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As an American living in the Philippines for about six years now and married to a Filipina, I’m very familiar with the cost of living here. But what really stood out to me in this video is at 4:06: the pure happiness on your face and the genuine, loving smile on hers as she looks at you. That kind of connection is something we don’t often find back home, and it’s truly priceless. It’s the same thing that made me hop on a plane and never look back. It’s amazing how finding the right woman-someone who makes you feel whole-can inspire you to change and improve your life completely. Treasure that, because it’s worth more than anything money can buy!
@@adamsty1728 Thank you, Brother! 🙏 I truly appreciate that, and I sincerely hope you find the same happiness one day. Life here with my amazing wife has been a blessing-it’s not always perfect and will definitely challenge you at times! But the love, partnership, and shared journey make it worth everything. There’s nothing quite like a Filipina in my experience-she has the respectfulness of Asian cultures combined with the fiery personality of Latina women. It’s such a fun and amazing combo that keeps you on your game! 😂 Stay patient and true to yourself. My best advice is to take the time to learn and respect the culture while staying true to your own. Family is incredibly important here, so do your best to avoid putting your partner in a situation where she has to choose between you and her family. That kind of choice would break her heart, no matter what. As a Westerner, trust me, that can be hard at times. But love is the one currency you decide how much or how little you have. Many Filipinos might be poor financially, but they are incredibly rich in love. Be that way! Finding a balance will make all the difference. Wishing you all the best on your journey-you’ve got this! 😎👍🏻
I couldn’t agree more, what I don’t get is how they manage a relationship with him going back and forth to the US and back, I couldn’t do that, I would have to stay there or bring her here.!
@@tavo6317 At the start, you have to deal with long-distance unless you’re willing to go all in before meeting her, which I wouldn’t recommend. A K-1 visa requires meeting in person at least once within two years, so you’ll need to visit her, then return home to start the process. Long-distance is unavoidable if you plan to live in the U.S. When I first met my wife, I had to return home for a year to care for my dying father. Even from day one, I knew I’d marry her when I saw her washing my clothes from the flight by hand and cooking for me. After my father passed, I moved to the Philippines to marry her. LDR is tough, but if she’s the one, every hurdle-even long-distance-is worth it.
I never get tired of monthly expense blogs in the Philippines. I feel I could enjoy reasonably on $1500 usd a month, but I'm shooting for $3000 usd to factor in travel, and unforseen events. Thanks.
I've recently retired in puerto galera on mindoro and found not having a flippina gf will halve your expenses. I've engaged the services of a 19yr old freelancer once a week and she's happy with 1500php for short time. Life is good here;diving, drinking and decadence. You can get by on a pension.
I love how frugal you Filipinas are! I'd also prefer to be in the Province with the luxuries you've got. and about 30 minutes from the city is not bad at all. cheers!
30 minutes is a lifetime in an emergency. You should plan where you live around any health issues you have or you genetically inherited. If you have a heart attack in the province, you aren't making it. We had a friend die from an infection from a basic cut, so make sure you're immunizations are up to date.
Am currently visiting Camotes, beautiful island. We live in Cebu but are considering moving here long term - any recommendations to finding a rental / real estate purchase?
Thanks for the great breakdown, you two! I’m heading to CDO next month to meet a pinay I met on CF, and to start scouting properties. Keep these vids coming please!👍🏻
I live in the province mountains with my wife and two teenage children and the cheapest month ive had is around $2,500. I do rent and my electric bill is always at least 10,000 peso about $175.00 usd. Rent is 20,000 peso about $350.00. I do live in a high end gated community and have 3bdrm 2 full bath full air con house. I would pass out, if my monthly expense was only 1,000-1,500 a month. My children do go to a private school also. But i didnt include that in my monthly expense since i pay the tuition yearly
@ there are different costs throughout the PI but i pay 36,000 peso ( around $625.00 usd) a year, plus uniform costs, which i bought 5, plus the long stockings and black shoes to go with it.
Good info brother, im at 100k here in Iloilo City but that includes tuition for the lady. I feel like thats super expensive, even with the extra cost of study. I cook at home and order my drinking habit using wholesale. It could be 65k, if we cut corners but my budget allows for comfort.
@@justlookinground1 I have watched many vloggers and Iloilo is more expensive, especially for rent. Living in a major city vs the province always drives the price up.
@@tonymars1093 I am sharing my exact experience while I am currently residing in Iloilo City. Thank you for letting me know that vloggers can confirm my experience ...that I am currently having, based on the me living here.
I would really like to see more of these videos. If all goes well I will be looking for property. So all your boths insight is very welcome and appreciated
Girlfriend and I live in Baguio City, Benguet, up in the mountains, renting a four bedroom, fully furnished house. Our total living expenses run about $2,200 usd a month and include the following. Rent, utilities including internet and mobile phone service, Netflix, Apple TV, NHL TV hockey subscription,food including liquor, transportation (taxi), and top tier medical insurance plan for us both with Pacific Cross. Prior to that, we lived a few months in a smaller beach town in Baler, Aurora, in a small studio apartment, and I would say the budget was approximately $700-$1000 usd less. The above listed expenses do not include entertainment or travel. Just an example of the changes we had moving from a province town to the city.
Baguio was the city that first got me interested in PH. Almost no videos out of Baguio. I video chatted with a well to do Filipina in Baguio for several months as friends and she taught me a lot about Baguio. Very different from most of PH in many ways besides climate.
I cut my own hair. $30 for the clippers 15 years ago. I got so tired of going to a place to get my hair cut, often having to wait and concern many times about hygiene. Now 7 minutes and done.
