🇵🇭 The Real Cost of Living in Siargao

The cost of living in the Philippines is a huge topic, we live on the island of Siargao in Mindanao and this is what we think of the current prices here. There's lots of random prices that you wouldn't usually see in a vlog like this, so we hope you find this perspective informative.
It was based on the costs we've encountered as a British family living the island life in the provinces of Siargao island between the years of 2020 and 2024. Of course the prices can vary wildly so we highly suggest you do your own research outside of watching this video to get an idea of the lifestyle that you would like to live personally.
It's possible to live on very little in the Philippines, but your expectations on the quality of your life will have to drop substantially also. You can also spend perhaps more than your country of origin here, it's all possible.
We hope you enjoy seeing this perspective.
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Our names are Jmayel, Sacha & Story. We traveled to the Philippines Siargao island and fell in love with island life, now we want to make that life more permanent.
Follow us on this journey :-)
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Sacha, Jmayel, Story & Poppy are a Vegan family currently living in the Philippines. Creating a peaceful vlog about travel, family and life.
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[@louisewhite9152]

Hi Jay and Sacha and Storey and Poppy ~ I absolutely love your vlogs/videos ~ your content, your photography is absolutely amazing - suffer with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and lupus, and I am either bedbound or wheelchair-bound - I can only dream about the life you lead ~ Thank you so much for all your hard work in putting out these vlogs/videos, I really do appreciate it - sending loads of love and loads of hugs to you all ~ Xxx Xxx

[@richeljerman5469]

i just subscribed on this channel because i feel this family deserves support from pinoy eather in the Philippines or outside Philippines because in good times and bad times they still stayed in my country and you can tell how much they loved Philippines 😊 and so nice to see raising their only child in the beautiful island 😊

[@8milesfromhome]

That’s a wonderful thing to say, thank you so much

[@noelhernandez7215]

Good info and a nice video with music!! Thanks

[@PestoLJG]

Living in an island, any island is costly as everything has to be imported, unless you grow your own food. But to live full time in a tourist or resort island is really expensive esp when you patronize the local restaurants or amenities. It'll be best to live simply like the locals. Just the same.. luv your videos and ur family and i wish you safety, good health and success as you pursue your dream.

[@angelh3771]

It doesn't have to be that costly if you change your shopping and eating habits.

[@me2cb488]

But they need to go around to feature Siargao and as beautiful content for their blog. This is how they earn - in british pounds! So if they dont go around, they might be able to save, but might lose their way of living.

[@laverdad2022]

You are soooo wrong!!!!! I used to pay back in 2012 for a private room 10 usd in SIARGAO....Whats the difference then and now? One can find very cheap Islands to travel...its all about the hype...Siargao, Baler, El Nido even Boracay back then was soooo cheap!!!!....traveling in the province as a white guy was a rarity...not anymore

[@tina4780]

Great video!!! Fun information!

[@piad7027]

Super happy to see your vlogs! Hope youd continue making them ❤

[@jillybohac3627]

Very informative- Thanks guys !!

[@raymondwalker2048]

This was by far the best cost of living breakdown I have seen for Siargao. Great job. Salamat for this.

[@cristinaosila5683]

Been patiently waiting for your videos……so happy to see you all again💚💚💚💚

[@TGPS79]

Very useful information! I always love watching your videos since the pandemic. 😍

[@ninahintermann4379]

I am from the Capital of Siargao, and your vlog is important to me because it makes me feel like I am back in my town again even though I haven't been in the Philippines for the last 20 years. Take care,be safe and God bless.

[@persona5305]

same po. i kinda know how that feels despite not being able to go home just yet.

[@tesschavit3009]

Happy to see guys vlogging again❤

[@lorieshaw5632]

Beautiful vedio!! Thanks for showing us the Beauty of Siargao island

[@arlscent]

Thank you for sharing this. I love this family. Be safe and enjoy life

[@aurorasarmiento4694]

Hello Jay, Sacha, Story and Poppy, thanks for sharing this, your vlogs is amazing, keep it coming Jay.....we really appreciate it...take care and God bless...btw...no skipping of any ads...

