Why Many Expats Can Not Live on 800 USD Month in Philippines

Vagabond Awake

๐Ÿ“Œ ๐— ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—œ๐—ป ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—”๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฉ๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ผ:
https://vagabondbuddha.com/why-many-expats-can-not-live-on-800-usd-month-in-philippines/
๐Ÿ– ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—น๐—ฑ๐˜„๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ:
https://vagabondbuddha.com/

๐•๐€๐†๐€๐๐Ž๐๐ƒ ๐€๐–๐€๐Š๐„ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐›๐ž ๐œ๐ก๐š๐ง๐ง๐ž๐ฅ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐•๐š๐ ๐š๐›๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ก๐š.๐œ๐จ๐ฆ

Facebook Page for Vagabond Buddha:
https://www.facebook.com/vagabondbuddha/

๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป ๐๐‹๐„๐€๐’๐„ ๐’๐”๐๐‚๐‘๐ˆ๐๐„ ๐“๐Ž ๐๐ˆ๐€๐๐† ๐‚๐‡๐€๐๐๐„๐‹๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

๐Ÿ’๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ ๐‡๐Ž๐๐Ž ๐•๐„๐๐“๐”๐‘๐„๐’ – ๐๐ˆ๐€๐๐† ๐‡๐”๐ˆ
ใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธใ€ฐ๏ธ
๐Ÿ“น ๐™”๐™Š๐™๐™๐™๐˜ฝ๐™€ ๐˜พ๐™ƒ๐˜ผ๐™‰๐™‰๐™€๐™‡: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXq0ZRIyR3eX9OhTrNHisA
๐Ÿ“Œ ๐˜ฝ๐™‡๐™Š๐™‚ : https://hoboventures.com/
๐Ÿคณ๐™„๐™‰๐™Ž๐™๐˜ผ๐™‚๐™๐˜ผ๐™ˆ : https://www.instagram.com/qianghui
๐Ÿงถ ๐™๐˜ผ๐˜พ๐™€๐˜ฝ๐™Š๐™Š๐™† ๐™‹๐˜ผ๐™‚๐™€: https://www.facebook.com/qianghui.hoboventures/

๐‘ป๐’‰๐’† ๐’‡๐’๐’๐’๐’๐’˜๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’๐’Š๐’๐’Œ๐’” ๐’˜๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐’„๐’๐’”๐’• ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’๐’๐’•๐’‰๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’†๐’™๐’•๐’“๐’‚ ๐’ƒ๐’–๐’• ๐’˜๐’† ๐’˜๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’ ๐’–๐’” ๐’‚ ๐’”๐’Ž๐’‚๐’๐’ ๐’„๐’๐’Ž๐’Ž๐’Š๐’”๐’”๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐’•๐’ ๐’‰๐’†๐’๐’‘ ๐’–๐’” ๐’Œ๐’†๐’†๐’‘ ๐’•๐’“๐’‚๐’—๐’†๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’˜๐’“๐’Š๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’•๐’“๐’‚๐’—๐’†๐’ ๐’ˆ๐’–๐’Š๐’…๐’†๐’”.

โœˆ๏ธ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—™๐—น๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜๐˜€ ๐—”๐—ป๐˜†๐˜„๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—น๐—ฑ:
https://vagabondbuddha.com/Skyscanner

๐Ÿ› ๐—”๐—ฐ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€ ๐—”๐—ป๐˜†๐˜„๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—น๐—ฑ:
Booking: https://vagabondbuddha.com/booking
Hotelscombined: https://vagabondbuddha.com/hotelscombined

๐ŸฅŠ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ ๐—ง๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐˜€ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—น๐—ฑ๐˜„๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ:
Getyourguide: https://vagabondbuddha.com/getyourguide
Viator Tours: https://vagabondbuddha.com/viator

๐‘ป๐’‰๐’‚๐’๐’Œ ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’‡๐’๐’“ ๐’˜๐’‚๐’•๐’„๐’‰๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ,
๐‘ซ๐’‚๐’

๐—–๐—ข๐—ก๐—ง๐—”๐—–๐—ง ๐——๐—”๐—ก : https://vagabondbuddha.com/contact/

๐—ฃ๐—ฅ๐—˜๐—ฆ๐—˜๐—ก๐—ง ๐— ๐—ข๐— ๐—˜๐—ก๐—ง ๐—”๐—ช๐—”๐—ฅ๐—˜๐—ก๐—˜๐—ฆ๐—ฆ ๐—ฉ๐—œ๐——๐—˜๐—ข๐—ฆ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAVbRUbuq1ZekZoOfUZzesw/videos