I did the province life, even built a nice home up in the mountains. But for medical reasons I needed to be close to the VA health clinic in Manila. I live in BGC, one of the most expensive places in the Philippines. Love it here but it's quit a bit more expensive. My condo is 45k, my utilities are under 30k. But I spend lots of money eating out and buying foods from the import stores. I think my monthly is around $5,000 USA dollars per month to live large here. My retirement is larger than that, so I either add it to my savings, or vacation monthly to other islands. I have a car and take it with me from island to island. Living frugal is a good option if you have a good woman, but if single, you will spend more money just to break the boredom. Great video guys, you both look so happy and in love. Sana all 🎉🎉
I'm 68, healthy and think all the expat Tubers kind of ignore the reality of what's ahead medically if a guy is lucky enough to live a really long time. Stuff breaks, the body wears out. My main reason for moving to SE Asia next year is to prepare for those future needs. Maxes out at about $5000-6000/mo for full care (meals, private nurse) in a long term retirement resort. Plus medical and health insurance is a lot when 80, 90 years-old but I'll have $500k to self-insure. The expat Tubers I watch seem to live month to month with barely any savings. If their income is $2500/mo then that's their costs too.
As the video showed, depends on the people. My average total spend has been $592.04/mo USD for the past 21 months. I'm 68, American man. So that's not much for PH right? But I live in Phoenix AZ USA. I own my house which is $166/mo property tax (all these included in the $592 number). I self insure my house and do all maintenance which is almost nothing because of the dry climate. No heating needed i winter, AC just 1 room Jun-Oct. I send a lot on water because I created a large Japanese style garden. Living in N Central I can walk most everywhere so only about 20 gal of gas for my car. $45/mo for car insurance which is kind of a waste, I should sell my car. All food shopping on foot, I walk 2hr/day almost everyday. There is canal fishing for carp which are delicious and lake fishing for catfish in summer and trout in winter. There's also a lot for free food give aways. About 1/2 my food is free. Because I live on savings my reportable income is $0 so no need to file income tax and I've gotten free healthcare via Medicaid for 14 years. That's $0 cost, $0 copay, $0 deducible. Free smartphone and plan (Lifeline). To my costs there is also a gain of almost $2000/mo average over past 15 years my house has appreciated in value. I can't really eat house equity but I will cash out maybe next year and net about $500k. That money should return about $2000/mo in income and act as medical fund as needed. So for me living in Phoenix I increase my net worth about $1400/mo while just living. 25 years ago I was a software engineer in San Jose CA spending about $4000-6000/mo USD. I was having a blast then and I'm having a blast now. I would say my current life is more comfortable and easy going. I do plan to sell and move to SE Asia next year or year after. With my house sale plus I'll take SS my income should be about $6100/mo USD. It will be a much different lifestyle and I have no idea what that will be. Definitely much more expensive for me to live in SE Asia and I'm not sure it will be more enjoyable. But I love new adventures and have lived many places in the US and Germany. Always dislike leaving a place, but then I find how to create a fun life in the next place. My main reason to move to SE Asia is to prepare for extreme old age. What is cheap and high quality in SE Asia is caregiving.
I think budget for everybody is different, for us I'm 39 my wife is 37 and we got a son 5 years old, we live here now 10 months. We have a budget of 120k but spend only between 30 and 36k a month, we live in a subdivision with all amenities and my son goes to a private school.
Nice video. I appreciate your breakdown of expense & lifestyle. The drone is a nice touch to see your property. Personally, I'd get bored that far away from everything, but you seem well suited. Best wishes.
Very nice video, thank you. You’re lucky to have those amenities within a short motorbike right away, when I was in Leyte with my fiancé her province has absolutely no amenities like that.
Brandon , I had mentioned planting your main trees if you can before you leave, most barangays in the philippines once a week have a "market day," thats where you can buy your trees and meet local growers. , my 2 sister in laws live in a apartment on the back of our house and they water our trees and keep our yard and house clean. Costs us very little to maintain. Oh dont forget if you plant avocados they must be grafted or you will grow them and get no avocados. Ive heard you can get haas avocados trees in manila. good luck.
Didnt realized James Caan son lives in the Philippines. Theres some resemblance there. Keep up the good work. Wow, your food expenses are low, we easily do higher here in Manila. I like living in the province sometimes, our budget gets reduced.
The true cost of living anywhere is depending on each person and what they wish to spend and how they wish to live. No one person can say this is what it will cost you because this is what it cost me. If a person has A/C running 24/7 at 64 F then his bill will be a lot higher then if a guy didn't run A/C at all.
I agree, but these budget videos from different people, different locations, different lifestyles can give you a rough idea, especially when they explain their lifestyle. This video helps me because we're building very close to that area, about 40 minutes from Tacloban
Watching many of these videos it seems a person's budget is whatever their income is. True for expats and Filipinos. Every peso coming in goes right back out. How people live seems less a choice and more of hitting a limit.
I'll probably get dinged by other bloggers on this post but anyone that's new to the Philippines is going to need a $5,000 - $10,000 startup fund, $10,000 emergency fund plus a $2,000 monthly income. After visiting there several times I expect to spend at least $2,000 to $2,500 a month while having an emergency fund of over $25,000 plus a startup fund of $10,000. Living on an amount like $1,200 is definitely possible I doubt the average person could do that short term. It may take them 6 or 12 or 24 months to fully get setup and living like what you show. Some things are cheap in the Philippines and some things are not. I found it very easy to spend $700 to $1,000 a week depending on where I was staying. Going on there on a shoe string budget is just asking to end up broke and on the street or e-begging.
I agree with @franciscoaguilar123 We don't live there now, but have been working on this for 3-4 years now. We built a house 3 years ago on land my wife dad owns. Wife.s parents live there. Early next year , we will be moving/living there. Other then purchasing a motorcycle/car, I have ran the numbers, We should be able to live /breathe/eat/pay bills $600. This doesn't include anything extra. I believe the house we had built was 12k, 3 bedroom, nothing special house. Location: Northern Mindanao, Misamis Occidental Province
That's been my thinking too watching Tubers. There's a lot of forgetting about expenses and no planning for the future. Dudes in their 60's saying "I'm healthy" like they're going to live forever in that state. Every penny coming in goes out. Health insurance is reasonable when 60. At 70 it costs a lot. At 80 it's really not much of an option. Emergency fund of $25k seems a minimum unless a person is willing to go out like most Filipinos do, in discomfort. I think a lot of guys think they would, but when the time comes not so much.
