Benefits of Living in BGC as an EXPAT (2021)

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Woulda think? There's many benefits of living in BGC as an expat (and filipino) but what was you're favorite? I'd like to hear your thoughts. Savvy Expats, if you want to see more videos, in depth, relating to this topic, get this video to 50 likes. If not, what do you want to see next? Anyways, appreciate all you're support lately. We're about to hit 500 subscribers! You guys are awesome.

[@RoseBill423]

Another excellent video buddy, yeah I'm starting to like it better the Eastwood hmmm lol. It's pricey but it ain't NYC pricey so I'll definitely check it out too.

[@ronbaltazar8773]

Agreed. BGC possibly is one of the most expensive places to live in in the Philippines but it's way cheaper than cities in western countries yet you get the same quality of life and options (if not better).

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Exactly

[@malakeys1913]

May i ask what do you do for a living? What made you retire in the Philippines and how can you afford BGC?

[@mnicole96]

Agree. It is wayyyy cheaper for me to live there than where I live currently (Iceland). It would be a simpler and stress-free life

[@ronbaltazar8773]

@@noeminoemi1350 You generalized. Have you tried eating in restaurants in New York, Beverly Hills in California, Paris or London? I'm pretty sure that for the same dish, the restaurants from these places charge more than those in BGC. Also, let's only do an apple to apple comparison here- we should not compare the price of a caviar in a fancy restaurant in BGC to a pasta meal in a western city. Obviously, we need to factor in the price of the raw food when purchased. Dishes in western countries that have oranges, grapes, broccoli, and the likes will be cheaper in western cities because these are not grown in Metro Manila.

[@MN12warbird]

Absolutely

[@mysterioustravels4305]

There's a lot of Mexican restaurant in the Philippines bro, maybe you do not have in BGC but when you go to QC, Makati and other places they do have a lot of Mexican Resto like Mexicali, Tacos, Chili's, etc.

[@maclovioberumen1917]

You are lucky and your from a rough city like Chicago and now look where you are. You got me jealous. I'm from a rough place in California, but for now I live in Cancun, Mexico - where springbreakers come to party and get on the beach. Beautiful tourquiose waters, just like your Boracay. But you have convinced me that BCG is the place for me. I have to straighten a few things out first, before I could go live there. Thanks Mac.

[@MN12warbird]

Im A filipino currently in Chicago looking to become an expat

[@kevinpanique1671]

Hey Evan if you like Mexican food. Check out El Chupacabra in Poblacion in Makati they have the best Tacos. Also check out The filling station . Its an Americana themed restaurant .

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I heard about that place, I'll be sure to check it out 💯

[@jellymadrigal5879]

I agree

[@snowtyboy]

BGC is beautiful during the Christmas season. it has so many Christmas lights with huge well lighted Christmas trees in every corner. you can feel the spirit of Christmas.

[@stephendunn2860]

Yes, Kerry gym is awesome. I've used it when I stay in BGC. I'm glad to say that I've heard good things about St. Luke's but never used it!

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Absolutely Stephen 💯 have you tried their tennis courts at all?

[@judebautista5925]

I live near BGC and considers it my turf when it comes to food places. Evan there Mexican food places there! Andale!, Agave, Chihuahua, Army Navy, Gringo etc. For Greek/Med foods, try Souv! They make the best kalamaki!!! Their burger is so good too! Even better than Shake Shack. Great vid!

[@daveaway]

You production quality is great. Lots of good info.

[@marcgoldbergdogtrainer]

Hello from Chicago. Just found your channel and subbed. Great video! Prices would be cool to see as subtitles on the meals. Looking forward to binging your uploads.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Fellow Chicagoan! Nice. Yea, I'll be putting the prices next time. Thanks for watching Marc!

[@nicholascherry5962]

Savvy, I'm home from my PH trip. I'm glad I took your advice and went on my trip, as short as my 17 days were, it was heaven. It rained alot it Manila and the traffic was hell, I couldn't see myself living there. I spent almost all my time in Cebu at Radisson Blu Cebu and I could call that city home. Just started a new job as an software engineer and hopefully I can take my work remote in the next 6 months. It'd be worth working at midnight, if it meant living in paradise.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Nicholas, glad to hear that my friend. Which part of Manila did you stay in? From the sound of it, Cebu is much more your jam. I have a friend from Florida who is the same shoes as you. Software Engineer, job based in the states, etc. Hopefully like him you'll be able to work remotely.

[@nicholascherry5962]

@@TheSavvyExpat I stayed in Makati at I'm Hotel and City Garden GRAND hotel. I preferred the City Garden GRAND because of the awesome rooftop bar and pool

[@superstarjones382]

You should add prices next time. Nice video.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

You're right. Noted ✅

[@donbsweet5001]

Great! Thank you for mentioning that BGC is a walking city. Walking city is high in my list. Can you show a high end gym? How about night life?