234 comments

    1. Hi Ernesto, These beaches are from our last 6 weeks in the Philippines before the lockdown started. These beaches are a ferry ride away from Davao, Camiguin Island, Bohol, Panglao, and Dumaguete. No shortage of beaches in the Philippines. Thanks, Dan

    1. @vagabond awake hi dan! i think foreigners pay a premium for philhealth compared to the locals but in the event of being hospitalized you can get a 20 per cent discount, the price of the room is the daily rate charged by the physician (doctor) so to keep costs down get a medical ward, mine had ac and cable TV, you are allowed a watcher, somebody to stay over, some hospitals you have to deposit funds every few days so you have round the clock meds and in a medical ward there are students to assist you with ADL’s, activities of daily living like brushing your teeth which can create stress when you have IV or high on meds, when you are 60 and above you can qualify for a senior ID, apply at a local senior citizen center or inquire in the barangay, it gives another 20 per cent discount on hospitalization, the 20 per cent discount applies to jollibee and restaurants, not so much for a karinderya, local airfare, hotels, ferries and buses, plus a discount at a grocery and drugstore but be sure to bring the booklet, most of my meds i get at TGP, a generic pharmacy, i only know the senior citizen center in bacolod. at a fastfood like jollibee, seniors are given priority in paying for the food and at your request they can bring the tray to your table plus a free sunday (news)paper. you can also have insurance, to be admitted in a hospital in bacolod there’s a 5000 deposit for a ward and a 10,000 peso deposit for a private room, in a private room you can ask assistance from the nurses or nursing aides let’s say toileting or to be washed but in a ward then it becomes the responsibility of your watcher, a watcher is important as people go in rooms so you can lose money or valuables with unscrupulous personnel especially when you’re sedated. when they enter your room and they’re wearing gloves then you pay for it so i always ask what they’re gonna do for me to decide if they need gloves or not, prior to covi they would wear a mask going to the room and my first question is, did you wear it at the nursing station and if they say yes then i would tell them to take it off and wash their hands in the restroom before attending to the patient as i worry about infection control. i find nurses here are very competent but lack authority, when my mom had surgery, 24 hours later i wanted her to dangle in the bed and eventually sit in a chair and walk and the nurses were like no no no, they needed the doctor’s approval and i said is this your first case and they said no so i asked what is the protocol after 24 hours, the nurses seem to baby the patients which in turn would make them stay longer, hospitals charge for pillows and blankets, they say it has to do with infection control so i gave them a lecture because the clothing they have in ER is also brought to the room so i was able to bring my own pillows and blanket.

    3. @nandorman i met a brit with a senior ID, it gives you a 20 per cent discount at restaurants, a karinderya may not give you a discount, with the booklet you can get discounts at a grocery store and pharmacy and a faster lane for seniors, in the philippines it’s 60 and over, 20 per cent discount on hotels, local air fare plus ferries and buses.

    5. Hi Subotai, do you live in the Philippines? Do you have personal data point for what your cost of living is? I have been in the hospital in the hospital in Asia. I get all my health care in SE Asia. My cost of being in a hospital in Asia for 5 days (including MRIs, scans, and medicine) was cheaper than 3 monthly premiums in the USA. Plus my deductible was 10k in the USA before I could expect the first dollar of health care. You may need to adjust your perspective. But thanks for commenting. Your thoughts are welcome here. Best, Dan

    1. Hi Von, These beaches are from our last 6 weeks in the Philippines before the lockdown started. These beaches are a ferry ride away from Davao, Camiguin Island, Bohol, Panglao, and Dumaguete. No shortage of beaches in the Philippines. Thanks, Dan

  10. can I marry your girlfriends sister ? excellent video, love your presentation. I am going to leave Canada when I retire and your information will be invaluable , thank you. I have been to Central and south America quite a bit to scout things out, but never over seas, but I find the Philippines or Vietnam much more appealing.

    3. nandorman no, have not looked into Africa and doubt that I will, mainly due to the time perspective…wanna make a decision soon, Iโ€™m 67…thanks for the suggestion

    4. Vietnam is very appealing, but learning the language or even trying to read it for most retired people is too much. Even worse in Thailand! Spanish is not that difficult…. Si seรฑor!