Wow! I think that's a lot of cash for living in a province! Especially when you're not even paying rent. But as long as you're cool with it, it's all good! Aloha.
Hi Brandon. When you bring your beautiful, soon to be wife back here to the states, I'd recommend taking her to a Seafood City supermarket. There is one in Tukwila. I take my wife as often as I can to some of the California locations. It's like going to a supermarket in the Philippines. They'll have all the food and ingredients from back home and they have plenty of dishes cooked as well. We stay on the road so the wife doesn't get to interact with many Filipinas in person, so she loves going there. Also most locations also have a Jollibee or Chowking, sometimes both. Just a tip if you didn't already know about that
Thank you for the info. i had no idea. Arlene and I will be back in the States next month for Christmas. Do they have maggi sauce? I love that stuff. Thank you for watching!
@@brandonandarlene Yes they have it. You've been in SM markets i'm sure there in Tacloban. Seafood City is comparable to SM. Probably a little bigger, but they have everything you would find at SM. You'll feel like you're in the Philippines when you go. I enjoy going myself
@@brandonandarlene You and Arlene are in store for some unforgettable memories soon when you bring her. I remember the look on my wife’s face as we came in for a landing in Detroit and there was snow on the ground, unforgettable. So many other things. February 2nd will be 13 years for us. I’m excited for you both
It's a great time having those US dollars in the Philippines with the exchange rate at a recent low of 59:1. Other than the motorcycle, are there any other big purchases planned to take advantage of the better rate? New swimming pool or high-end karaoke machine perhaps? How about a pool table? 😊
I'm a Aussie I built a house in Iloilo about 30 min drive from a McDonald's hour from city when I move there I like to spend 1000 Australian dollars a month 39,000 pesos but problem is to many family members in province and they try to take advantage of u get free stuff
I say this all the time, when a guy is lucky enough to find a good Filipina , it’s like winning the lottery, you simply need nothing else My fiancée is from lapu lapu in Cebu
If you own everything in an affordable province outside of a major city, you can easily keep your monthly expenses well under $400 per month for 2. Gifts, Vacations, upgrades, unplanned health care, etc. are not monthly expenses. So many people confuse that. Most monthly expenses in the west are easily eliminated by the extreme affordability of paying for cash up front. Find a Filipina with land. Be your own contractor and build a modest home for half the cost of an average car. But a maxiscoot for half the price. Buy a kei car for a few thousand. Maintenance is practically nothing. Dig a well. Collect rain water. Put in a filtration system. Put in solar. Get starlink and learn how to get APK packages and watch everything for free. Your only monthly bill is food and $36/month for Starlink. Insurance and registration per vehicle per year is about $20. Get permanent residency and pay $6 per year. Buy your cellphones and only purchase service when needed on a daily basis and hotspot the other phone. $5 per easily covers 2 per month. 90% of what i spend a month is upgrading our home and land and vehicles and personal items. Which are not monthly expenses.
I'd eat more like a local. I don't need to eat out if I have food at the house. And if ibwas retired . I could just make my food instead of eating out all the time like I do here in the states. But thats because I get out of work late most the time
I retired 22 years ago at 45. It completely surprised me how expensive it was to work. Yeah a lot of meals out because I was so busy. Now I haven't eaten out in 5 years. Like my own cooking and it's healthier too. And I'd spend a lot on entertainment because I felt like I had to cram it all into a limited time. Now my favorite trip is a daily 2 hour walk. I went from spending $4000-6000/mo to $600/mo. Happiness the same.
@waterbug1135 well I might gross that much with overtime a month. But I only will see about 2000 a month after taxes health insurance and 401k . Between the pre-tax post tax and all the others . I end up working 1 week for free.
And think about it, if you could adjust and live a simple life.. In the end it's good for you. Even if you go back or maybe live 50/50 split in 2 countries. If you can retain that simple life your expenses will be lower
Hi both We also live in the province (Isabela). My wife and I can easily live off 30K PHP per month. We even save some. We recently built our new home so we don't have electricity any mortgage/rent. We are also 100% solar off-grid so no electric bills. Food 15K Wifi 1.4K Drinking water 200 Mains water 250 Eating out 3K Entertainment at home 2K Car fuel 1K Our solar system easily manages to run the following (even when we had typhoons) - 3 x AC 1 x refrigerator 1 x electric ceramic hob 1 x built in electric oven 4 x fans 3 x TV's 1 x rice cooker 1 x electric kettle 1 x water cooler/dispenser 1 x washing machine Hope this helps? Simon
Hi Brandon & Arlene! Grettings from perhaps your soon the be neighbour. My beautiful wife currently lives in Bureaun Leyte, I am still working for a living here in Canada but visit often. If health allows, I will be joining my wife on a premanent basis in a few years. Alternatively my wife will join me here and we will frequent the Philippines. Very curious as to where you are located in Leyte. Enjoying your videos, keep up the great info.
@@brandonandarlene Thanks for the reply, that is very close. It is a beautiful area, I feel fabulous when in the province, Its peaceful, the people are beautiful. I am flying in Feb 10th. We are having a family and friends party on the beach in Dulag. You and your lovely wife are most welcome to attend. To this day....I am the only foreigner I have seen in our area of Leyte! Funny. Cheers
Hello! Any advice for someone planning on moving to Manila for about 2-6 months? I met a girl, and we have been talking for a year and met her in October. She was super amazing and sweet. I have a remote job and bring in 2500$ after taxes a month. I appreciate any advice!
Yes, I would request more videos like this. I will be planning to move to the Philippines in a few years. They are very helpful! I watch a lot of vloggers and you two are my new favorite channel. Also, if you could do a video on transferring money from the US to the Philippines at some point, that would be very helpful as well. If the quality is what it has been, if you put it out, I will watch. 😊
@Jora-tuber not really I'm fairly frugal when it comes to spending. I just don't know what all to really expect. The woman I've been talking with has a decent job and doesn't ask me for money. She says she will help me but I wanted a foreigner like me perspective.
