lottery. Sorry that someone is trying to throw salt in your channel. I am just figuring out the year I want to do a return in my plan. Your budget figures for me so much within my range. Which I am happy to hear. In America 🇺🇸 retirement places on incomes are available in (20) percent of AMERICA 🇺🇸. Philippines 🇵🇭, fortunately for me would be about (90) percent in all areas. Thank you Princess 👸 Pea. Now age (61) and my children are grown and have their children now. Me, as a widower have to plan my retirement coming soon.
It is my experience that if you have your house, and car, already paid for, you can live very well. My wife lives in Isabela province, and our monthly bills amount to the following: Electricity for both of our houses cost 150 USD a month combined. Internet is 25 USD a month. Netflix is 25 USD a month. Propane is 70 USD a month. Food from Robinsons is 800 USD a month. I send Diana 2500 USD a month and she lives very comfortably. When I am home it adds another 1000 USD a month because we go all over Luzon, especially to Bagiuo and 100 islands, but sometimes we will just follow a road and see where it goes. But again we have everything bought and paid for. So 3500 USD is more than enough to live on in my opinion. We only use AC at night lol. But lady Pea is right about making sure that you have money saved for any emergencies. I work for the U.S. Government, so I only come home for 10 weeks every other year.
This honestly sounds very comparable to the prices where I live, in the Midwest of the USA. 2000sq/ft house, 4 bedroom 2 bath in a nice neighborhood, at $650 a month. $70 for internet, around 300 for all utilities, and 300 for food. Insurance is a little higher at 200 a month, health insurance is another 200, and I own my cars outright, only 100 a month for my motorcycle I bought new. Perhaps a little cheaper, but only by a small amount. Crazy!
I’m in province Cebu. $1900.00 Canadian a month.,30% of that is investment. Chickens, goats, ducks, tilapia pond, garden. In time,these things will pay off and I’ll spend 1000 Canadian.( 740.00 U.S.) bike payment $125.00 Internet $40.00 rent $200.00
It's hard to figure actual costs for those of us who built a 5br home (cash from savings - over 10 years ago) for me, the filipina wife and her family. So no rent or mortgage, just electric, internet, food, water, gas and going out a few times a month. There is also home fixes or upgrades - we did that over a year ago. There's also expenses in family death, hospital care etc. A good savings account is important to take care of emergency expenses. On average we spend about $1000 a month, save the rest and take each day at a time due to unforeseen events. We never loan money - we either give it or not if we have it or can afford it without taking a big hit on our savings. Lastly - we thank God everyday for his blessings he has given us and providing for us with all that we need. We are so blessed 💞 Nice video - but so hard to cover everyone's situation.
Nice job Pea! As a future expat, your "high" end budget is easily doable by most middle class US expats. You are correct in that what constitutes high-end in the PI, doesn't get a lot of benefit for life here in the USA. It's mind-boggling how far our money will go in the PI. Add in the general happiness factor that a majority of filipinos have and you have a recipe for a great and adventurous retirement in the Philippines! Keep up the great work!
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Thank you Miss Pea for saying Lazada. I've used them frequently, but had never heard it pronounced before.
Ever thought about doing a video about Brandon and Mary from “90 Day Fiancé” and comparing to a normal Filipino/a to foreigner relationship?
I just need you 😏 I can earn the rest , but Thank you for the information 🫂❤️
THANKSI CHECKED,STILL SUBSCRIBED,BeLL On😅,dont wanna miss Out😅
There's no need to fear. The Filipina Pea is here.
And so is Golden Terry 👍🥇❤️
We love you Pea
And Underdog
I have my queen already for 15 years already ,could not wish for a better one !! I pay 100 dollar a month for house in caloocan city and we are stil happy best that ever i ever had !
My Pinay princess is waiting for her Visa 🙂
BASIC living expenses (USD) for me and my GF in Davao City:
420 - 2 bdrm condo (gated community, pool, gym, parking)
400 - food (mostly cooking at home)
33 - internet
64 - electric (AC 50-60% of the time)
11 - water
29 - visa extension (not including annual cost of ACR card)
7 - netflix
Have my own scooter and gas is nominal (less than $10/month) Insurance for it is $7/year! So it's possible to live just fine for around $1000/month. When you factor in travel, entertainment, clothing and dining out, monthly expenses can rise quicker than a homesick angel.
Thank you Miss Pea! You continue to be extraordinary...
And your medical costs??
Can u please share a link to a condo like that? Also I was wondering how ur electric can be so low with 50% AC?
@@jlawrence0181 Exactly. Hardly any foreigner living overseas factors this in. Main reason why you see gofundme's started when a medical issue arises.
@@flicks28 I read these budgets that people post and have a good laugh. If I only include the categories that many of these guys include, it is cheaper to live in rural Arizona.
A lot of these guys are sold a bill of goods about how cheap things are and then find out that if you have a heart attack and need a by-pass, the cost is USD $15k in a Manila and they are not covered by Medicare or similar social insurance programs or they will get minimal coverage through Philcare.