[@Lucalyka]

I just love this family, the way they presented every vlog, the well thought out content, the soothing intro, extro bgms. Thank you J, Sach, Story my love and perky Poppy. And Thank you to your realistic, manage-your-expectation Cost of Living in Siargao is informative and will truly help those planning to visit the island.

[@nathaleenecalvo7808]

Good to see you again with a.long vlog, Jay, Sacha, Story and Poppy.❤ You all look so relaxed. Hope to watch another long vlog soon. Stsy safe always 8mfh fam. 💕

[@msgigibudgets]

I missed your videos guys. I would check everyday to see if you uploaded one. So happy you have a new video today!

[@michaeldouglaskemp3204]

As usual always great to see your vlogs you make them so useful and personal and havebeen helpful to me.

[@markymartin6037]

nice content and beautiful scenery presented in your blog. It's very obvious why foreigners all over the world choose to settle in the Philippines. Foreigners fall in love with the majestic beauty of the Philippines because of the beautiful beaches, food culture, friendliness, and hospitality of the Filipino people. I think you did your assignment correctly by researching first before releasing your content. I also think that the budgeting you are doing while living in the Philippines is also correct. I saw that you have your own solar panel in your house, and it really helps a lot when it comes to electric bills. The Philippines is a path of typhoons, and the island where you live now is one of the islands that typhoons pass through, so you guys should always be careful. Anyway, it will help a lot for other foreigners who want to settle in the Philippines in the future. Stay safe, guys, always.

[@planning-A1945]

Thumbs up 😁 nice vlog information ❤

[@kiddlorenz7582]

This is super informative! thank you so much for this!

[@kevin080592]

Amazing! Good and very insightful presentation guys.. now i wanna know what do you guys do to sustain this kind of lifestyle

[@estrellaayala3745]

Love this family ❤️❤️❤️ One of the silent subscribers

[@bradleymiller7375]

Hey newbie here and new subscriber! Ive been fan of vloggers in Philippines. I like ur honestly and the way u deliver ur topics!

[@celvee3798]

Very helpful information and update🤩🤩 thanks🤩

[@victoriacavero829]

Stunning video 💞💞💞

[@mfrancisco4242]

I am glad to watch this video. So open and honest.

[@michealrojas2806]

Very informative video, thanks

[@LoicFoundGrace]

Beautiful vlog keep them coming 🙃❤️ God bless you all !

[@fccmbc87]

Thank you for your honesty and truthfullness when it comes to living in North America or in Europe. comparing to Asia specially Philippines.

[@jhunjhun0412]

Thumbs up ❤ nice vlog information 😍

[@vickymlb9205]

So informative. Thank you .

[@dominiqueresch4563]

Very interesting ! Thank you ❤

[@gizurde72]

Perfect breakdown of all the costs! Thank you! ❤

[@apriltan3802]

New Member herr born & raised in 🇵🇭 ❤

[@TitoGrey]

Hey Jay and Sacha you both deserve my subscription i accidentally click on your channel and i already love it thank you for vlogging the costs of living bavk home this really helps because im planning to settle there oneday

[@janetneuhaus4206]

Hi Jay n Sascha I’ve been watching n subscriber in your channel for a long time.Your family amaze me always n maybe someday I will be back where I belong.I really miss Phillipines,you thought me how to live a simple n be contented of what I have.After the thyphoon I know you learned also a lot to be resilience like Filipinos.And I thank you for uploading videos.Take care n God bless everyone ❤️❤️❤️

[@fushigibliss]

Wow. This is so informative!