  11. I wanted to make a valued judgement of the cost comparisons between the contributors who claimed to be able to live modestly at both ends of the cost-of-living spectrum. But I found myself getting quite lost in your convoluted commentary comparing the relative expenditure of Calvin and ‘generic’ Robert. Perhaps a simple comparison chart at the end might have helped a little bit. But I don’t want to criticise because your other subscribers seem to have followed your commentary perfectly! So this is only my personal point of view. I loved your visuals by the way, and I look forward to further interesting uploads from you.

    1. I have never been involved in paid sex nor would I like to have it promoted on my channel. I have no judgement about what consenting adults do. I respectfully request that this not be promoted on my channel. Thank you, Dan

    3. โ€‹@Calvin Roach Very true. I was talking to a Filipina friend of mine for 10 years. In her town in Negors Oriental a gwapa Kirida receives from her Filipino sugar daddy around 2500php a month. It computes to 1 week of a good monthly salary. Which is around $200 per month, yes that’s a very good salary. The not so good looking ones get only rice from their tricycle driver sugar daddies. For those who are into girls and not interested in serious relationship and don’t want to waste money on bargirls/pro girls having kiridas would be a cheaper alternative as well. Even if they would have to pay (donate) more than local men. However they need to learn the culture and have some skills to be able to handle the occasional pressure.

  13. I live on ยฃ1000 a month here in Northern Ireland and that includes my mortgage, rates, running a car etc etc… So I donโ€™t know how he needed $1800 a month to live there!?

    3. @Philippine SemiExpat Good points. The big difference is that Vagabond Awake is vegan. There you go that’s already a big savings by itself. How I know? Because I’m also a vegan. He probably doesn’t trust most of the restaurants’ cooking method anyway so he is motivated to cook at home. He also doesn’t go to bars and he doesn’t chase bar girls. His GF is OK with his lifestyle so there is no pressure to spend more. As per using the Tabo instead of the toilet paper probably pass on that, unless I learn the Asian squat. No luck with that so far. You can also step under the shower after which I also do often. Why not kill 2 birds with one stone? Health insurance is necessary I agree but if you are a whole food vegan – like he is – then your chances of a heart attack and strokes are much-much lower. You also stay slim and healthier. God policy if you don’t live in your native country.

    4. Depends on what you want. If you want a car like you had back home, or a motorcycle, there are costs associated with that. Do you want medical insurance in case as you’re crossing a street you get run into, or you have a fall where there are holes or pieces missing from the sidewalk and break a leg, you get a disease or heart attack? Do you want to eat fish that’s full of bones and spit out fish bones all through your meal, or pay more for fish fillets? Do you like the occasional steak, or are you good with rice 3 or 4 times a day and a steady diet of pork, fish, and chicken? Do you want toilet paper or are you happy to use a Tabo and clean your butt after you use the toilet with water and your fingers? Western style luxuries cost no matter where you live, and the Philippines is no exception. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  15. I have a few friends living over there and who seem to have a good life on less than a thousand dollars US per month. Dumaguete is one of the areas that an expat can live inexpensively.
    We spent 9 weeks in the province of Iloilo last spring and I know for a fact that I would be hard pressed to live on that kind of budget. I just can’t eat like a local for very long. Finding food similar to what I enjoy in Canada is pretty pricey, and of course I can’t go long without my air conditioning. I also spend more on getting around because I prefer cabs or grab to jeepney’s or tricycles.
    I agree with a lot of what you said but there are a lot of factors that can make life there costly even without the women and booze and bars.
    Certainly as you say, if a person can live like a local it won’t cost much, but very few of us can stray too far from or foreign lifestyle. ๐Ÿ˜

    1. For me, it was a gradual entry into the joys of investigating what the locals are up to. The first few years I was trying to recreate home back in 2007 when I left the USA. But when I made a few local friends and hung out with them, I slowly made a transformation. What I really found amazing, was that the whole experience was better. Why? Because the expat food was not as good as it tasted at home. They didn’t have all the right ingredients to start with available in the stores. But the local food and life was amazing, but only after I had been introduced to it through a local’s eyes. They grew up with it and knew the best things at the best prices. It became more interesting when I saw it from the inside instead of the outside. Best, Dan

    2. @Mark ledesma Bacolod city is a nice place too. Being as my wife is from the town of Dumangas we have taken the ferry over there several times already.

    3. @Calvin Roach it takes a lot to pick up and leave family and home along with the life you’re comfortable with. Of course my wife like many other Filipinas has done that to move here. I think only when we head there to live will we ever understand completely.

