I live around the area (I work there). I would say it generally cost around ~1.8k-2k USD per month if you live in BGC. One thing I always notice about expats around the area is that they always eat at restaurants (which can get expensive). They generally spend around ~600 USD per month on food. You can slice that down by half by doing meal kit delivery services (Daily's Diet, Nuthera) for your breakfast and lunch. For dinner, you can eat at restaurant. Generally, the costs are as follows: Rent: 1k-1.2k pesos per sq. m (per month) - so if you have a 30 sq. m condominium.. rent should be about ~30k pesos (partially furnished) Food: 20k pesos per month Electricity: 7-8k pesos per month Water - 500 pesos per month
Costs are similar living in Bangkok, Thailand. International health insurance might be a good idea if you have the budget for it, which can increase total costs 50%. You can self-fund, but in the end it will probably cost about the same, and you might not benefit from early disease detection.
Very very informative video, thanks for educating people joe, your doing a great job. im a filipino here in the west and the cost of living is really getting insane by the day. Planning to comeback home sweet chaotic philippines 😂 and by the way BGC is a former US based back in the day, its like a small american town in the Philippines.
I know it’s shocking for some these budgets but it all depends on your own personal finances. Mines at least 200% your budget ..with my fiancée and one of my sons(18) here and three cars ..cleaner/full time driver etc. My lifestyle was not on this level in the UK…so for me it’s good value. Shocking to some but I travel business class/first class so it’s all relative. Good luck to all and wishing you a happy new year.
Hi Joey I’m amazed at your condo expense. I’m paying $900 a month unfurnished 2 bedroom in SBMA. Now that was by choice I could have spent half that or less but we are two blocks from the beach very near Pier One. So lots of fun areas. We met you before my wife and I about 8 months ago. Curious does this mean you might stay another year in BGC? I knew your plan before was to try out different sites. I still got 5 more months till I’m in Subic fully retired although the wife is there setting up. We will begin our house build starting July. Best wishes sorry we missed you this past holiday too many tasks.
Hi! I remember our meeting! SBMA is a great area. I extended my lease for 6 months. I have great landlords! I really love the Zambales area. Been back 3 times in 5 weeks, but it is too far from Batangas and diving. Time will tell! Cheer!
LOL--the cost at Denny's in the Philippines was shocking. I would have figured that would be one of the most inexpensive places. Think about it--eggs and sausage can be locally sourced to keep cost down. This really makes the case for doing your own shopping for food items and cooking for yourself.
Joe thanks for this video. You wouldn’t catch me at Denny’s here in the 🇵🇭 I didn’t even go2 Denny’s in the 🇺🇸. I don’t have a monthly rental so my cost of living is very low.
I can certainly tell that you're a man who likes his coffee lol However, I'm definitely not in any position to judge as a coffee lover myself. My intake is at a level that I definitely couldn't afford to go out everytime I wanted a coffee so most of my coffee is made at home. Then again if my rent was cut to 1/3rd of what it is ( what you're paying there) then I probably could frequent the coffee shops. Especially after eliminating transportation costs by living in a walkable area.
Hi Bret, thank you for watching. Great observation on the coffee. I’ve cut down to once a day and sometimes no visits a day to the coffee shop. Buying a grinder and machine turned out to be a good investment. Best, Joe.
@@Joeysgonerogue A retired person in US would not be going to starbucks every day and going to Denny's a couple times a week and traveling 10days a month.. You are in a retirement mode but spends like in a vacation mode.
I live around the area (I work there). I would say it generally cost around ~1.8k-2k USD per month if you live in BGC. One thing I always notice about expats around the area is that they always eat at restaurants (which can get expensive). They generally spend around ~600 USD per month on food. You can slice that down by half by doing meal kit delivery services (Daily's Diet, Nuthera) for your breakfast and lunch. For dinner, you can eat at restaurant.
Generally, the costs are as follows:
Rent: 1k-1.2k pesos per sq. m (per month) - so if you have a 30 sq. m condominium.. rent should be about ~30k pesos (partially furnished)
Food: 20k pesos per month
Electricity: 7-8k pesos per month
Water - 500 pesos per month
Bullet! Thanks for the great contribution! Happy new year!