[@TheSavvyExpat]

For sure Don. Kerry Sports is the highest end gym here in BGC and in my opinion offers the most amenities out of every gym in all of the Philippines. It's got tennis courts, multiple pools, a gigantic gym, spas, sauna, you name it. As for nightlife in BGC, it's very lively. Lots of bars and restaurants that get crowded especially nowadays. Check out Uptown, it's a great place for nightlife.

[@donbsweet5001]

@@TheSavvyExpat Thanks! Keep showing the luxury living for expats that can afford it.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

@@donbsweet5001 Will do! It's the most entertaining subject for me to cover

[@USAtoPhilippinesLife]

Great video Evan, agree with you about the food! BGC looks like a great area!

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Can never go wrong with good food!

[@Eurasiablend]

Found your channel through Covid travel updates for Philippines episode. I'd be in BGC or Makati right now, with my beloved pinoy bf, who I haven't seen since before the start of pandemic, if it wasn't for ongoing restrictions meaning foreign tourists still can't enter the country even now in 2022! Seeing BGC and some of the food and eating places reminds me of my last visit and good times. I'm vegetarian, no meat or fish, so BGC as well as Makati is good to find such dietary options. No Mexican? Except maybe in expensive hotels like Shangri-la etc. Last time and previous, we dined at Agave Mexican Cantina, just off High Street to the right as you walk away from Serrendra direction. I like the food there plenty of veggie choices as well as for meat eaters! Café Mediterranean, I agree, I enjoyed great food there too, anything from veggie curry! to Italian Aubergine Parmigiana, but at Rockwell Powerplant branch, didn't know the BGC one. I regularly watch 2 other channels about dating and life in the Philippines, they're interesting, but based on Cebu Island, so mostly cover more remote beach or country living. They usually advise viewers against even visiting Maynila, let alone considering living there. ... Refreshing to see someone covering the capital city and sometimes in a positive way, as Maynila gets such a bashing and bad press. For me if I ever move to Philippines, dapat Maynila! Well done and keep it up :) . P.s. One of my favourite restaurants is Simply Thai, Greenbelt 5 Makati on outside of the mall building. I recommend it. Delicious food and great on food presentation. Ingat Ka at salamat sa London, Europe/ UK.

[@johnclark7973]

The food looks amazing there in BGC. I also like to hear that BGC is a walkable city. I also dig BGC's location, next to Makati and also near the International Airport. Having that world class hospital 🏥 is also reassuring. High Street looks a good place to spend some time.

[@alexpaolo]

Dude it ws so awesome bumping into you in Uptown today 02.03.2023! What is the name of the chicken sandwich you ate at WildFlour? In the video (4:48)

[@dynamicbaldwin3786]

Can you do a video on the cost of living very comfortably in BGC?

[@MestisoHapa]

How about traditional filipino food? :) I was at Manam not far from Wildflour and I thought it was excellent. It was packed too. As for being pedestrian friendly...sure if you can tolerate 95F temperature w/90% humidity like, year round :D I walked from Shangri-La hotel to Market Market (about a 12min walk as I recall), and my shirt was literally soaking wet. I second the gym in Shangri-La, it is very nice.

[@murraybush7828]

Awesome! I can't wait! I'll be staying in BGC for 5 nights in May, 2022. I hope there will also be some "fine dining", meaning restaurants that serve wine. But I will definitely try the ramen and the middle easter food. And I hope there will be some great coffee shops too. Please let me know if you have some recommendations. Thanks!

[@snowtyboy]

they got everything there

[@mikefranks4528]

Evan, do you know what the pollution index is over at BGC?

[@MN12warbird]

Expensive yes, relatively. Nice place in the phillipines? Definitely, is it cheaper than staying in another big city lifestyle kind of place like Chicago? Yes. I do agree with you, needs more Mexican places. But the ones i did go to, like the one inside greenbelt were very good and friendly ppl and absolutely low prices lol i ordered 2 of everything. Oh but i crave the day i can have an horchata and a dalandan drink in the same day

[@superdopesamples]

When I went to Makati my friend found one really good Mexican place called El Chupacabra. It was delicious! They probably have the best tacos in the Philippines for sure

[@jojermegara4587]

We go to BGC to hang out,stroll and shops a city within a city , safe, modern and clean place to be

[@TheSavvyExpat]

For sure

[@vincenttyson7008]

Thanks for the video. I just want to know if I can buy a home in the Philippines when I retire

[@aramisjamais8469]

Do you have any ideas how so there are not Mexican eateries in Philippines? Dont they like Mexican food or what is the reason? Thank you for all your videos!

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I think it's because the authentic Mexican ingredients are hard to import here.