@@jlawrence0181the place in Arizona is a shithole too lol
I've lived in the Philippines for 5 years, and it's just me and my wife, she already had a house so we have no rent, we live on about 800.00 a month and it gets tight sometimes, we have a savings we dip into if we need. I retired early so I don't get my full pension yet, when I do we will have at least a 1,000 more a month. Being here as long as I have, learning to adapt and eat like a Filipino most of the time, buying the tshirts and shorts Pea spoke of has taught me how to live comfortably on 800.00 a month, but I would recommend at least 1,200-1,500 a month to not shave it so close. Good fortune to all who wish to retire to the Philippines.
wait another 15 years and then you'll figure out how the filipino really is....... it's not pretty.
@@user-fk8wm4gm8v my wife is a sweetheart, we share the same faith and morals, and we aren't young, she never married or had any kids, so I don't think there will be many surprises from my wife. I have heard horror stories, but I didn't rush into anything, I knew my wife very well before we got married, and she is still the same today as yesterday, I guess I was blessed. :) I'm here to live my retirement with my wife, if ever I was alone then maybe I'd feel different about living here, but as long as I have her I'm very content. I can always go back to the States if needed, however I don't plan on it, I'm a permanent resident. In essence I'm here not because of some big dream, but simply because I met my wife. She didn't have any ambition to live in the states, she has been there plenty of times, we decided we could live comfortably here.
Inflation is unpredictable. If it gets bad enough, even living in the Philippines won't save us. Maybe do some fishing and grow something to eat.
@@jeromehaymaker5071 true
@@jeromehaymaker5071 absolutely myself being a farmer that just comes second nature. I prefer to grow everything myself and not eat the stuff that is being sprayed with arsenic and pesticides because people just wanna get their crop off and make money. It's better to raise your own chickens have eggs raise a pig and instead of selling it butcher and story in your freezer for your own use you're still gonna get away cheaper if you're feeding it your house leftovers. I've raised pigs in Hawaii and if you take the boxes of vegetables that you get from wherever and you actually cook it all up in a large pakini over a fire cooked food makes pigs grow chatter quicker than just feeding it rice bran
I have a 3 bdr 2 bath condo in Novaliches for 30k php per month. Air con, swimming pool, next to SM. Another 30k per month for my Filipinas expenses. We go to movies and eat out every once awhile. So we spend about 70k php per month ($1200 usd) and we live very comfortably. We’re looking at getting some land and build a house on Ticao island for retirement later.
It's relative to what a person wants. A good idea is to come there and see what you want and what it costs. Then, add in another 25-50% to cover incidentals. You gave a good list of things to consider.
The best way to live like a King in The Philippines is to find a good Queen.
👍👍👍👍👍
Great answer!
👍👍👍👍👍
Well said!
Found mine, she's currently karaokeing (is that a word?) as I watch this, wonderfully happy.
100%!!
Totally agree, personally I chose a conservative traditional Christian province woman. Never married, no kids, got various business hustles going to provide for herself and some for the family. Frugal minimalist, just like me, so how much do I need to live like my version of a king, very little. But each to their own, so I say good luck to everyone. Cheers Aussie John
Being a CPA I truly enjoyed this, but then we all enjoy the Pea! 🥰
It scratched your accounting itch 🤣👍
I'm 60 and always enjoy a good pee as well, I mean pea 😂 😂
CPA means Certified Papsmear Assistant?
*Pea is a 1%er for sure!*
Hotel rooms near the beaches of Dumaguete run from $480 to $1600 a month, from under 2 miles to the beach to right near the beach.
Maybe not king, but that is at least prince living.
In PI, eat seafood, maybe pork and chicken, island fruits. Adapt.
Flights are decent to some world cities: Taipei (2.5 hrs), Hong Kong (2.5), Macau (2.5), Naha Okinawa (2.75), Shanghai (3.33), Jakata, (3.5) Kuala Lumpur (3.5), Bangkok (3.5) , Busan (4), Seoul (4.25), Tokyo (4.5),
Sydney is far at 7 hours and Honolulu is farther still at 10.5 hours.
Hi Pea another great video. You are right it depends how you want to live and for the most part I don't watch too many videos about how much it costs to live here. My monthly expenses are around 40,000 peso so that is about $1,000 Canadian or $750 USD. I have a nice apartment in a new building, I bought a golf cart style e-bike that is cheaper then a motorbike. I don't need to have western food all the time as I do like Filipino food and can cook some Filipino dishes. I am single so that helps to keep my expenses down. My rent is about a quarter of what I paid in Canada. Food is about the same but varies each month. Transportation is 400 pesos a month or less since my e-bike I can just plug in at home and costs about 25 peso per charge. I do have an entertainment budget and since I can save money here unlike at home I sometimes get over that part of my budget. It is more fun in the Philippines and more economical for me. Keep smiling and stay safe
Just curious what you pay for health insurance?