    4. @brotonel alex let’s be perfectly clear though. When a person says “living like a local” in the Philippines, that varies greatly depending on the area. To live like a local in BGC or Makati is far different than living like a local way out in the province or in a area filled with shanty’s. It boils down to what a person can afford or can’t. To choose a area such as BGC it would cost about the same as living in a small city in Canada, but to live way out in the province, if you can handle living in a hut you might get by on $400.00 a month or less, but most foreigners won’t enjoy it. ๐Ÿ™‚

  18. Agree with you Dan, live like the locals, like local Joe… they can show you great places to eat and drink at cheap prices…mix with fellow expats only occassional ๐Ÿ‘

  20. If all you can afford is $800 per month you can make it work, if you can afford $1800 you will be able to do more. Comparisons are really futile.

    1. Yes. Why compare $800 to $1800 if you have a budget of $2000? And honestly, you have to come do a site visit before moving here anyway. To verify suitability and costs for yourself. Thanks, Dan

  21. most people think they can move to fills and live better than they do back home…and you can ,but it wont be $800 bucks..also most 1st world people are very spoiled and would not last in phils..no matter how much cash they have..1 tip i use is when im in Canada i pack balik bayan boxes full of all the heavy stuff that is unavailable/expensive in the Philippines (the light food stuffs i take with me on flight)..

    1. Thanks for sharing your travel tip Alan. How much do you spend on average per month in the Philippines? Lovely i you could tell us by category too … rent, utilities, restaurants, bars, grocery stores. Thanks for commenting too. I have noticed that people tend to spend whatever their budget is, whether small or large. What are your thoughts on that? Best, Dan

  23. I eat street food, stay with family, Buy a few beers, barrow a scooter, and spend about 600 a month, Thatโ€™s also having fun, I was so impressed a purchased a condo in Cebu, Iโ€™m now engaged to a Gwapa Women. Who owns a family farm, Iโ€™m teaching them dairy and milk production, Iโ€™m totally in love with the Philippines

  24. I would love to live in the Philippines in a place like Bohol, maybe even IloIlo. Perfectly happy with learning to live as a local and not go off trying to get things that I normally would here in North America, since yes they are indeed considered luxury items.

  26. hey Dan. Thank you for another gem…. I am just waiting for this nightmare to go to the Philippines. I hope I meet you and Q
    in one of your back and forth movements there….Thank you

  27. Less! We have a nicely finished, brand new, large studio apartment near downtown Dumaguete. Running AC an average of 12 hours per day. Rent is 7k pesos, utilities (including good internet) adds just under 3k, giving an average monthly housing cost of 10k php, approx $200.00US.
    Some people might balk at a studio apartment, but we find it wonderful. We take turns cooking most meals at home, shop first at the local markets and spend most of our time on day trips, of which southern Negros is blessed. The payments on the new scooter are only 3k per month, fuel doubles that as we are out exploring every day that we can (not much now!) Meals out are typically lunches on exploring trips and are ALWAYS local restaurants, try everything, you’ll find many new dishes you’ll come to love.
    My lady watches our budget carefully, and is quick to point out when I am feeling foolish. But we live a good life, enjoy our days thoroughly and on the most expensive months we average 30k php , approx $600US.
    Can’t wait for the world to calm down again and continue our wandering days!

  29. Itโ€™s called adapting. If it was easy everyone would do it. It can take up to 2 years to get acclimated to your new location and culture. If you can last itโ€™s all downhill after that. Bitching and complaining only makes matters worse. The benefits outweigh the sacrifices. The only failure is not to try. Beware of the dream killers that roam the videos discouraging you from making the leap!

    1. @Vagabond Awake I’ll stop posting realistic comments and I’m sure you’re going to block me now just like all the other youtubers who are making commercials for the Philippines..but in my defense if I just saved one guy from putting his safety at risk thinking that youtubers are giving a realistic understanding of what it really takes to live here then I will feel better about myself…and to the other guy Calvin …he never even attempted to answer my 2 questions so why respond to him.

    3. Moto Kenny how long have you been here? And what part of the Philippines are you located? Expats are a rare breed. Maybe thatโ€™s why there are so few who have made a successful transition. We are certainly adventurous and we donโ€™t allow a few setbacks to knock us off of our journey. We are intelligent and have saved and planned well. Donโ€™t generalize and label us all as crazy or lunatics or unhappy. A real expat has no regrets about his life abroad.