[@aramisjamais8469]

Do you think a Mexican food for pick up and delivery would have any chances of success? If so, I would like to have a conversation with you.

[@jamesclaire115]

Tuli, Now that you mention it, l do not remember seeing Mexican or even Cajun food even in Manila. The pizza in Manila beat the pizza in Chicago. I enjoy Philippine burgers except for the mayo mixed with ketchup and cucumbers instead of pickles. Things are often different in the islands of paradise. Great channel, stay safe. How much are?hair cuts in the?islands?

[@jeffersonfernandez906]

very good video. looking forward to my condo turnover in uptown

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Ah happy to hear that Jeff. Good for you man!

[@titosirj6262]

Neighbor!

[@johnclark7973]

I don't know anything about buying a car overseas. Is it more expensive (import tax)? Can I just ship a car I already own, from the US, over to the Philippines?

[@malibu-ken]

How is the traffic air pollution there in BGC? or Makati? Do you constanly smell the auto exhaust?

[@TheSavvyExpat]

The air is actually pretty fresh in BGC as compared to other cities like Pasig. Its more open, less traffic, and more trees so less pollution.

[@527ctguy]

@@TheSavvyExpat How about getting grab? is it easier in makati or bgc? We are visiting and want to easily get around.

[@joelgonzales9782]

BGC is a nice place to live, its like living in the Gold Coast of Chicago. I am from Chicago too my friend and i moved here to the Philippines 4 yrs ago. Its More fun in the Phil.

[@TheLonelyPostman]

Can you make a video of Eastwood City and its benefits of living there vs BGC.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Noted!

[@crisjenness274]

oh man, I was considering moving back but NO MEXICAN food?! ugh, idk if I can do it.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Tell me about it!

[@jetd9716]

There is, we live only 30 min from BGC and I took out my GRAB app and showed 6 high end Mexican restaurants. No, not Chipotle level ok, that's dog food. Lol

[@antigraftandcorruption5849]

In the very near future there will also be Mexican restaurant and all those International restaurants in BGC.

[@nickyingtavorn5491]

what is BGC stand for thanks

[@JeffMathias]

I could see BGC being a good starting place for a bougie American. Then start to venture out to a more authentic Ph experience as you become comfortable.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I definitely agree Jeff. BGC is a great home base as it's not only comfortable for the average American, but also near all of the provinces of the Philippines that give you the authentic Philippine experience.

[@PaulFujiyama]

Pricy. That's what makes it exclusive. And no trikes and jeepnies. It's a 1st class city. Much nicer than Makati. BGC has what Makati doesn't ... Exclusivity.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Couldn't have said it any better. Makati is a nice city but BGC offers exclusivity.

[@sprikitik9719]

There's a Fort Shuttle bus right?

[@arnoldduco2376]

In makati near land mark there's a Mexican restaurant

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Is el pollo Loco here any good?

[@salesmikeful1]

But I gotta have Mexican Food. Please look and let me where to go...

[@junaguilar9233]

Can you make a blog living in Eastwood City located in Bagumbayan Q. C. Thank you.

[@jhun895]

Did you did that in one day eating all that food

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I wish lol! No this was all separate occasions

[@JB-xm8qi]

There are mexican food.. of course .. specially when you go and ask for it at buffets in shangrilla, grand hyatt... etc2x...

[@TheSavvyExpat]

"Benefits of living in BGC"

[@JB-xm8qi]

@@TheSavvyExpat oh yeah i corrected myself.. hahaha

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Is it good tho 🤔 I'll have to try it

[@JB-xm8qi]

@@TheSavvyExpat i realized that.. that is why i edited it... i mean.. makati is definetly just 5 to 10 mins away.... ortigas business district is just 10 to 15 mins away... if you really crave mexican food.... there are endless

[@TheSavvyExpat]

@@JB-xm8qi as far as my own experience I have yet to find authentic Mexican food here so I'm glad you commented that. I'll have to check that out.

[@ejtaylor73]

Thanks for the video, always great info. Now that you covered a city, what about Provinces? Not all foreigners are looking for city life, some just want to relax and enjoy the little things in life without all the hustle and bustle of the city, and maybe get lucky to find a nice Province lady to settle down with and make memories. Any Provinces you could recommend that are a bit out of the way, with access to a city for the out of the way needs not accessible in a Province, within a short distance (10km away maybe a good distance). Thanks for all the effort you put into bringing us these videos.

[@geraldfirme1213]

How about San Narcisco Zambales??

[@markymartin6037]

Nice one…

[@TheLonelyPostman]

Shake Shack is the bomb!

[@mervinpopioco3556]

Please make videos in Vinice grand canal. Mall. Shout out from Riyadh saudi arabia

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Thanks for watching! How is it over there in Saudi?

[@cjcrystal1726]

the mexican food is on the next barangay ( kapitolyo) on the pasig side

[@jimmygreene284]

I ate at a Mexican restaurant that was in the mall near the park inn.