@@flicks28 I only have PhiHealth that pays a portion of you medical. That is 17,000 peso per year or about $420 Canadian or $310 USD approximately
Pea with your successful channel you are one of the top earners in the Philippines
and live like a empress
The trick is keeping it - I always seem to be spending it on building other people houses 🤣
@@TheFilipinaPea But it is the Reason some of us are LOYAL Followers.. Keep being YOU ❤❤
@@TheFilipinaPea i can understand that
Great podcast ! Very informative for sure
@@TheFilipinaPea you can't help everyone but money is a tool and I have found to help others is to help yourself,, I've helped people before and shortly after it seems I was blessed by God and rewarded,, I've noticed people all my life that were greedy that never went anywhere in life because they were always spending time being jealous of other people,,, some even seemed to develop bad health earlier in life
Thanks for the information Pea. The color blue is definitely your color.😊
Thanks Vernon!! ❤️👍
I agree 🙂
You are so right Pea. The Philippines offers something for everyone. There's a big difference between living in Makati than Makilala.
Definitely!! 👍👍👍
I am in downtown Houston, Texas to renew my USA passport today. I spent 2 hours walking amongst the skyscrapers, awing at the expense of the building and the salaries the employees must cost. I chose to live in the remote province area around Malitbog, Southern Leyte. Once I bought our ADV160 and got the house in order, I spend around $200 a month. I have a bit of an income from pensions and rental properties, so my choice to live like a local are exactly how I want to live. I cannot imagine spending $1000 or more on monthly expenses in the Phils, those guys are definitely living extravagantly.
I don't think those guys are living extravagantly. I think you are living frugal...Extremely frugal.
and fueling inflation (((
@KKemp-bt6nl I drink water and eat local fish and produce. 5 gallons water cost me 30 pesos about once a week. Not drinking alcohol and being a very good cook at home, it is hard to spend money.
Fantastic, Brian 👍👍👍
$200? My Philippine electric bill is more than that.
Great video Pea. I’m a BGC guy and must have all the modern conveniences so I’m calculating a monthly budget of $3,000 per month.
Hi Pea! We here in the US sure could you as a spokesperson for seminars promoting the Philippines. You have a wealth of knowledge that would be valuable for retires and expats. And being beautiful doesn't hurt either! As Gordon Gecko once said,"the most valuable commodity I know of is information". God speed Pea!
And that’s my job - being a spokesperson for the Philippines, both the good AND the bad 👍😊
INFORMATION THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HAVE !!!
* SO, IT'S NOT JUST INFORMATION; BUT INSIDE INFORMATION !!! ]
SO, GET IT RIGHT MARK WUKO MAN.
Hey. That would be illegal JJ!
@@markwukoman6847 >>> THAT'S WHY IS VALUABLE >>>
@markwukoman6847, so you want as many people as possible to know what is out there so that more and more people take advantage until the positives about it are eventually saturated? That’s like living in any formerly great city in America (Denver, Austin, etc.) and seeing transplants flood into the place because it is hyped up and ruin it.
Great logic you have lol
Great Video Ms. Pea. Most expats who come to the Philippines are retired, probably on SS and/or a pension from work. The income from the Western countries would barely get them by in their home country, but in the Philippines would be able to stretch the money more easily. For me, I would prefer a major city, but on the "outskirts" of the city, and probably rent a condo rather than a home. So, I estimate about $2000 per month to live comfortably in the Philippines with an occasional vacation in the Phillippines. The other issue for expats, from what I learned, is that expats need to have a backup plan for whatever income they are receiving. And since Foreigners on visitor visas cannot work technically in the Phillippines, anything online might be a bonus on whatever skills they have.
The majority of them have an income of $2k to $3K which is not enough to live in a developed country so they come to Philippines or other undeveloped country so they can survive.
Hello pea! I don't think how much money you have makes you live like a king. Im far from rich. But with my wife and 2 daughters i am truly living a kings life. Rich in love.
I think it helps a lot if you have one savvy Filipina living with you who knows all the tricks to save money! 😉🌹🙏🏻
DEFINITELY 👍👍
True dat. For example the best tip Filipinas give is to post on a dating app and get a foreign guy to buy you land and a house. Great money saving tip.
This financial assessment is spot on from what my wife and I experience living just outside Cebu City. We live in Philippines part of the year and in US the majority of the time.
It's all about balance, I have found that out after living outside the US since 2021. The only way to know what works is to try it. Some things will be a shock, and there's ALWAYS adjustments to be made. Great advice, no hype, delivered with a dose of humor.
Yes! Balance, Daniel-san, balance! 🤣🤣🤣
@@TheFilipinaPea love it! 🤣 Always with the perfect movie quote! 👍
15 years in se-asia now.. and yes its all about balance and how you adapt.
I'm low maintenance myself. So a good woman and a roof over my head is about it. Grew up in the country using outhouses and no running water in the house...roof leaked though LOL. So anything above that is a step up. :) I don't eat out and my food is simple enough as is. Ramen noodles, rice, fish, and some veggies. I will be good to go. By the way sis...always thought you would get more beautiful as you grew older and I am happy to say I am right!
This jibes with what my old CPO told me. He lives like a king on $2900 a month despite making more than double that (military pension + social security). Since he moved there in 2008, he's dropped 140lbs by adjusting his diet and the constant walking he does every day. He says moving to PI added 6 years to his life expectancy.😲 Great video, Pea! EDIT: I'm an idiot. The 'better than Dramaguete' series is about exactly what I was asking for.
It depends on what you define living like a king to be because $2900 is more expensive than living in the US.