    4. Moto Kenny first of all this isnโ€™t America or their country of origin so youโ€™re not going to change this place to meet your demands. After the initial honeymoon wears off, typically after a few months, boredom will set in unless you establish a routine. In my case I have went back to reading and working out. Iโ€™m practicing the language! Biggest adjustment! When I start to feel down or not having a good day I remind myself why I came here to begin with. Youโ€™re not in Kansas anymore Dorothy!!

    5. “Dream killers”…LMAO!!…are you kidding me?….plz tell me WHY it can take up to two years to get acclimated?..and tell the dreamers what EXACTLY they are going to have to adapt too…and I wouldn’t discourage any white guy to come here simply coz I love the entertainment of seeing other expats go through what I’m going through.

  30. No balls no blue chips. You have to play the lottery in order to win it. Expats are risk takers. Wimps need not apply. Its that simple. Either you have what it takes to move to another country and adapt or you donโ€™t. Trolls please stop discouraging future expats with your Monday morning quarterbacking! Keep up the great work Dan!

    1. Yes Tony. It takes time in the world to appreciate the nuances instead of complain about them. Live life for experience. Eventually you will embrace the experience instead of wishing everything is like home.

    2. Well said Calvin! All the whining about Filipinos I see as a reflection of the whiners character. There are airports all over the Philippines. There are 20 to 30 other retire cheap countries if this place is not their cup of tea.

    4. Calvin, I’m a 20 year retired Air Force Vet and continue working for the government. I mention this because I’ve been moving around the world ever few years since I was 18 (34 years ago), and I agree that trolls need to stop discouraging future expats, but I think we (you navy and me air force), had some preparation for the excitement and adventure of overseas locations and living. If anyone can recommend taking a risk and experiencing another country, it’s those of us that had our military services direct our relocation to various overseas locations. That’s not a bad thing, and I believe we can now recommend, with some authority, that taking the plunge and moving overseas can be the best thing for your mind, body and soul.

  32. I think that before setting your budget you need to ask yourself 2 questions “where do I want to live” and “how do I want to live”. If you want to live in Manila or Cebu, eat out a lot at nice restaurants, use taxis, support a wife and child, hang out in bars, shop in nice supermarkets and buy imported goods etc then sure, you can’t make it on $800 a month. If you are happy to live a minimalist life (like most Filipinos do) in the provinces then you can live on $800 a month in the Philippines. The important thing is not to judge someone living a simple life as just “surviving” and not really “living”. A simple, basic life is living if that’s happiness for you. It is only “surviving” if you want to live it up and cannot.

    2. Yes Paul. It is all perspective. No need to judge someone that has the other perspective. If you are choosing your perspective rather than having it forced upon you … happiness is the reward.

    3. Absolutely agree. Some people retire to Miami and some people retire to 2 acres outside of town in Montana. They have widely differing views on what retirement looks like… and significantly different costs

    4. Paul Davis I agree. No 2 expats are the same. I remind myself constantly of why I came here to begin with and that is the freedom that a simple life affords me. Something I wasnโ€™t able to accomplish at home in America.

    5. A lot of retirees can live on less and save money to benefit others in the future. The simple things in life can be the best – better to help others live well, too. It is wonderful to help some other deserving people and let them know they are appreciated, too. The World needs more beautiful people traveling and willing to help uplift others – let’s all share goodwill.

  33. We live on about $1000/month comfortably in Talisay City, Cebu. We own our modest house. We live a simple but happy life- internet/Netflicks. We get pizza or Jollibee or similar at least twice a week. We donโ€™t go out drinking. So nothing crazy. We have or buy whatever we need.

    But thatโ€™s why I came here and married my Filipina wife- happiness, peacefulness and low stress. I rarely ever see an expat or foreign tourist. Maybe 1 or 2 a month at SM Seaside Mall.

  35. Was going to retire in Vietnam, know it very well…if I were to check out the Philippines, which place should I check out first Dan?..Bohol, dumaguete, Cebu city?

    3. I would add Camiguin Island and Bohol to Nandorman’s list. Thanks for commenting. Best, Dan Don’t be intimidated by multiple places. Just spend a few weeks in each and make your pick. Best, Dan

    5. Try Cebu and Maktan island first and then Dumaguete. If you like condos check out Maktan where the condos are at the beaches and in Cebu in the IT Park and around Ayala center. I don’t know Bohol.

  36. Handling the statisical abnormality! I have travaฤบed alot and going local is the way to go. Also there is always pleasant surprises when you go local. I remember hitting the company canteen in Jamaica and the curried fish meals were delicious and really cheap. Funny how those memories stick in the mind.