[@azd3boom144]

Great vid! Thx love Siargao and moving there in June

[@IloKanoFam]

Another great video! We are also on our journey to retire in the Philippines 🇵🇭

[@terrianabeza4389]

Thank, everything going up

[@LilyBeth-wm6lg]

Great video ❤

[@onehappykamper]

Wonderful video... You're getting better and better at it❤. I had no idea a simple tourist visa was so expensive there My costs here in Hua Hin.. Thailand... Renting are less.. A hotel on Phuket or Krabi seafront would cost less than half... 100 usd. The quality of life you have there seems very good for a tropical island.. Congratulations.

[@LovelyLongPier-rq8ex]

Thumbs up good of you couple for sharing a bit of your total costs of living giving a. big tip or say idea. 👋👍🌹

[@palerskie156]

Very imformative

[@firstchirriru]

Thank you both for sharing the ultimate cost and living lifestyle in Siargao. It’s a beautiful place and hoping someday I can visit with my family.

[@agnescataldo7190]

Thank you for the work you do in putting out these information.

[@ronaldtaylor4530]

Looking great guys....25k to live in paradise... well done. Your journey so far is a wonderful insperation for all of us.

[@josenidea6575]

God bless ❤ Jay.sacha and storey and your dog also..watching from Wales, uk..im a filipino living in wales,uk for 20 yrs 😃

[@turagsoy6719]

Wonderful family, May God bless your endeavours and have a happy life in the Philippines.

[@palerskie156]

Great video

[@cynthiatelen7359]

Thank you for sharing so we can be ready wd our budget. It takes a little more for a comfortable life! 😊

[@peterward9755]

Great information after living in Cambodia for 3 year's and now Thailand for 2 years I prefer Thailand

[@regidorvtady2636]

I like to live with my family there in siargao as you explained the cost of living and I know it’s safe to live there. Thank you for your KZbin.

[@philipeugenio2233]

Stunning shot my God!

[@triaa.6319]

So helpful!

[@user-lg3vo4kq6g]

It's expensive in the United States too. We spend $4,000 to $4,500 a month (mortgage, federal, state, sales taxes, utilities bills, car registration, gas, pet expenses). The inflation is ridiculous. Goods and services too ☹️

[@laverdad2022]

cant compare USA to The PH....its a ridiculous comparison....compare NY to London....not to Manila Siargao is extremely hyped....amazing Island though

[@jubeflaviano7179]

I miss your video guys..God bless your family❤❤❤

[@hunk0075]

Commodity supplies will significantly drop if they have built bigger roro and commercial port areas. This will accommodate bigger ships.

[@michaeldiamond1600]

Thanks for the video. One cost you did not address was Health Care....

[@bemcorrales5358]

Thanks Jay and Sasha for this useful information 👍 👌 ❤. Keep safe and God bless 🙌 🙏 your family always 🙏 ❤❤

[@BongiePilapilMacas]

I am excited to come home this year❤

[@regcu4456]

Yey! Finally a video from you guys! 😀 💕 Missing your vlogs….

[@PhilCherry3]

Your channel, Dazel TV, Vagabond Awake and Hobo Adventures provide a healthy & wholesome view of life in the Philippines for a western expat family. Your budgets are are realistic for those who truly want a different way of living rather than a transplanted western life (and value set). I’ve become convinced most expat KZbin content creators in the Philippines based their budgets on various versions of living the high life overseas. I’m more interested in information from committed families & couples.

[@joycebrana7077]

Hello guys. Same it here in Europe. 50 Euro you can't buy Notting anymore. I dreamed to go there in siargao Island

[@herchickenlegs4]

Please keep your video going Jay Sasha story and puppy. What an amazing video Jay, I want to live like yours....❤

[@hughmcelhone1996]

Gas per gallon usd on Siargao is slightly more than quoted. 70php/ litre x 4 litres/ 1 gallon= 280 ÷55 php exchange rate(after fees) = 5.10 per gallon.

[@leonidoamante1773]

Price of commodities and other services nowadays are rapidly increasing, you can experience this not only in Siargao but elsewhere in the country. It's really sad for stable income earners, but we can't do about it... Anyway, that's it ,enjoy life and let these things past... Enjoy your stay in Siargao, it's a beautiful place to stay and May God Bless You in your daily life! Please continue vlogging, we're always here to watch your beautiful Channel! ❤ Always!