BS! personel who retired from military don't get social security.
@@joseleysa5137 I thought they were not paying into it for a while but in recent years that changed.
My uncle in North Carolina served in the Army for 20 years and also worked in post office for 20 years after (Both Gov Services / Agency retirees) don't get social security. Only pension from both Army and Post Office.
Retired military get social security they paid into while on active duty and paid after they retire from the military at there cilvilan job. It has been like that for a long time. When I was station in subic I knew a lot of retirees.
On transportation: I bought a Piaggio trike for 186,000 (+/- 3,400 US) cash in Febuary 2023. Since then, they have become very popular in Dumaguete. To me, that is one of the best option: cost between a car and a bike for purchase, maintenance, much safer and passenger possibility. Thanks Pea. I love you
😂😂
I was thinking I would get a trike as well.
My chinese ex told me (I used to ride a motorcycle) that they have a saying. You can put the metal around the meat or the meat around the metal. Be safe out there!
Thanks for your competent guidance. I’ve chosen what works for me from your content. You’re appreciated 💕
And I sure appreciate you too 👍😊
Magandang Buntag Pea! I definitely appreciate all of the effort you put into your videos. These are ALL things to consider when making such a big change in life!
Lajon! Your time is almost at hand, my friend ❤️👍
Are you learning Tagalog? If so do you recommend a way to do so?
Only if you're going to live on Luzon or Manila. Otherwise learn bisayon, Waray or cebuano. Depends on where you live
@@michaelkisil4052 CZcams
Will be going to 🇨🇿 within 2 - 4 months. Wish you the best with your channel 🎉
Your content has been super useful. I've been studying & watching for the last 6 months while preparing for my first visit to the Philippines. Thank you 🙏
Thanks for saying that! It’s my job to get you as much good info as possible 👍👍
You've found some good thrift shops. That's another very attractive dress you're wearing! I'm a tee shirt and cargo shorts guy here in TX, only moving up to cheap Walmart jeans for the winter months. I'm still able to maintain a $1,000 a month budget living a quiet life and feel I'm doing pretty good. Big wide screen TV, new car, air-conditioning, and steak on the bbq now and then. The key is no debt. Food costs are my biggest variable because if it ain't on sale I'm not buying it. Another great video from my favorite Polynesian Princess, Ms Pea. 😉
If you’re single, you could still be doing so much better abroad. Sometimes it’s not what you’re affording, but the peace away from war-mongering and feminism of USA.
Understood, but at 73, I have health issues and need to be close to VA health care. I'm happy to live vicariously through those who can take the plunge.
Cap’t Max, we have a VA hospital in Manila! It’s the only (or one of the only?) VA’s outside the US 👍
Thank you for the invites, but I'm settled in here for the duration. There are too many conveniences here to move on again. I've had many adventures throughout my life. Memories I cherish. I lived on Guam for 18 months many yrs back, which will have to do. Here, Walmart will deliver grocery orders to your door for free. The VA clinic is 10 min away by local senior bus with door to door service. When I decline to the point I can't get around on my own, there are services to make life comfortable. If I was 25 yrs younger, maybe, but that ship has sailed.
@@TheFilipinaPea That's great to know. Something I wasn't aware of.
Thank you for the 1% kings income, that really helps put it into perspective
You’re so welcome, Ross 👍😊
I am currently in Cebu Business Center on my first retirement reconnaissance trip to the Philippines. This is one of the most expensive areas in Cebu so please keep that in mind.
I looked at condos in The Alcove, Park Point and Solinea.
One bedroom 65,000
Two bedroom 75,000
The furniture in these units is hit and miss. Some decent but most not near as nice as you get in Thailand. However, there was one of the five I looked at that was very nice so you really need to look at more than one
Food costs at the Ayala mall are pricey and maybe 10% less then I pay in Houston
One last thing. If you think as a western guy you are going to walk the mall and have all kinds of Filipinas smiling come hither smiles at you think again. I am a decent looking guy in good shape and I got maybe three smiles that, if I was staying, I would have talked to. Better than the states yes but just manage your expectations.
Thank you Pea for all you do!
Thanks for that info, Texas!!
Spot on. better housing and cheaper in Thailand. The 1 and 2 bedrooms condos are very very small ...65000-75000 not a bargain..
Solinea sucks. Overpriced shoebox. Poor hot water, shitty a/c, guests have to pay to use the pool, gym is always crowded, could not find a treadmill to save my life. Avoid at all costs
@@Freddy4fingers2 A lot of vloggers live there. They say great place for 450 a month .. You are spot on they are living in a tiny bedroom.. Of course they don't show a picture of the room. Its all about the views..
No idea why you’d spend so much on these condos here. I haven’t seen 1 that’s even worth 50k. You’re better off finding one that’s maybe a 10-15min drive for 35k.
I’m at Baseline and my 1br condo is 35k but talked them down to 30 for a year and a half.
It’s nice af too. Better than any apartment I’ve had in the west and it also doesn’t feel like a hotel.
If the Filipina Pea were there, 99% of the quality life is already filled.
Another awesome video Pea. Thank you for such consistently high-value content.
Dear God: Thank you for creating such a beautiful lady as the Filipina Pea so she can bless the lives of so many people around the world.