Hello is nice to Live in the province very cheap Living .But to many can go wrong .and is far for emergency hospital . So anyway thank you so much as always for the video.
I am not American so USD means little to me. Having lived in Leyte for 15 years-Typhoon Yolanda survivor-HORRIBLE. Everything is in peso. The only time I refer to my old currency is when I am transferring money.
Hi Brandon & Arlene, I enjoy your channel and appreciate the content you guys do--thanks for that! Just wondering (and not trying to throw any shade here), but do you advertise your videos? You get a ton of views and subs, but don't have that much content (unless it was public and now it's private) and I'm curious how that is! Was it because your first video blew up? Or something else? Thanks so much--just another friendly RUclipsr here ;)
Yes, the meet-up video and house video gained most views and subs. Videos have always been public and never advertised or paid for subs/views. We have been very lucky and not exactly sure why. Keep creating, and good luck!
Too many showers is bad for human body in many ways including harms natural necessary microbial, bacteria, etc that live on our bodies and skin. Also so many showers dry out the skin of the body and negatively affect natural skin oils as cut back on showers for better health. One shower every night / evening is more than enough when you are home for the evening in aircon. I could see if got dirty or muddy for a shower occasion when required but otherwise 3 to 5 showers a day is way too much even medical professionals would tell you the same thing.
The question is how much do the locals get paid per month. If you earn us dollars it is good but i think the average Philippino isn't living as well? I have a very good Friend who lives north of manilla. He and his family live well. He has a good job and is paid mostly US dollars.
You have a great catch , seems very sweet and also outgoing very cute and pretty, may I ask to see you house looks comfortable for the size and how much did you pay for and how much land do you have? TIA Many years of Gods blessings!! ❤
Biggest mistake folks make...is not having enough start up cash... I came to the Philippines with enough to buy new car, ATV, Jetski, 2 multicabs and a three bedroom house on the beach...bought a/c units...beds...appliances Sure, I know people that chose renting a place...use public transportation...and live without A/C... I lived in the Philippines...some simply survive in the Philippines...
Hey guys I live with my wife in biliran which is ot far from tacloban when I first arrived i spent boat load of money. So 58k is good but you live in America and se lives in Philippines how much does she spend when you are not there?
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You two make a great couple!!
Thanks for “cost video”
As an American living in the Philippines for about six years now and married to a Filipina, I’m very familiar with the cost of living here. But what really stood out to me in this video is at 4:06: the pure happiness on your face and the genuine, loving smile on hers as she looks at you. That kind of connection is something we don’t often find back home, and it’s truly priceless. It’s the same thing that made me hop on a plane and never look back. It’s amazing how finding the right woman-someone who makes you feel whole-can inspire you to change and improve your life completely. Treasure that, because it’s worth more than anything money can buy!
Completely agree, thanks for watching!
@@AmeraPina
From someone who one day hopes to have what you have- I’m happy for you Brother!😎👍🏻
@@adamsty1728 Thank you, Brother! 🙏 I truly appreciate that, and I sincerely hope you find the same happiness one day. Life here with my amazing wife has been a blessing-it’s not always perfect and will definitely challenge you at times! But the love, partnership, and shared journey make it worth everything. There’s nothing quite like a Filipina in my experience-she has the respectfulness of Asian cultures combined with the fiery personality of Latina women. It’s such a fun and amazing combo that keeps you on your game! 😂
Stay patient and true to yourself. My best advice is to take the time to learn and respect the culture while staying true to your own. Family is incredibly important here, so do your best to avoid putting your partner in a situation where she has to choose between you and her family. That kind of choice would break her heart, no matter what. As a Westerner, trust me, that can be hard at times. But love is the one currency you decide how much or how little you have. Many Filipinos might be poor financially, but they are incredibly rich in love. Be that way! Finding a balance will make all the difference. Wishing you all the best on your journey-you’ve got this! 😎👍🏻
I couldn’t agree more, what I don’t get is how they manage a relationship with him going back and forth to the US and back, I couldn’t do that, I would have to stay there or bring her here.!
@@tavo6317 At the start, you have to deal with long-distance unless you’re willing to go all in before meeting her, which I wouldn’t recommend. A K-1 visa requires meeting in person at least once within two years, so you’ll need to visit her, then return home to start the process. Long-distance is unavoidable if you plan to live in the U.S.
When I first met my wife, I had to return home for a year to care for my dying father. Even from day one, I knew I’d marry her when I saw her washing my clothes from the flight by hand and cooking for me.
After my father passed, I moved to the Philippines to marry her. LDR is tough, but if she’s the one, every hurdle-even long-distance-is worth it.
I never get tired of monthly expense blogs in the Philippines. I feel I could enjoy reasonably on $1500 usd a month, but I'm shooting for $3000 usd to factor in travel, and unforseen events. Thanks.
Earn 3, spend 2, save 1. Don't forget to adjust for inflation every decade.
After traveling to SE Asia several times I believe that's a good budget plus need a $20K emergency fund.
@@americanandpinay plan for inflation every year if if another Biden type ever gets elected
I've recently retired in puerto galera on mindoro and found not having a flippina gf will halve your expenses.
I've engaged the services of a 19yr old freelancer once a week and she's happy with 1500php for short time.
Life is good here;diving, drinking and decadence.
You can get by on a pension.
If you want to date....impossible with 1500....doable with 3k if your really cheap.
I love how frugal you Filipinas are! I'd also prefer to be in the Province with the luxuries you've got. and about 30 minutes from the city is not bad at all. cheers!
30 minutes is a lifetime in an emergency. You should plan where you live around any health issues you have or you genetically inherited. If you have a heart attack in the province, you aren't making it. We had a friend die from an infection from a basic cut, so make sure you're immunizations are up to date.
@@americanandpinay Good advice! I'll keep that in mind! Cheers from the US!
Living on Camotes Island Cebu Philippines, we spend at least P120,000 a month, that includes a 2 day trip to Cebu for supplies.