[@BongiePilapilMacas]

Thank you Jay I have no idea how much now our islands cost of living are❤

[@susancarrera8781]

Thank you so much for sharing your life and the comparison of living in the Philippines. Versus USA or other countries. God bless. Take care.🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🇺🇸❤️

[@lorieshaw5632]

Really smart idea of having a Solar System ❤ Congratulations 👏

[@Wanamaboy]

hey guys. thanks for this very complete video. only thing i miss is where do your incomes come from ?

[@johnmascardo7047]

Missed you guys

[@Johntikle]

Easy for you to say

[@alaylaanajacks5647]

If your a US Veteran Or UK you can get a permanent resident visa for life for 1500$ usd once you hit 50. Or before that age I'm not sure the price can't remember. But they give discounts to veterans.

[@dorys4584]

Good math,always enjoy your life in Siargao

[@alanboheres4002]

We Filipinos loves you guys 👍❤❤❤🇵🇭stay safe always 👍🥰

[@josefinaaquino4292]

God bless your family❤️

[@Cyberbob_073]

Nice...... 😊

[@ramosity]

Dang! Overwhelmed with the breakdown but this is how you do it.

[@judgmentday221]

I think with the electricity you're paying is still expensive with those huge solar panels to help lessen your electric bill and with only 3 family members... You should monitor your electric meter from time to time considering also you're living in the province, not in the city.....it should be lesser than P3000.00.

[@Lans888]

What an amazing life.

[@pinoyelectriciansbayarea1608]

Thanks! Love watching your family vlog coffee on me.

[@8milesfromhome]

Amazing thank you!

[@Oissst2012]

GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS AND STAY SAFE❤👍

[@mrussel2392]

Beautiful Siargao

[@mariateresatopacio9844]

Story will become Ms. UNIVERSE

[@sandrabagayas3377]

Doesn't matter if you stay long or short in a place... You can enroll your daughter to local public school (kindergarten) their, for her communication development, socialisation, and other important development she can acquire outside home especially in school... Even not a high standard school but she still can learn something important for her... Public school is free til highschool is free in public school. Even in college there is scholarship.

[@artlondon5459]

good..

[@jon8405]

Amazing video/ storytelling as usual. Well done fam

[@nymphasabellon5018]

Thank you for sharing Jay & Sacha. Surigao City much cheaper than Siargao please check on this. ❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍

[@eli.capinbxu]

Surigao City is not exempted from the rising cost of living. Of course, it's expensive too in Surigao plust it is a chaotic city.😊

[@zazeel1]

Very surprised you didnt talk about medical insurence which im guessing means you dont have it. I live in Thailad for 6 months of the year and when i was there last year I had a very bad ruptured appendix. There were post op complications and I needed to stay in hospital for almost 2 weeks. One week of that in intensive care. I've never been unwell before, rarely even get a cold, Im super fit and healthy, dont drink or smoke and had no lead up symptoms. Just woke up one day in intense pain and a few hours later I was in hospital having my appendix removed. Apparently this can happen to anyone but very common in young people and children. Had I not got to the hospital within 12 to 24 hours i would have died. Thank goodness i live in a city with great western style hospitals close by. Actually the hospitals in Thailand are better than my home country NZ!! And thank god I had travel insurance!!! The overall cost of the whole thing was around 30 thousand plus GBP. The insurance company flew my son over to support me and flew us both home business class. Ive just heard about another freind in Thailand that was in hospital for 2 months and eventually needed a medical assisted flight back to the UK. He didnt have insuance and it cost him a huge amount of money that required he sell his house. I dont know about the Phillippines but if you dont have insurance a western style hospital wont accept you and you will be transferred to a government hospital..... Obviously much lower standard!! I dont know if youve thought about this but if anything happened to Story or if you were all in a car accident together and needed to be air lifted out to a big hospital it could be an horrendous situation without insurance.