I second the motion. “Hear, hear!” It is an abbreviation for “hear, all ye good people, hear what this brilliant and eloquent speaker has to say!”
Simp much?
I think my mom’s gonna try to claim the credit, and say ‘Jesus who?” 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks ❤️
Always the best
lol we know@@whitehorse1959
"Common sense is the least common sense"...
...and how much of it is needed to grasp this topic! It is as it's almost a matter of choosing the correct CZcamsr to get a budget that fits your needs! Great video, Pea! Santiago
Or as I say "the problem with common sense is that it is so uncommon". - Absurd Nerd
I do believe it is "common sense is not that common ".
You'll need at least $4K to $5K to live like a king in Pinas. Living like a king means having a nice house, a car, a maid & a driver.
4k that is after you buy the 100 grands worth of house and car belongings etc etc etc you could live like 40 grand a month in usa for 4
Really?
@@AlanJohnson-df4znexplain
@@bossballheaddawg2588 Yes, unless you're king of the jungle 😂😂
Lots of high end 304s and a club membership.
A big consideration on purchasing a used vehicle is not outside appearance but inside the running gear. How well was it maintained? Frequent oil changes are a must.
A well maintained used vehicle has value but a poorly maintained vehicle isn’t worth much. Engine rebuild isn’t cheap. Transmission breaks electric components etcetera get costly.
I was really smart once and bought a used mazda miata when I still lived in CA. Got 6 weeks out of her before "poof" engine gone. I am not a fan of used cars. Nor bikes. I felt the sand falling down the glass each day I rode, until one day it was just no longer more fun than inevitable. I'm not having a crash in my 60's! Although I do see ex-pats riding outside of the city and that seems a decent bet with loads of optionality for going places off the beaten path.
I am definitely taking notes teacher Ms Pea
Nate my friend! ❤️😊👍
Excellent topic and extremely well done!
Thanks, Pea, as always 💯👍
Thanks for that, Sinjin! 😊👍
Enjoying half Filipino, half "semi-western" foods, doing most of my own cooking, eating out only at inexpensive places, I spend about 400 a month for two to eat, including a few snacks and sweets. I'm frugal, but have plenty of fresh meat and veggies. I cut some basic corners and shop for the best deals, but I never do without or feel unsatisfied. Lots of variety.
You must be frugal! Kudos 👍😊
I budget 5,000 per week for food for two. Usually are under budget.
Being Minimalist is good for everyone!
Great video, my wife(filipina) and I have a farm in Kabankalan and are basically self sufficient on food we produce ourselves. Costs are electricity and fuel, the biggest cost is a private medical fund. I am white South African so easy to adapt in Philippines, love it.
👍👍👍❤️❤️
On point topic. Budget is quite challenging and it depends in your lifestyle. Thanks for this informative video, guapa.
Thanks! And yes, it really depends on the individual 👍👍
So, what’s wrong with drinking the tap water? I’ve been doing it since I arrived. I realize that the locals prefer bottled water but maybe they don’t like the taste of the tapwater, but I find it to be just fine. Since we bathe in it, we’re gonna get some of them in our mouths anyway. So, it seems perfectly safe to me.
We are building a house in Province Not terribly far from where my wife’s parents live. Meantime, I’m staying with my wife, three children, three of her siblings and her parents. I have two pensions, One for about $1400 a month which I seldom go through and another for about $1800 which I bank. I love my new family and I buy most of the food willingly. I also pay the utilities and other miscellaneous things. I fear is free and easy and the location is beautiful.
This is definitely a beautiful Princess dress 👗 today Pea! Royal blue and satin silk 🤩 Suits you well 👸🏻
Blue for royalty (I’m waiting for my King) 🤣🤣
@@TheFilipinaPea On my way 💨
@@TheFilipinaPea You have not discovered this King
@TheFilipinaPea Ms Pea I thought you said in another vlog not that long ago you had found yourself a guy from the US, didn't work out ?
@@chrisellis9689 it is called hypergamy. A woman is always single if a better deal comes along
Pea is really bright, delightful and lovable. The man she devotes her heart to will be the luckiest guy in the world.
You are so right
Simp
Great work Pea, very informative.
Thanks, CMB! ❤️❤️👍
I don't need to live like a king 😂, I just need to live like a good man with a good wife at a good level that is at least comfortable middle class with no financial worries 😊. Even if I was rich, I would live at middle class level and enjoy my life. My dream house will be perfect.
I love your videos Pea, keep up the good work.
Thanks CP! I appreciate the vote of confidence 👍❤️
Are you early or am i late?
...and always let the ads play
O adjust my release time to American daylight savings time, so for Europeans, it’s an hour early 👍😊
For most people, you could easily live in the Philippines for $1,000.00 per month for most Americans. Just saying.
Less of you live like a local most that come here spend more than they have to
Exactly if you buy a fishing boat fish your own fish go hunting grow a garden you will save a ton
I personally don’t need to live like a king. If I have food, a home and good health, I am living like a king!!😊
But as you aged, you'll have multiple medical problems & that's when you need money. It ain't cheap in Pinas.