Am currently visiting Camotes, beautiful island. We live in Cebu but are considering moving here long term - any recommendations to finding a rental / real estate purchase?
good to see your channel taking off guys! I can't wait to be back in the Philippines!!!
Thanks for watching Jordan!
Congrats on the new puppies, also appreciate the video gives me an idea of living out in the province.
Best of luck!
In the province on Bohol, we spend about $1200 a month for essentials. Farm expenses are more, depending on the season.
Thanks for the great breakdown, you two! I’m heading to CDO next month to meet a pinay I met on CF, and to start scouting properties. Keep these vids coming please!👍🏻
I'm doing exactly the same mate in January to meet a beautiful Filipino I met on Christian philipina 6 months ago. I'm so excited.
Best of luck to you Brother!👍🏻
You are doing it and doing it well.
Keep living the dream
You 2 look great together congratulations
Thank you!!
That's a nice budget! This gives me something to think about down the line!
I live in the province mountains with my wife and two teenage children and the cheapest month ive had is around $2,500. I do rent and my electric bill is always at least 10,000 peso about $175.00 usd. Rent is 20,000 peso about $350.00. I do live in a high end gated community and have 3bdrm 2 full bath full air con house. I would pass out, if my monthly expense was only 1,000-1,500 a month. My children do go to a private school also. But i didnt include that in my monthly expense since i pay the tuition yearly
What’s the cost of the private school?
@ there are different costs throughout the PI but i pay 36,000 peso ( around $625.00 usd) a year, plus uniform costs, which i bought 5, plus the long stockings and black shoes to go with it.
I love watching your vlog. You're blessed for each other. Your silent subscriber from Malabon City, NCR Philippines.
Thank you so much!
Good info brother, im at 100k here in Iloilo City but that includes tuition for the lady. I feel like thats super expensive, even with the extra cost of study. I cook at home and order my drinking habit using wholesale. It could be 65k, if we cut corners but my budget allows for comfort.
Awesome, thanks for watching
@@justlookinground1 I have watched many vloggers and Iloilo is more expensive, especially for rent. Living in a major city vs the province always drives the price up.
@@tonymars1093 I am sharing my exact experience while I am currently residing in Iloilo City. Thank you for letting me know that vloggers can confirm my experience ...that I am currently having, based on the me living here.
I am also a country boy!Love your content!
Thanks for watching Richard!
I just discovered your channel. I looked at the past few videos and decided to subscribe because of the content and the outstanding audio
Thanks for watching!
What a beautiful woman arlene is. Incredible.
She really is. Brandon is a lucky guy!
Thanks for watching!
Great advice love the vibe well done ❤ so good to see you both having fun great life. Love the puppies.
Glad you enjoyed it
Genuine assessment- thanks
Liked the video... do more.
Time to put up the solar. Seems to be 40% off compared to the USA. Eliminate that $1152 a year, and not suffer a sweaty brown out.
Yup, coming eventually!
Thank you cant wait to visite
Arlene is amazingly gorgeous. Congratulations on your relationship.
I prefer the Filipino lifestyle. Same as she said 15k -20k is good for a family in the province.
Great stuff guys
Great video guys! I just feel since you do RUclips, tend to spend little bit more but still cheap as hell compared here in Cali.
Thanks for watching Darren!
ARLEEN IS VERY PRETTY BRANDON ♥
I would really like to see more of these videos. If all goes well I will be looking for property. So all your boths insight is very welcome and appreciated
Will do!
2200 usd a month..
Girlfriend and I live in Baguio City, Benguet, up in the mountains, renting a four bedroom, fully furnished house. Our total living expenses run about $2,200 usd a month and include the following. Rent, utilities including internet and mobile phone service, Netflix, Apple TV, NHL TV hockey subscription,food including liquor, transportation (taxi), and top tier medical insurance plan for us both with Pacific Cross. Prior to that, we lived a few months in a smaller beach town in Baler, Aurora, in a small studio apartment, and I would say the budget was approximately $700-$1000 usd less. The above listed expenses do not include entertainment or travel. Just an example of the changes we had moving from a province town to the city.
That is very helpful, thank you for sharing!
Baguio was the city that first got me interested in PH. Almost no videos out of Baguio. I video chatted with a well to do Filipina in Baguio for several months as friends and she taught me a lot about Baguio. Very different from most of PH in many ways besides climate.
Netflix in the uk is £5.99 a month ! The us is expensive,I always love your videos !!
Oh wow, you are lucky. Yes, everything in US right now is crazy. Thanks for watching!
I’m in pampanga Luzon and our budget for the 2 of us per month is about the same 50k plus a car payment of 24k so around 70k php.
I just got my hair cut yesterday $41 including tip
On my side of Bohol a haircut costs 70 pesos. (About 1.25 USD)
I cut my own hair. $30 for the clippers 15 years ago. I got so tired of going to a place to get my hair cut, often having to wait and concern many times about hygiene. Now 7 minutes and done.
Great vid, excluding rental/accomodation costs then $1000 pcm is more than enough for a couple to live off (based on my couple of years here)
Hows the internet connection there?
Is Star Link available there?
Good and yes
I rent a condo in pasig. It's 13k a month. Electric is like 3500. 1700 for net. Water is like 400. Other than that, it varies depending on what we do.
I did the province life, even built a nice home up in the mountains. But for medical reasons I needed to be close to the VA health clinic in Manila. I live in BGC, one of the most expensive places in the Philippines. Love it here but it's quit a bit more expensive. My condo is 45k, my utilities are under 30k. But I spend lots of money eating out and buying foods from the import stores. I think my monthly is around $5,000 USA dollars per month to live large here. My retirement is larger than that, so I either add it to my savings, or vacation monthly to other islands. I have a car and take it with me from island to island.
Living frugal is a good option if you have a good woman, but if single, you will spend more money just to break the boredom.
Great video guys, you both look so happy and in love. Sana all 🎉🎉
Thanks for sharing your experience and great advice!