Great info! Thanks for sharing
Thank you very much. I appreciate your time and effort to watch and send a nice note. Best, Joe
Lovely place
It is a lovely place and the owners are fabulous!
I’m living in Thailand now considering a trip to Cebu, I need to stay close to malls, walking distance to malls, budget $50k pesos per month
I don’t have first hand knowledge of the area, but many live on less. Keep me posted please. Your experience will be helpful to all of us.
Costs are similar living in Bangkok, Thailand. International health insurance might be a good idea if you have the budget for it, which can increase total costs 50%. You can self-fund, but in the end it will probably cost about the same, and you might not benefit from early disease detection.
Thank you for the info regarding Bangkok. My insurance with pacific cross is in that number. Happy new year! Best, Joe.
Well done
Thank you Alex. Very much appreciated. Cheers!
Can you tell me where your apartment is . I’m looking to move there
One Uptown Residences.
Very very informative video, thanks for educating people joe, your doing a great job. im a filipino here in the west and the cost of living is really getting insane by the day. Planning to comeback home sweet chaotic philippines 😂 and by the way BGC is a former US based back in the day, its like a small american town in the Philippines.
Thank you. I like your description “sweet chaotic”, it’s perfect! I didn’t know it was an American fort, I appreciate the information. Best, Joe
Nice Joe
Thank you 😊
I know it’s shocking for some these budgets but it all depends on your own personal finances. Mines at least 200% your budget ..with my fiancée and one of my sons(18) here and three cars ..cleaner/full time driver etc. My lifestyle was not on this level in the UK…so for me it’s good value. Shocking to some but I travel business class/first class so it’s all relative. Good luck to all and wishing you a happy new year.
Thank you for the input! You are spot on! Happy New Year!
How many sq ft is your condo?
Hi Joey
I’m amazed at your condo expense. I’m paying $900 a month unfurnished 2 bedroom in SBMA. Now that was by choice I could have spent half that or less but we are two blocks from the beach very near Pier One. So lots of fun areas. We met you before my wife and I about 8 months ago. Curious does this mean you might stay another year in BGC? I knew your plan before was to try out different sites. I still got 5 more months till I’m in Subic fully retired although the wife is there setting up. We will begin our house build starting July.
Best wishes sorry we missed you this past holiday too many tasks.
Hi! I remember our meeting! SBMA is a great area. I extended my lease for 6 months. I have great landlords! I really love the Zambales area. Been back 3 times in 5 weeks, but it is too far from Batangas and diving. Time will tell! Cheer!
LOL--the cost at Denny's in the Philippines was shocking. I would have figured that would be one of the most inexpensive places. Think about it--eggs and sausage can be locally sourced to keep cost down. This really makes the case for doing your own shopping for food items and cooking for yourself.
I had breakfast near LA airport, had not been to one in years. Way over $30 for coffee, oj and a slam breakfast + tip needed in US.😮
Joe thanks for this video. You wouldn’t catch me at Denny’s here in the 🇵🇭 I didn’t even go2 Denny’s in the 🇺🇸. I don’t have a monthly rental so my cost of living is very low.
I can certainly tell that you're a man who likes his coffee lol However, I'm definitely not in any position to judge as a coffee lover myself. My intake is at a level that I definitely couldn't afford to go out everytime I wanted a coffee so most of my coffee is made at home. Then again if my rent was cut to 1/3rd of what it is ( what you're paying there) then I probably could frequent the coffee shops. Especially after eliminating transportation costs by living in a walkable area.
Hi Bret, thank you for watching. Great observation on the coffee. I’ve cut down to once a day and sometimes no visits a day to the coffee shop. Buying a grinder and machine turned out to be a good investment. Best, Joe.
Coffee is life.
We might be related!
Susie Orman would skin your hide if she saw your coffee shop expenses 😅.
Indeed she would! 🤣🤣🤣.
Spending $2300 a month in BGC. You are on a vacation mode not in a retirement mode.
Explain you math
@@Joeysgonerogue
A retired person in US would not be going to starbucks every day and going to Denny's a couple times a week and traveling 10days a month.. You are in a retirement mode but spends like in a vacation mode.