  37. 6:20 your expat dinner cost is very fair but cheap in my eyes at $140 per month…

    In China and Hong Kong, when I was in “expat” mode, I’d easily drop US$100 for dinner for two with subpar taste and have reached over $250 for a dinner that in the US would be only $95. So spending $300 a week was way too easy. Not counting coffee shops. That’s without alcohol too

    In “semi-local” HK mode I’m probably spending $10-20 eating out per meal 1-2 person at the local canteen. I say “semi” because up until now I haven’t really thought about the cost… Rather I just got lazy and accustomed to the local foods. Maybe I can go cheaper, I don’t know.

    Great video though. This minimalist lifestyle combined with travel is wonderful.

    I also enjoyed the previous video of you cooking soup in your humble apartment. It’s wonderful because by dropping so much unnecessary material things we really can enhance our life experiences.

  38. 14:00 wow very interesting… $1700 mortgage in the USA and moving to Ph with less than $500 rent? “Generic Robert”, I originally would think, was very frugal lol ๐Ÿ˜‚

    Now I’m in Hong Kong so it’s not the same as Ph but 10 years ago left the US $2300 mortgage for a $2500 rent in HK because I expected the same size apartment as in the USA… lol now “semi local” and paying $550 in rent in HK

    Maybe I need to move to SE Asia ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ‘

    1. Thanks. Just trying to shone a little light for people that want a better life than bacvk home but don’t make as much as some of the big spenders here. Best, Dan

  40. Why complain, only rental here in America is $1500 make sense. To much drama where to live, to much drama what foods to eat. just go home in your country. Expat behavior

    1. Best thing to do is to come here and tour around and find your natural spot. Don’t spend so much time imagining what would be the perfect place from thousands of miles away. Best, Dan

    1. Many of these people are retiring from their jobs in the US – maybe voluntarily, maybe not. They may also be coming out of a divorce where they took a financial beating. So thereโ€™s no way they could remain in the US.

    2. Well said. Everyone is wondering if they can live in the Philippines for $800 USD, but how are they doing it the USA if people are saying it is difficult in the USA?

    3. @Calvin Roach My reply was mainly based on the title alone ” Why Many Expats Can Not Live on 800 USD Month in Philippines ”
      $ 800/month is pushing the poverty threshold whether you reside in the States or the P.I. . Regardless of how frugal one thinks they may be ….

    4. Johnny Iโ€™m a successful independent insurance agent who โ€œretiredโ€ at 55 on my savings and a renewal commission that I receive every month. I wonโ€™t generalize but most expats you see over here worked hard, saved and planned well in their respective countries before coming here ever crossed their minds.

  43. Can live on $800 USD in most places in the Philippines. I’ve been there, my wife is from there. I’ve studied it for a long time. You don’t need a car there, public transportation is good.

    2. brad stanton your needs will not exceed $800 per month (rent, food, clothing), itโ€™s our wants that usually sink us over here. Having a wife from here is a great asset!

  44. If you are new to a country, it will cost a lot to get started. You have to buy your furniture, pots, pans, etc. Once you are set it is easy to live on $1000 USD per month.

    2. Great point. Thanks Brad. When you first move somewhere, I recommend renting as furnished and equipped apartment for the first 6 month. Make sure you like the place before making that investment. Check out my top 10 mistakes for new international retirees. https://youtu.be/kpEkv5kIWf8

    3. You can buy all that stuff for $1000 except maybe an A/C system if there is none in the rental. I went to price appliances here in Vietnam and they are cheap!

  47. Hi Dan…Really enjoying your videos…hope you are safe and healthy…Can we ask you a quick question..What software editing program do you use for your videos. My filipino wife and I are trying to find the best editing tool…Need your feedback…Thank you so much for your help and we hope to meet you guys someday in PHP…Very informative. Thinking about moving here in a year for good to PHP and really taking to heart all your calculations and costing, It is extremely helpful. David 65 countries is IMPRESSIVE. I have been to 33 and I thought that was alot until your 65 WOW!

    4. Microsoft Movie Maker. But if I started today I would go with another. Because they have quit supporting it and it is a little buggy. But I don’t know enough to recommend another. Thanks for watching David.

  48. Sorry to be negative, this is the first video of yours that I have seen, maybe the last. Can you get to the point a bit quicker please, this whole video could and should be condensed to maybe half of the time. Interesting content nevertheless.