I'm 68, healthy and think all the expat Tubers kind of ignore the reality of what's ahead medically if a guy is lucky enough to live a really long time. Stuff breaks, the body wears out. My main reason for moving to SE Asia next year is to prepare for those future needs. Maxes out at about $5000-6000/mo for full care (meals, private nurse) in a long term retirement resort. Plus medical and health insurance is a lot when 80, 90 years-old but I'll have $500k to self-insure.
The expat Tubers I watch seem to live month to month with barely any savings. If their income is $2500/mo then that's their costs too.
I spend typically 60k for one month vacation.OFW here.The big chunk goes to food and outing with big family.
As the video showed, depends on the people. My average total spend has been $592.04/mo USD for the past 21 months. I'm 68, American man. So that's not much for PH right? But I live in Phoenix AZ USA.
I own my house which is $166/mo property tax (all these included in the $592 number). I self insure my house and do all maintenance which is almost nothing because of the dry climate. No heating needed i winter, AC just 1 room Jun-Oct. I send a lot on water because I created a large Japanese style garden.
Living in N Central I can walk most everywhere so only about 20 gal of gas for my car. $45/mo for car insurance which is kind of a waste, I should sell my car. All food shopping on foot, I walk 2hr/day almost everyday. There is canal fishing for carp which are delicious and lake fishing for catfish in summer and trout in winter. There's also a lot for free food give aways. About 1/2 my food is free.
Because I live on savings my reportable income is $0 so no need to file income tax and I've gotten free healthcare via Medicaid for 14 years. That's $0 cost, $0 copay, $0 deducible. Free smartphone and plan (Lifeline).
To my costs there is also a gain of almost $2000/mo average over past 15 years my house has appreciated in value. I can't really eat house equity but I will cash out maybe next year and net about $500k. That money should return about $2000/mo in income and act as medical fund as needed.
So for me living in Phoenix I increase my net worth about $1400/mo while just living.
25 years ago I was a software engineer in San Jose CA spending about $4000-6000/mo USD. I was having a blast then and I'm having a blast now. I would say my current life is more comfortable and easy going.
I do plan to sell and move to SE Asia next year or year after. With my house sale plus I'll take SS my income should be about $6100/mo USD. It will be a much different lifestyle and I have no idea what that will be. Definitely much more expensive for me to live in SE Asia and I'm not sure it will be more enjoyable. But I love new adventures and have lived many places in the US and Germany. Always dislike leaving a place, but then I find how to create a fun life in the next place.
My main reason to move to SE Asia is to prepare for extreme old age. What is cheap and high quality in SE Asia is caregiving.
Awesome, thanks for sharing and best of luck on the mover to SE Asia next year!
Greetings from Ireland guys 😎👍
New subscriber watching from US. Yeah is little low cost of living.
You guys are too cute 😂 hello from southern Leyte! 👋
Omg your electricity is so cheap compared to our place! We spend like ₽10k each month 😢
Yes they are. 😊
Thanks is for watching!
Well, its just a tiny house 😄
As long as you are open, willing to adjust your lifestyle, it will be easier
I think budget for everybody is different, for us I'm 39 my wife is 37 and we got a son 5 years old, we live here now 10 months. We have a budget of 120k but spend only between 30 and 36k a month, we live in a subdivision with all amenities and my son goes to a private school.
Nice video. I appreciate your breakdown of expense & lifestyle. The drone is a nice touch to see your property. Personally, I'd get bored that far away from everything, but you seem well suited. Best wishes.
Very nice video, thank you. You’re lucky to have those amenities within a short motorbike right away, when I was in Leyte with my fiancé her province has absolutely no amenities like that.
Brandon , I had mentioned planting your main trees if you can before you leave, most barangays in the philippines once a week have a "market day," thats where you can buy your trees and meet local growers. , my 2 sister in laws live in a apartment on the back of our house and they water our trees and keep our yard and house clean. Costs us very little to maintain. Oh dont forget if you plant avocados they must be grafted or you will grow them and get no avocados. Ive heard you can get haas avocados trees in manila. good luck.
Didnt realized James Caan son lives in the Philippines. Theres some resemblance there. Keep up the good work. Wow, your food expenses are low, we easily do higher here in Manila. I like living in the province sometimes, our budget gets reduced.
Keep up information
The true cost of living anywhere is depending on each person and what they wish to spend and how they wish to live. No one person can say this is what it will cost you because this is what it cost me. If a person has A/C running 24/7 at 64 F then his bill will be a lot higher then if a guy didn't run A/C at all.
I agree, but these budget videos from different people, different locations, different lifestyles can give you a rough idea, especially when they explain their lifestyle. This video helps me because we're building very close to that area, about 40 minutes from Tacloban
Watching many of these videos it seems a person's budget is whatever their income is. True for expats and Filipinos. Every peso coming in goes right back out. How people live seems less a choice and more of hitting a limit.
I'll probably get dinged by other bloggers on this post but anyone that's new to the Philippines is going to need a $5,000 - $10,000 startup fund, $10,000 emergency fund plus a $2,000 monthly income. After visiting there several times I expect to spend at least $2,000 to $2,500 a month while having an emergency fund of over $25,000 plus a startup fund of $10,000. Living on an amount like $1,200 is definitely possible I doubt the average person could do that short term. It may take them 6 or 12 or 24 months to fully get setup and living like what you show. Some things are cheap in the Philippines and some things are not. I found it very easy to spend $700 to $1,000 a week depending on where I was staying. Going on there on a shoe string budget is just asking to end up broke and on the street or e-begging.
I agree with @franciscoaguilar123
We don't live there now, but have been working on this for 3-4 years now. We built a house 3 years ago on land my wife dad owns.
Wife.s parents live there. Early next year , we will be moving/living there.
Other then purchasing a motorcycle/car, I have ran the numbers, We should be able to live /breathe/eat/pay bills $600.
This doesn't include anything extra. I believe the house we had built was 12k, 3 bedroom, nothing special house.
Location: Northern Mindanao, Misamis Occidental Province
I live in Makati my condo is $1200 I spend about $5000 a month.