[@metalguru5226]

They are Vegans who eat a high-fiber diet. Their chances of getting appendicitis or any other serious health conditions are very low. Yes, you can still get hit by a bus or have some other accident, but with normal precautions and common sense, that can mostly be avoided too. Medical costs in the Philippines are lower than Thailand. If they don't have insurance, I am sure they have some emergency money to cover unexpected hospital bills.

[@zazeel1]

@@metalguru5226 Also vegan, super healthy diet. The appendix isnt the issue. Its just something that happened to me completely out of the blue.

[@metalguru5226]

@@zazeel1 OK. I'm confused. So you didn't have appendicitis? It usually happens out of the blue. My 21 year old meat-eating Neice just had it and got her appendix removed. She nearly died.

[@zazeel1]

@@metalguru5226 yep i certainly had a ruptured appendix!! Never been seriously unwell in all my 73 years apart from the odd cold and a couple of small broken bones. So this was huge!! Had a drug free homebirth with my 4.5kg son when i was 35.... that was painful as hell but nothing like what i went through with the ruptured appendix. and the pain lasted for over 3 months after i had appendix removed. I'm extremely healthy but i know that being vegan certainly doesnt mean someone is healthy. I also almost died!! I was in a remote part of cetral Thailand a week or so before appendix ruptured. A long way from a hosptil . had i still been there very likely i would have died. I'm just incredibly grateful i've fully recoverd! 🙏

[@zazeel1]

@@metalguru5226 have to say I'm curious why you care about my appenix so much!! very nice that you do..LOL!! But the issue is the health insurence not my appendix!!

[@blink188]

in camotes island in the philippines you can buy 100sqm land for 50k pesos..its near also in the beach area .. watching from shanghai china

[@8milesfromhome]

How much do these prices compare to your countries? Some of the costs were pretty shocking once we did the calculations.

[@deebee.14]

Here in the UK IS DEFINITELY a rip off country. scandalous, constantly prices increase. My wage doesn’t go as far as it used to these days. 😢

[@amaliahightower]

I lived in Seattle and now I live in Cavite in a gated community village with 24 hour security. I had my house built back in 2018 and it was 12k/sq.m now it’s 34k. I paid cash for everything including my 2016 used car. My utility monthly bills in pesos are 400 for H2O, 600 for HOA, PLDT for 1,299 and Meralco for 1,300-1,500. My monthly total expenses including the utilities is averaging $600 US for 2 people. I eat healthier so I mainly go2 either S&R and Landers.

[@cristinasumadchat605]

It's really shocking to find out the cost in Siargao. Living in the city, I spend less than ₱10K which includes feeding more than 20 of my pets.

[@joycebrana8408]

Jay can you give us some suggestion good bnb ,not expensive. And tour company ?

[@johnsindayen8684]

$270 restaurant $270 grocery for 3 + pet $1800 monthly. Just about average salary in NV. $290 grocery here for 1.

[@imeldageneroso8369]

Increased of food prices such as commodities happens in all over the world. Here in US its inflation. Price are really high, same in Canada. In Vegas one breakfast in restaurant that's a little bit fancy but basic, one order will cause you 30 dollars. Unlike before you can oder this in half price. So when I go out with friend these days we do the Dutch.

[@mimiblitberg]

You guys live in your own little piece of heaven! ❤❤

[@leonizacoste2580]

God bless yoir famly .

[@demil3618]

A very interesting overview. You give those PHPs a suitable name by calling them pay-sos 😁 Have I missed the costs for health insurance? How do the expenses relate to people‘s (local’s) income?

[@mr.inbetweenkimber]

fair point

[@darcydanlipo]

majority of locals cant afford the things they are showig here, sad to say, locals income in dollars is about 8$ a day

[@matandangdragon]

all leisure for them

[@pinoyintheprairies7357]

@@matandangdragon👍🏼