    1. Thanks for the constructive criticism Bri. I need to increase the number of people that watch until the end and that would probably do it. Best, Dan

  52. Expats are a rare breed. Those of us who have made a successful transition are certainly adventurous. And a few setbacks will not deter us. We are intelligent and have saved and planned well. For every expat that quits and runs there are 5 who stay and flourish! A real expat doesnโ€™t regret his decision to relocate he makes the best of his/her situation. Youโ€™re not in Kansas anymore Dorothy!

    1. Vagabond Awake Iโ€™m with you Dan. Thanks for your information. When I decided to take the leap 11 years ago, videos such as yours were few and far between.

    2. Hey Calvin, I love living outside the USA. If I didn’t have family to visit there, not sure I would go back more than once every 10 years or so.

  53. Well Dan these ideas could work in the Philippines, but anywhere else the language barrier will prevent you from living like a ‘local’ unless you marry or live with a bi-lingual woman. Your $15 a week food budget assumes he is a vegeitarian right? lol
    I am now curious about your budget, you don’t buy meat or alcoholic beverages, hang out in bars, or spend money courting women (you lucky guy!) I don’t know how you could spend $800-1000 a month in any expat location if you weren’t traveling all the time. Enlighten us further….

    1. All great questions and observations Dean. As far as my personal budget, I have been talking to Qiang about that (she keeps records on our budget) and we will be doing a video and report on that in a week or so. If I moved somewhere (long term) where I didn’t speak the language I would take a class. A friend of mine in Nicaragua fell in love with his teacher. Calvin is not a vegetarian and he said his food budget was like $40 USD month in San Carlos Philippines, but he cooks at home mostly. https://youtu.be/ySM_2jAC4v4

  54. Im planning being in cebu province away from the city.i have a house and land.i have pig and soon chicken and vegetables. I will sell excess of all.i will have solar power and catch free water.i dont smoke or drink alcohol nor do drugs.for myself and my partner we can live on less than $200 au a month.easy

    1. All im trying to get across is theres a difference between living in Philippines and living in a holiday style.if u want to live off the land and be content its as cheap as u want to make it.my set up costs is about $50,000 and it will pass on to my partner.have to find the right partner ofcourse

  56. How many expats especially American live in Dumaguete? Seems to be a large and sizeable portions of them there. I was in Cebu about 14 years ago, and went to a place to have dinner and looked around me and noticed that more than half the tables were had tourist/expats sitting there, though most of them seemed to be Australian or from Europe. I rarely see this in places like Davao City or even Manila.

  57. $800 if your that tight good luck. Donโ€™t forget your every other monthly payment and trip to the immigration dept.Taxi fees to and from,lunch money ect. But to each his own, itโ€™s just not as cheap as you might ๐Ÿค” think.

    1. Thanks for the constructive criticism. Thanks for commenting Stripper. He hasn’t lived in Philippines since for 13 years by his own admission. I thought it be best not to confuse people with old information. Best, Dan

  60. its MATTER of choice. i like European food. cost 1000 peso a day for 2 people, for quality food, never go out cook at home always. dont say cheap. i like good quality food and living CONDO. thsts manila. cannot live as a peasant, swimming pool and AC. it cost me 2.500 aud a month. simple life matter of life style. i not back packer OK. thsnks for y VIDEO, but be realistic please.

    1. @Vagabond Awake CORRECT yr saying, i dont say this a demeaning way, dont get me wrong, but i stayed in a kubo, in the province, no toilets, no running water, dont know how u call . that? hmmm, as European y should not that, my opinion, y degrade ur own upbringing and self esteam, spend as much y can in PH. az retired , hmmm, how can a young educated person create a life and future in that circumstance, please come to PH, with a good income. retired, otherwise nobody can last, even y married. with local, they all go back to the western lifestyle
      btw the PH govt encourage retirerees to settle, here yes indeed. but be a spender

    2. Thanks Harry. I think it is important for people to hear that “Many Expats Can Not Live on 800 USD Month” and you have confirmed the whole point of my video. By the same token, you should understand that 90% of Filipinos live on less than $800 a month. They are very happy loving people. Calling them peasants I find a bit rude. But thanks for commenting anyway. It helps our channel. Best, Dan

  65. i live on 775 a month here .i eat well i dont drink booze much my 1000 square mobile home sits on an acre of land. im 71 years old .i have lived in other nations in asia in south america. it was very easy to do. i would like to know just one thing and thats the price of medical insurance for a 70+ year old thats the only thing that stops me from moving.