That's been my thinking too watching Tubers. There's a lot of forgetting about expenses and no planning for the future. Dudes in their 60's saying "I'm healthy" like they're going to live forever in that state. Every penny coming in goes out.
Health insurance is reasonable when 60. At 70 it costs a lot. At 80 it's really not much of an option. Emergency fund of $25k seems a minimum unless a person is willing to go out like most Filipinos do, in discomfort. I think a lot of guys think they would, but when the time comes not so much.
Wow! I think that's a lot of cash for living in a province! Especially when you're not even paying rent. But as long as you're cool with it, it's all good! Aloha.
Hi Brandon. When you bring your beautiful, soon to be wife back here to the states, I'd recommend taking her to a Seafood City supermarket. There is one in Tukwila. I take my wife as often as I can to some of the California locations. It's like going to a supermarket in the Philippines. They'll have all the food and ingredients from back home and they have plenty of dishes cooked as well. We stay on the road so the wife doesn't get to interact with many Filipinas in person, so she loves going there. Also most locations also have a Jollibee or Chowking, sometimes both. Just a tip if you didn't already know about that
Thank you for the info. i had no idea. Arlene and I will be back in the States next month for Christmas. Do they have maggi sauce? I love that stuff. Thank you for watching!
@@brandonandarlene Yes they have it. You've been in SM markets i'm sure there in Tacloban. Seafood City is comparable to SM. Probably a little bigger, but they have everything you would find at SM. You'll feel like you're in the Philippines when you go. I enjoy going myself
@@brandonandarlene You and Arlene are in store for some unforgettable memories soon when you bring her. I remember the look on my wife’s face as we came in for a landing in Detroit and there was snow on the ground, unforgettable. So many other things. February 2nd will be 13 years for us. I’m excited for you both
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
Think long and hard before bringing her to the US. It changes them, and not for the better. Been there done that. You are forewarned
Hello from Florida. Waray Waray ladies are the best! My wife is from Barugo/Minuhang.
It's a great time having those US dollars in the Philippines with the exchange rate at a recent low of 59:1.
Other than the motorcycle, are there any other big purchases planned to take advantage of the better rate? New swimming pool or high-end karaoke machine perhaps? How about a pool table? 😊
Wedding next month! 🤣 thanks for watching as always!
I'm a Aussie I built a house in Iloilo about 30 min drive from a McDonald's hour from city when I move there I like to spend 1000 Australian dollars a month 39,000 pesos but problem is to many family members in province and they try to take advantage of u get free stuff
Much better if you live away from family so that they can't take advantage of you.
@Alma88885 family not blood related only my wife
Let’s Go Brandon! 😀….. great video and yes I enjoy that type of content. Keep them rolling.
Thanks! Will do!
I say this all the time, when a guy is lucky enough to find a good Filipina , it’s like winning the lottery, you simply need nothing else
My fiancée is from lapu lapu in Cebu
If you own everything in an affordable province outside of a major city, you can easily keep your monthly expenses well under $400 per month for 2. Gifts, Vacations, upgrades, unplanned health care, etc. are not monthly expenses. So many people confuse that. Most monthly expenses in the west are easily eliminated by the extreme affordability of paying for cash up front. Find a Filipina with land. Be your own contractor and build a modest home for half the cost of an average car. But a maxiscoot for half the price. Buy a kei car for a few thousand. Maintenance is practically nothing. Dig a well. Collect rain water. Put in a filtration system. Put in solar. Get starlink and learn how to get APK packages and watch everything for free. Your only monthly bill is food and $36/month for Starlink. Insurance and registration per vehicle per year is about $20. Get permanent residency and pay $6 per year. Buy your cellphones and only purchase service when needed on a daily basis and hotspot the other phone. $5 per easily covers 2 per month. 90% of what i spend a month is upgrading our home and land and vehicles and personal items. Which are not monthly expenses.
Nailed it! Thanks for watching!
I'd eat more like a local. I don't need to eat out if I have food at the house. And if ibwas retired . I could just make my food instead of eating out all the time like I do here in the states. But thats because I get out of work late most the time
I retired 22 years ago at 45. It completely surprised me how expensive it was to work. Yeah a lot of meals out because I was so busy. Now I haven't eaten out in 5 years. Like my own cooking and it's healthier too. And I'd spend a lot on entertainment because I felt like I had to cram it all into a limited time. Now my favorite trip is a daily 2 hour walk.
I went from spending $4000-6000/mo to $600/mo. Happiness the same.
@waterbug1135 well I might gross that much with overtime a month. But I only will see about 2000 a month after taxes health insurance and 401k . Between the pre-tax post tax and all the others . I end up working 1 week for free.
Similar budget to mine. I stay in dipolog
we spend on average around 1300 to 1500 in the province a month. Have rent and not much travel outside of our island.
Great video...
Good stuff! I couldn't help but laugh when you mentioned paying $4 for your haircut, compared to $45 here in Cali.
I know right and $3 was the tip! I stopped getting them at $25 in the US.
@brandonandarlene I'll be in the PI in January. Maybe I should wait till then and to my next hair cut...lol
And think about it, if you could adjust and live a simple life.. In the end it's good for you. Even if you go back or maybe live 50/50 split in 2 countries. If you can retain that simple life your expenses will be lower
Hi both
We also live in the province (Isabela).
My wife and I can easily live off 30K PHP per month. We even save some.
We recently built our new home so we don't have electricity any mortgage/rent. We are also 100% solar off-grid so no electric bills.
Food 15K
Wifi 1.4K
Drinking water 200
Mains water 250
Eating out 3K
Entertainment at home 2K
Car fuel 1K
Our solar system easily manages to run the following (even when we had typhoons) -
3 x AC
1 x refrigerator
1 x electric ceramic hob
1 x built in electric oven
4 x fans
3 x TV's
1 x rice cooker
1 x electric kettle
1 x water cooler/dispenser
1 x washing machine
Hope this helps?
Simon
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
Hi Brandon & Arlene! Grettings from perhaps your soon the be neighbour. My beautiful wife currently lives in Bureaun Leyte, I am still working for a living here in Canada but visit often. If health allows, I will be joining my wife on a premanent basis in a few years. Alternatively my wife will join me here and we will frequent the Philippines. Very curious as to where you are located in Leyte. Enjoying your videos, keep up the great info.