@@JunRoss-pp3mv
I’ve already aged! I’m 73 😆
Im MGTOW personally and i don't want to settle down ever but ill keep the Philippines as a potential retirement place.
Sure buddy 🤣
All that will change when you meet a sexy conservative loving 4'11 philipina
Never marry. You marry a Filipina you marry her extended family and friends. Trust me, my first wife is Filipina.
$200 to support a family seems like so little for the benefit of 😍
Blue is definitely your color, gorgeous.
She makes any colour look good.
@@borisj4054 true
as retirement looks closer and closer, your constant updates, advice, practical side of things in living in the Philippines is worth its weight in Gold.. not Pesos...
cant thank you enough for the constant stream of excellent videos you provide.
It's been my lifelong experience you want to live as close to a grocery store as possible, it makes a world of difference. I've had relatives who lived 45 miles out from the nearest supermarket, and my apartment in Northern Virginia is right across the street from a supermarket. I pop over there everyday for this or that, takes about 15 minutes and saves me the hassle of that big weekend trip most people need to make.
Have watched many Ph vids, enjoy them all. Some patterns I've picked up are many westerners retiring early and having modest income, as well as the Filipina trap who courts several westerners to meet her lifestyle and support her family. I guess when your an old man who retired early and requires any sort of companionship, you set yourself up for whatever comes.
Love the honesty and no bull.
Brilliant Pea! You're simply the best. You are an extremely popular vlogger and for good reasons❤
Can confirm your numbers are very close to reality from my experience having lived in ncr (5yrs) and now negros oriental (3yrs- a few hours north of you). Nice job. Newbies having never lived in developing countries might need more on the high end to adjust to and work through the culture shock.
Thanks VFX! And you should know 👍👍😊
As an Expat living here in the Philippines, your advice is right on. But I would add one very important consideration. Not only does the person have to consider where in the Philippines they’re going to live, and there are some very big differences, but it also depends on what state you are comming from in the USA.
If you’ve been living most of your whole life in the San Francisco Bay Area - most any part of the Philippines is a definite net-plus, but if you are coming from a very rural part of Mississippi, you might not find the cost-of-living difference that great.
You show so much compassion, diplomacy, and kindness. No wonder your views and subscribers are going through the roof!
I agree that there are alot of factors, but I guess the most important benchmark for any expat would be the "bare minimum", as in: How much do you need per month for basic needs? With basic needs, I mean you have a place to live, you have food, you have water, you have some kind of cooling (as overheating is a real threat), and internet access. It is the most important number because you then know that if you earn that or more, you will at least be safe.
For that, I would say that you would be able to afford that for 500 usd per month, but only as long as you stay in the provincial areas. as SOON as you go into Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, Tourist areas in Palawan and even Davao, prices quickly raise to western prices. The reason? Because filippinos know that in those areas you have alot of rich americans willing to pay alot, so they are able to raise the prices to whatever you would expect in the US or just slightly lower. Thus, if you plan to live in these cities, it will really not be cheaper than in the US. To the contrary, You will pay roughly the same but face worse network, worse traffic and people will always try to sell you stuff. That is where the 2000 USD/month comes from.
I have a family consisting of my wife and 3 kids. During my stay I measured the spendings, and we basically spent around 500 USD/month in total. We were not paying rent as I previously paid for a house in my wifes name, but there were instead extra payment in fuel and transportation since the kids needed to go to the school every weekday and someone had to drive into the city to buy the stuff. We live outside of Bangued which is a small town with 50k people, and I haven't really seen almost any expats there, so it is definetly dominated by local farmers, keeping the prices relatively low there.
My biggest advice to anyone trying to live cheap here and gets lots of stuff for your money; Avoid the tourist-heavy areas, move to places where you only see locals, and make sure to not pay more than the market price, a.k.a. avoid the skin tax. This is actually a morally good thing because if americans come to your area and gladly overspend their money, it will raise the prices, and it will be a loss for everyone; The expats because they no longer can live cheap, and the locals because they can't afford anything at all.
As I said to my wife once - There are three types of guys; rich guys, broke guys and stingy guys. Unfortunately you met a stingy one.
Very informative, especially the 1% statistic. I'm planning an extensive trip to the Philippines this year to explore the different life style possibilities. You brought up some interesting points. Thank you.
Good post. $300.00 is my cable bill in the states.
WHAT??? 😳😳😳😳😳😳
Oh my lord ….
i know when i stayed for an extended time, we had a budget of 2,000 a month. it was tight becouse we wanted to do alot of stuff, but we made it.
this includes me, my wife a child and todler, carpayment and 200 rent. plus drinking with her family and buying food for bbq,
We send around $300 AUD each week since November to build our house in the Philippines, (family helping us) it is a 3 bedroom quite large nice home with beautiful roof with metal tile also, almost finished. The exchange rate is terrible & $300 a week is the cost of groceries for a family here in Australia. Don’t need Air con there too, it is no way near as hot as here in Australia & the sun is so intense it rips the paint off cars here 😂
I just saw my wifes Fathers relatives sent 1.5 million Pesos from US to build & a builder in Manila ripped them off, so far they need to rebuild.
People overseas do not do their research, it can take a lifetime to truly understand how it works there, which it is common to be ripped off & scammed in Australia too with many things.