    1. Medical insurance varies by country and even city within each country Tim. Just go to Facebook and type in the word Expat and the name of the city you are thinking of. Then go to that page and join. Then post your question, and someone your age will tell you what they are paying and who to call to get it. You might even get multiple answers. Thanks for asking. Best, Dan

  66. Depressing to hear you say that running a single-room A/C unit for 8 hours overnight plus 4 hours during the day is considered to be on the extravagant side. It is darn hot and humid in the Philippines!! I am literally drenched in sweat – the bedsheets as well – if the AC is off for more than 20-30 minutes at night. To me AC is a necessity FAR higher up the list than beer.

    2. I was like you the first few years in SE Asia. But I have acclimated now. It is in the 70s here at night now. When it is in the 70s at night, all I need is a strong fan pointing at that bed. That is pennies rather than dollars. Check it out. Let me know.

  68. These comparisons are quite interesting. I bet some minimalists/frugals/penny pinchers/cheapstakes can live on USD800 somewhere in States. Not in NY or LA….but somewhere I am sure

  70. Great video ๐Ÿ‘. Although all your information is correct, I wish I could sit down and talk with you about it. But there is one guy on YouTube I admire and think he has made a lot of excellent choices moving to the Philippines from the US. So I would like to add a link. Maybe someday if you make it back to Dumaguete we can talk more. https://youtu.be/UC9296QE8ZE

    1. Vagabond Awake personally I have a good budget. But I know where I could have saved, and I know my mistakes. One thing to be careful of on a budget is depression. A foreigner can really hit bottom here. But things like transportation. I donโ€™t like public transportation because they will try to overcharge you when they can, and who wants to argue every time you need a ride. But yes, a cheap motorcycle is perfect, about $800. Etc.

  71. Expats require better living standards than pinays-security is also an additional cost (a house with a westerner inside is the preferred establishment for thieves).
    But,by far the biggest cost to westerners in the philippines is a pinay partner.
    You’re culturally expected to either purchase property or go into the family business-niether legally yours.
    Add to this,her often many siblings,uncles & aunts and friends-all seeing the foreigners as walking atm’s.

    1. @Vagabond Awake Not so easy to set boundaries around you when everyone else thinks in another language, acts according to their own culture and beliefs-often alien to what we westerners are used to.
      Like others who have challenged me,I can see you have invested alot in chosen lifestyle and won’t be persuaded to change.
      My se asian treks,have taught me one thing-enjoy the places,people and culture but, don’t become immersed.

  72. Dan, I like your videos And you’re a lucky man to be able to have a sexy young gf. For many men, that might be all they need. But I think it might be a bit misleading to promote “cheap retirement” in Asia or S America without also discussing many other issues such as the fact that foreigners with low income/net worth should never move to a foreign country from an advanced country because developing countries do NOT have a social safety net. And because you have no family in these foreign countries, if something happens you are screwed. In contrast, back in your home country you have friends, family and a social safety net to fall back on. Retiring in a developing country from an advanced country if you have a low income is very dangerous. Remember, life is not just about finding cheap meals or rent. At the end of the day, we all want security and the expectation of civility. Life in developing countries can be frustrating and challenging. If I were not wealthy I would not live in SE Asia because I would be vulnerable with few options. Disclaimer: I am a leading investment authority and financial adviser who has lived in developing countries for several years.

  73. Philippines is the best place to retire because we have the most important things that you need to be around in your older life and that is the friendly neighbor that you can at least communicate when you need someone to talk to and the natural beauty of the Philippines especially in the provinces can help you to relax.

  77. Good vid. Totally agree with your views. I live Bohol on considerable less than $1000 a month. Its not a western lifestyle but why would I want to transplant that lifestyle here, which is what many seem to try to do. Will certainly check out your other vids, Thanks!

  78. most people don’t want to lower their standard of living in their retirement years. You worked all your life. so it only seems reasonable to want to enjoy yourself instead of penny pinching.

    1. Well said Dave. But no matter what your budget is, if you can get the basics for less, that leaves you with more $ to make choices about the rest of your $. Best, Dan

  82. It is really not the life style I would like to live but I agree it can be done. Good for anyone who takes a chance and lives their dream, whatever it is.

  83. ๐Ÿ“Œ ๐— ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—œ๐—ป ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—”๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฉ๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ผ:
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    ๐Ÿ– ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—น๐—ฑ๐˜„๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ:
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