We are near Tanauan. Thanks for watching!
@@brandonandarlene Thanks for the reply, that is very close. It is a beautiful area, I feel fabulous when in the province, Its peaceful, the people are beautiful. I am flying in Feb 10th. We are having a family and friends party on the beach in Dulag. You and your lovely wife are most welcome to attend. To this day....I am the only foreigner I have seen in our area of Leyte! Funny. Cheers
Not included health insurance in there. Maxicare for 2 of you you are looking at close to 10000 pesos a month.
Hello! Any advice for someone planning on moving to Manila for about 2-6 months? I met a girl, and we have been talking for a year and met her in October. She was super amazing and sweet. I have a remote job and bring in 2500$ after taxes a month. I appreciate any advice!
Nice remote job. Hopefully I can find one so i can start traveling. Good Luck with everything. 🍻
Have a good trip!
Yes, I would request more videos like this. I will be planning to move to the Philippines in a few years. They are very helpful! I watch a lot of vloggers and you two are my new favorite channel.
Also, if you could do a video on transferring money from the US to the Philippines at some point, that would be very helpful as well.
If the quality is what it has been, if you put it out, I will watch. 😊
You will be fine, more than likely unless you have really expensive extracurricular habits.
@Jora-tuber not really I'm fairly frugal when it comes to spending. I just don't know what all to really expect. The woman I've been talking with has a decent job and doesn't ask me for money. She says she will help me but I wanted a foreigner like me perspective.
I'm curious what does land cost Where You Are. Cuz I am looking more towards the country
Arlene bought it for 12.7K USD
What about health insurance?
Wow, thats really cheap! Thnx guys
Do you also have to pay a rent for the house ? Insurance for car, motor roller, house ? Happy couple, congratulations!!
Everything is paid off, thanks for watching!
I live in Butuan philippines, budget is $1500.00 a month.
I thinking of spending six months in South east Asia every month on a bidget between 2k to 2.5k a month with and emergency of 10 k.
I can spend 30 a day for food in Seattle or Tokyo for one person
Seems like cool dude be safe out there.
Thanks for watching!
Hello is nice to Live in the province very cheap Living .But to many can go wrong .and is far for emergency hospital . So anyway thank you so much as always for the video.
I am not American so USD means little to me. Having lived in Leyte for 15 years-Typhoon Yolanda survivor-HORRIBLE. Everything is in peso. The only time I refer to my old currency is when I am transferring money.
but his audience is International and USD is a Global currency
Hi Brandon & Arlene, I enjoy your channel and appreciate the content you guys do--thanks for that! Just wondering (and not trying to throw any shade here), but do you advertise your videos? You get a ton of views and subs, but don't have that much content (unless it was public and now it's private) and I'm curious how that is! Was it because your first video blew up? Or something else? Thanks so much--just another friendly RUclipsr here ;)
Yes, the meet-up video and house video gained most views and subs. Videos have always been public and never advertised or paid for subs/views. We have been very lucky and not exactly sure why. Keep creating, and good luck!
Arlenes Family so lucky they have source of food,they have a big farm
Considering moving to Cebu city where my fiancee works. Just wondering if, after deducting the condo rental, is 1000USD/per month enough?
I'd suggest going to cebu for a month and you'll get a good idea. Every persons expenses are different. Thanks for watching!
She owns the land did you pay for the house together or did she own it already.
What about my pension? Do I need put my money in their bank? Ss pay? Disability pension pay?
Leave money in USA banks. Just withdraw from ATM
If I move there from usa, can I keep my usa car license?
Yes
Too many showers is bad for human body in many ways including harms natural necessary microbial, bacteria, etc that live on our bodies and skin. Also so many showers dry out the skin of the body and negatively affect natural skin oils as cut back on showers for better health. One shower every night / evening is more than enough when you are home for the evening in aircon. I could see if got dirty or muddy for a shower occasion when required but otherwise 3 to 5 showers a day is way too much even medical professionals would tell you the same thing.
the truth is there is a young lady behind every bloggers journey, lol...facts.
$925 A Month That’s Really Cheap Compare To USA 🇺🇸
The question is how much do the locals get paid per month.
If you earn us dollars it is good but i
think the average Philippino isn't living as well?
I have a very good Friend who lives north of manilla. He and his family live well. He has a good job and is paid mostly US dollars.
How fast/reliable is the internet there?
No issues at all, I watch sports and netflix all the time. Thanks for watching!
You have a great catch , seems very sweet and also outgoing very cute and pretty, may I ask to see you house looks comfortable for the size and how much did you pay for and how much land do you have? TIA
Many years of Gods blessings!! ❤
What does it cost? I spent 80,000 pesos in one week in the Philippines in Manila. I think I misunderstood the country.
That's what I spend here in Canada with no mortgage or rent payments
I think Brandon is sleepy🥱🤔🤣😂😂😂
Biggest mistake folks make...is not having enough start up cash...
I came to the Philippines with enough to buy new car, ATV, Jetski, 2 multicabs and a three bedroom house on the beach...bought a/c units...beds...appliances
Sure, I know people that chose renting a place...use public transportation...and live without A/C...
I lived in the Philippines...some simply survive in the Philippines...
Exactly!
not everyone needs a Jetski,a new car and most people dont want to buy a house because you dont own it as a foreigner
Visa? I have had my 13A visa for 14 years now.
yeah guess what,not everybody who goes to the Philippines is retired
Bro you super scored. Does she have a sister?
Hey guys I live with my wife in biliran which is ot far from tacloban when I first arrived i spent boat load of money. So 58k is good but you live in America and se lives in Philippines how much does she spend when you are not there?
Around 15-20K
I know why he is showering so much😉😉😉😉😉
Thanks for watching 🤣
Because is hot as F ..k!😂😂😂
I am the same way, I bet is sticky and clammy!😳😳😳😳😳