If you are going to rent there, may as well live in the West. Australia’s cost of living is off the charts.
Not sure why youtube recommended me this video, but as someone who spent nearly half of his adult life in southeast asia, here's my 2 cents. In the philippines you can live a comfortable life with around 2 grand a month, provided that you keep it reasonable, middle class life standards. The figure increases to around 3k in malaysia and indonesia, jakarta in particular is surprisingly pricey to live in.
Also, I would skip renting an apartment and rent a house instead, cheaper and more spacious.
This lady is very articulate....enjoyable to listen to
I know! I kept thinking that I need to brush up on my english 🤣
Another banger from the Pea. I live in southern California and am well-to-do. My Thai gf is working class and lives in a simple apartment in Bangkok that costs $125 a month. It has AC and is close to public transport, but no kitchen, only 1 small sink, etc. Is it bad? Not at all. Life is just so much simpler there. The less you have, the fewer headaches in so many ways. Honestly, I find it refreshing to spend time there.
Yeah, you get a bunch of possessions and then you have to keep track of them and protect them against others trying to take it. Too much effort involved.
Smart advice from witty, well-educated Pea - for me, „the reference“ among all channels re. the Philippines 😊👌💯
Pea, here I live on almost nothing, with food and gas being my biggest bills. I honestly think it would cost me more to live there because here my house and everything I own is paid for. I have an orchard both fruit and nut trees and I grow a garden, and I have even grape vines, asparagus,etc that come up every year.
Here I know how to work every angle, but there I would have rent and everything .
"A girlfriend or two!" I love it! 😅 I just retired from the military 4 months ago at 40 years old, and I'm 75% leaning to move in Cebu, Philippines.
Always good words Pea. I will be back in Manilia this month. You are on my bucket list... Next to Manny Pacquiao. hug and prayers always.
G’day Miss Pea! Regarding the sneaky unsubscribing of your followers, I’ve seen other CZcamsrs complain about this, too, so you’re not alone. They had suspected their content was possibly controversial as to the reason why, but that surely wouldn’t apply to your channel.
Have a great day, hooroo!
It applies to mine as well, whenever I do an anti-feminism video 😳
Great stuff…thank you I’m planning to visit Philippines this year for a few weeks and any info helps a lot
Thank you
Another standard Pea video. That is to say, great video and easy to watch. Or is it Pea is easy to watch? Either or both. Thank you Pea.
I’ll take elther - or both! 🤣😊
Barbershops now charging $50-$65 dollars here in California.
I came from michigan. I was used to setting the AC at 78 F (26 C) in summer. Here, Im slowly getting used to higher temperatures. I now consider 28 comfortable. My filipina wife thinks 30 is comfortable so were always resetting the AC on each other. I run AC almost 24/7. But in the philippines you don't have centralbair, you have separate AC in each room. So during the day we have AC on in the living room and kitchen and at night we shut that off and just run AC in our bedroom. So our monthly electric bill is about P4000, or $80, which I consider not bad. When I moved here, knowing I'd be running the AC, I had braced myself for $200. (Electricity here is slightly more expensive per kWh than I paid in the US, but not outrageous.)
Something to consider is preservation of medication. Heat and humidity tend to degrade them. Antibiotics in particular. The maximum general recommendation is 25c (77f).
Some condos have central air.
Pea, thank you that leaves me pretty much in the rich zone. I have a wonderful wife Filipino with family in the province everything self sustain my income as well more than 3800 US. I think my only issue now is how much the visa is and I know you’ve done videos on this before I watch them but things change.. I like your channel the most because you add humor and reality at the same time. Good job.. I don’t know if you’re coming to America anytime soon, but if I’m here you can stay with us keyword us I love my wife more than anything in the world and U2 will get along and talk to Gallo all day
As long as there's a fan, I'm good. Grew up without A/C.
Men should always invest in monthly dividend stocks to cover any child support payments in the west. Figure at least 130% of your payment to be safe when calculating how much you should invest in monthly dividend stocks
dividends go down often..what then
As my mom says about my dad, "I'd be happy in a cardboard box so long as I'm with him." It's important to find someone with the same thought process.
I really appreciate an updated look at expense ranges. While I'm only going to be there for a month this summer, I was planning on scouting out this very information while I was there. I still will probably look into cost of renting in the Dumaguete or Valencia area, this saves me some time researching other expenses.
Valencia’s cooler 👍👍👍😊
I send my Filipina wife about $300 dollars per month for her and my son. I also built her a house in the Province area and helped her start a Pisonet wifi business. So she has a little side business income that we can expand on later. When I return there will be no rent to pay for me.
Of course my little house has no air conditioner or running water so we will use the well pump outside to fill up our buckets. Im thinking about adding a little water tower and pipes for the house because I love showers and the convenience of a water fossit in the kitchen.
Besides that when I arrive I will not need to spend very much unless I wanna eat out once a week and stroll the Mall which is my habit.
For transportation we will use the tricycle to and from town. The one way fare shouldn't be more than $1.89 (100 pesos) to town for me and my wife. Groceries I suspect shouldn't be no more than $125 per month. Restaurant food per week no more than $25 dollars (things are a bit cheaper in the Phil).