[@martinbalagat]

Have you ever been to In-N-Out Burger? I bet you it's s lot better than Shake Shack for the money you pay for.

[@michaeloherlihy2418]

Where can you buy soup & sandwiches in BGC

[@TheSavvyExpat]

There's a place called "St. Louis" on High Street. They have reuben sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, tomato soup, and many options.

[@jerrynam]

It seems like BGC is a World Class place to live in.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

100%. It's the best city to live in the Philippines in my opinion.

[@latteentry351]

Is it bicycle friendly?

[@LAXAMAND]

Pretty sure there are bike lanes in BGC

[@pinoyboyz3043]

Wat does ' expats' mean?

[@janjust4205]

Sorry I will argue best burger 🍔 IN & OUT… absolutely

[@aramisjamais8469]

What does BGC stand for?

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Bonifacio Global City

[@johnclark7973]

Google

[@frankiefernandez9225]

❤️Mendokoro ramen app a is my favorite ramen restaurant of all time😋😋😋👍🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@DefendUSA1776]

I am a simple man, just give me Jollibee or Chowking

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Chowking is undefeated 🔥

[@titosirj6262]

Simple man here too.

[@abe5318]

just sub. what's the background music around timestamp 0:00 - 0:55?

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Appreciate it Romeo 🙏 it's called Blushes by Dj Quads

[@stevenbaer9061]

So what is the story with pizza in the Philippines, I know Chicago is supposed to have amazing pizza so I would imagine your standards are pretty high.

[@TheSavvyExpat]

I'll tell ya Steven, I could go on and on about this topic for hours. It's hard to find good pizza here in the Philippines. One place, from the U.S, called Motorino is our best pick at the moment but when it comes to deep dish Chicago pizza, forget about it.

[@indidesitourer585]

No taco bell in philippines???

[@larryjones4760]

I think there are plenty of taco bell stores here you can find it in malls

[@hectorjuatco9384]

There is Gringo Mexican restaurant at BGC, just ask those is living in that place.

[@keemoe007]

Food looks good, but, did you eat all of that food in one day making the video? If yes, why are you still skinny? Haha .. I wish I was skinny again!

[@TheSavvyExpat]

😂😂😂

[@geraldfirme1213]

Bro, Do restaurants provide you food for free as long as you promote them on your videos? If so, how do you set this up? Maraming po salamat saiyo lahat Love from Texas GISwift

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Haha I wish

[@geraldfirme1213]

@@TheSavvyExpat Talaga? Sorry. Thank you for your sacrifice🤓

[@mcamicut]

BGC is da bomb.

[@stephenlee6098]

can you please list the price for each food you ate please?

[@SelwynClydeAlojipan]

You haven't mentioned that beside BGC is the American Memorial and Cemetery of the Pacific War. It the largest burial place and memorial park for most of the American and many Filipino military servicemen who died in the Asia-Pacific Theater in various countries and territories during World War II. It is a calm and peaceful place where one can relax and pay homage to the war dead, and has a newly built museum to showcase the history of that conflict. It's skyline didn't use to show tall buildings around it but that can't be helped now, however.

[@thelmatheintrepid1390]

are there French reataurants around

[@marcustimothyseungjae4412]

🇰🇷🇺🇲Wow👍❤

[@TheSavvyExpat]

:)

[@stephenlee6098]

Any vegan restaurant in BGC?

[@ricopecho9654]

i got the impression u like burgers =)

[@TheSavvyExpat]

You got it Rico!

[@gandalfstormcrow8439]

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 How the hell do you not have Mexican? 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯The Philippines was colonized by Spain for centuries! All those expats and no one opened a restaurant?

[@TheSavvyExpat]

lol spain and mexico are two different cuisines! But I agree, we should have mexican...

[@gandalfstormcrow8439]

@@TheSavvyExpat well paradise minus 1 point is still pretty sweet, but I'll bet they change the law and elect me president when I show up with taco seasoning. Thanks for all your help, I'm planning on checking out BGC first! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@527ctguy]

I just had Mexican twice in Chile and it was horrible. We are lucky in USA to have decent mexican food.

[@gandalfstormcrow8439]

@@527ctguy I am definitely traveling with a suitcase full of sauces and spices.😋

[@ron2823]

Why not tell us what BGC stands for.

[@johnclark7973]

Google

[@docjas5227]

Bonifacio Global City

[@josephsun9142]

Thailand is much cheaper with a more developed economy and better infrastructure. Interesting that the Philippines is more expensive than Thailand 🤔

[@snowtyboy]

only BGC is expensive because it belongs to Manila's elite bubble but outside BGC is less expensive than Thailand.

[@ThuyPham-lr5dc]

Baluuuuuuuuuuuuuuut