What's The Minimum Budget an Expat Should Live on in The Philippines?

What if I were to tell you that you can live like a king on $500 per month in the Philippines? Nothing can be further from the truth than this... As a matter of fact, though your dollar can be stretched much further in the Philippines being that the cost of living here is low, your living expenses may be higher than anticipated. With that said, what is the minimum budget an expat should live on in the Philippines? Today we expose the TRUE ideal budget to live on in the Philippines...

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Timestamps:

0:00 What's The Minimum Budget an Expat Should Live on in The Philippines?
0:37 Minimum Budget For a Philippine Expat
2:26 What $2,000/Month Affords
6:44 God Bless

Current sub count: 25,257

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Tags:

Cost of Living in The Philippines, Moving To The Philippines, Monthly Expenses in The Philippines, Budget in The Philippines, Prices in The Philippines, Philippine Affordability, The Philippines,

Thanks for watching - Hit that like and subscribe button if you feel like supporting. God bless!

[TheSavvyExpat]

What do you believe is the ideal budget to live on in the Philippines? Let me know your thoughts down below!

[CodgersCorner]

My home is my castle. I went from living in a 1400 sq ft house to living in 240 sq ft. I don't have a fridge. Everything i eat is fresh. My rent is only P300 for a land lease and a simple Filipino house. My monthly budget is P28000.00. I didn't plan my life to be like this in the Philippines, but I am glad it happened. I save about 2/3 of my pension and reinvest it. I want for nothing and am content.

[TropicShade]

Thanks for being realistic! My wife and I live very comfortable at a minimum of $2k per month, but then we have NO housing cost other than elec and water.

[a.m.]

I do believe $2000 monthly budget is just enough to live comfortably in the Philippines. Unlike here in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA that’s only to pay the cheapest monthly rent for 1-2 BR apartment. I like your videos Savvy expat, always looking forward of new ones ❤️thank you

[kayflip]

I'd rather live in Puerto Princesa for cheap then just go to Manila once a month if I get bored. $2000 USD is too much. Once I pay off my mortgage for my apartment in Manhattan, I can even live in Manhattan on that budget, including all expenses.

[mikelee]

Love watching your videos. I want to go to the Phillipines for one month but where do you recommend? I know you like BGC but what about Cebu City. I used to live in NY so i know city life. I just want to have fun fun fun. Money is not an issue for me. I have a 6k US a month budget

[markcarter]

I was in the Philippines for 2 years. Stayed in a apartment in mandaluyong a few minutes drive from makati and bgc. I paid 15000 php about 300 dollars a month. Internet was included in my rent. I just had ttansport, food and entertainment costs of about 700 dollars a month. You could survive on 1k dollars a month there if u wanted 2. Probably even less.

[bayareatanders]

You forgot about healthcare cost and prescription (meds) since most expats are retirees and will have maintenance medications. Dental and vision care too should be included. These cost are affordable compared to the west.

[lrm]

I'm planning on $1, 500 a month for my wife and I in Davao City. We will be paying cash for our house, so we wont have to worry about paying rent.

[jamesgilbert]

you are wrong 2 grand wont get you traveling very much i live here i laugh at all the bull shit all the volgers say

[brooksdurham]

A lot of foreigners wonder, well how do Filipinos live on less than $500 a month? Well it is because they live in multi-generational households and combine all their salary. Plus, a lot of them never save since they are simply surviving. I doubt any foreigner wants to live this way.

[tropicallivingoverseas]

Our family budget:
Food- 14000php
Eating out-6000
Gas-4000
Electric/internet -3000
Meds- 3000
30, 000-40, 000 per month
*We own our house

[michaelfeehily]

Angles City I lived great on 1300 usd a month for 3 people me my gf and her 3yr old kid but we arent together now so when i go back to visit I'll def live great for my 2 month vacation there. But I'll have around 5 k this time around to spend.

[uswilkibr]

I live on a little over $2k/month in the US so I'm pretty sure I could live on much less in the Philippines. I don't eat out, I don't drive more than necessary, and I don't spend more than I must to survive. I walk a river trail, do youtube exercise, play video games, read, and hang out with family. One cost you forgot to mention was healthcare/insurance, I'm sure it is much cheaper than the US, but still worth mentioning. :) I am considering a 1200$ budget/month for 12 years (hopefully adjustable with inflation) before I can access my retirement accounts. A few countries stand out, it would be nice to not have to learn another language :D

[frankellis]

There's no way in hell an expat can live off $500 a month. I always say if you're single $1500 a month. If you have a girlfriend, it's $2000 a month. I would feel comfortable at $2500-$3000 a month 🤔🤨

[manilamartin]

I would add healthcare and return to your country as part of the budget. Other than that, good advice. Most of the expats I know live here because they are broke in the usa and here they can have a social life and love life for their dollar. I lived in LA and $2000 would mean you are in poverty in LA but here in Manila you would be able to meet all your daily needs and even keep a gf as long as you can live in a Filipino neighborhood and eat Filipino food as well as not own a car.

[wetcrow_com]

I am from the usa and live very comfortable on $600 per month. I eat good. I rarely eat out. I ride busses, jeepneys, trikes, and sometimes van or taxi. No tv. Have youtube. Have fiber internet, nice but small apartment. I cook filipino and greek food.

[JJason]

I paid 6k to go to truck driving school while 2 black guys both got a grant and went for free. Then listened to democrats tell me my life was easy because I am white. I got sick of the racism agaisnt white men and sold my house in NY invested into a business in Manila and moved to the Philippines. The franchise failed. I think the ceo was stealing money so had to go back to America. Now living in a van working 70 hours a week. If I was offered 1 billion dollars to live in America or 1k a month to live in the Philippines I would choose the Philippines. I was actually happier just surviving on 500 a month in the Philippines. Don't want to live in a country that hates white men

[throughblindeyesmyphilippi]

Your figures are massively elevated 🤣
If you want to live in Manila or Makati BGC etc then yes $2, 000 will be necessary. Anywhere outside of there $1, 500 or even $1, 200/$1, 300 will be more than enough. I don't know why people keep making these stupid budget videos claiming that their is basically a "minimum required" budget for everyone. This is basically clickbait at best. There is no "one size fits all" budget in the Philippines and there never will be. Have an emergency fund, and a "get the hell outta dodge" if you know what hits the fan fund, and a startup fund yeah sure that is absolutely necessary. But to think for even a second that $2, 000 or more is needed to live "comfortably" there is easily one of the most misguided subjective statements I've ever heard about living in the Philippines. I'm sorry but nothing could be further from the truth...

[BigwillM]

The most comfortable minimum budget in the Philippines is $1500....I know quite a few expats who live off of that comfortably in Angeles I have been living here for over 12 years now and I have lived off of as low as $1700 a right now my expenses with a family is around $2200 a month.... If I was single I could easily live off of $1500 per month... I have a two bedroom and 2 bath modern town house for about $300 per My total for utilities and rent is roughly $450 a month with fiber high speed internet and running aircon all day.... so the falsehood of a minimum of $2000 a month is kinda high.... I live a better comfortable life in the Philippines off of $2, 200 a month with a family then I do in the US with a $4, 500 per month single and