Other than that the electric bill and wifi is our only utility bills which is no more than $40 dollars per month. Our water is free because we have a water pump well outside the house!
So my total cost of living is about $200 for myself. Extra expenses is if I wanna splurge more on my wife and son. 🎉🎉🎉 🥳
My husband is retired US army and got 4 types of retirement pay monthly. We just lived simply but comfrtably. We dont have housemaid i cooked everyday and do the household chores not just do the laundry because we pay someone to do it for us. We rented a 3 bedroom house for 120$ and nice concrete house already.
Yep, last time I did a survey of what doctor/professional top professional made in Third World countries, which was Philippines, Colombia, Thailand, Peru, etc. it was about $40K USD/yr.
So things can’t get too crazy pricewise (relative to the US) if even doctors are making only $40Kyear
👍👍👍
Blue looks good on you pea!
Thanks AP! 😊👍
@@TheFilipinaPea thank you for your style
Always a pleasure to watch, and ready to visit soon
That's a good informational overview, Pea!
You are so awesome Filipina Pea!!! I appreciate you so much! I will be flying to Philippines 🇵🇭 this Summer 2024 for the first time ever and primarily because of your videos I feel like I can survive The Philippines 😂😂😂 💪 👊
You got it
As always your videos are very intelligent and analytical!
A very informative video Pea, with a lot of thought provoking details. I’m a retired Brit, living in Europe, where my pension doesn’t go as far as I’d like. Imagine my surprise to learn that, in the Philippines, I’d be a one percenter! I should get a t-shirt made❣️(or perhaps advertising it wouldn’t be advisable)😳
Thank you, that is a wonderful "realistic" Budget overview.
👸 Princess Pea: Amazing helpful information that you have given. This even helps me and I lived in the Philippines 🇵🇭 before. So, a real new person just won the information lottery. Sorry that someone is trying to throw salt in your channel. I am just figuring out the year I want to do a return in my plan. Your budget figures for me so much within my range. Which I am happy to hear. In America 🇺🇸 retirement places on incomes are available in (20) percent of AMERICA 🇺🇸. Philippines 🇵🇭, fortunately for me would be about (90) percent in all areas. Thank you Princess 👸 Pea. Now age (61) and my children are grown and have their children now. Me, as a widower have to plan my retirement coming soon.
David!!! Thanks for watching this one too 👍👍❤️
I’m budgeting $3,300, but can afford significantly more. My SoCal rent is $3,100. Double that for other monthly living expenses.
It is my experience that if you have your house, and car, already paid for, you can live very well. My wife lives in Isabela province, and our monthly bills amount to the following:
Electricity for both of our houses cost 150 USD a month combined.
Internet is 25 USD a month.
Netflix is 25 USD a month.
Propane is 70 USD a month.
Food from Robinsons is 800 USD a month.
I send Diana 2500 USD a month and she lives very comfortably. When I am home it adds another 1000 USD a month because we go all over Luzon, especially to Bagiuo and 100 islands, but sometimes we will just follow a road and see where it goes. But again we have everything bought and paid for. So 3500 USD is more than enough to live on in my opinion. We only use AC at night lol. But lady Pea is right about making sure that you have money saved for any emergencies. I work for the U.S. Government, so I only come home for 10 weeks every other year.
This honestly sounds very comparable to the prices where I live, in the Midwest of the USA. 2000sq/ft house, 4 bedroom 2 bath in a nice neighborhood, at $650 a month. $70 for internet, around 300 for all utilities, and 300 for food. Insurance is a little higher at 200 a month, health insurance is another 200, and I own my cars outright, only 100 a month for my motorcycle I bought new. Perhaps a little cheaper, but only by a small amount. Crazy!
I’m in province Cebu. $1900.00 Canadian a month.,30% of that is investment. Chickens, goats, ducks, tilapia pond, garden. In time,these things will pay off and I’ll spend 1000 Canadian.( 740.00 U.S.) bike payment $125.00 Internet $40.00 rent $200.00
It's hard to figure actual costs for those of us who built a 5br home (cash from savings - over 10 years ago) for me, the filipina wife and her family. So no rent or mortgage, just electric, internet, food, water, gas and going out a few times a month. There is also home fixes or upgrades - we did that over a year ago. There's also expenses in family death, hospital care etc. A good savings account is important to take care of emergency expenses. On average we spend about $1000 a month, save the rest and take each day at a time due to unforeseen events. We never loan money - we either give it or not if we have it or can afford it without taking a big hit on our savings. Lastly - we thank God everyday for his blessings he has given us and providing for us with all that we need. We are so blessed 💞 Nice video - but so hard to cover everyone's situation.
Nice job Pea! As a future expat, your "high" end budget is easily doable by most middle class US expats. You are correct in that what constitutes high-end in the PI, doesn't get a lot of benefit for life here in the USA. It's mind-boggling how far our money will go in the PI. Add in the general happiness factor that a majority of filipinos have and you have a recipe for a great and adventurous retirement in the Philippines! Keep up the great work!
As always you are right on the money.
It is hot humid and sunny all the time.
Not a small detail.
Heat will wither you.