Living on 800 dollars a month in the Philippines

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Can you live on 800 dollars a month in the Philippines? I have created a cost of living budget that for a single person would allow for a decent life in the Philippines.
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[@kanointhephilippines8082]

When you have been here several years and have a home, truck , SRRV and motor paid for it's doable on $1000.00 monthly especially if you live in the province.

[@imexpatbill]

I believe ya, thanks for stopping on by.

[@gmm5550]

Simple rules: Longer u live in a place cheaper it gets - u learn the prices and where to shop and the scams Beer bars and ladys are the most expensive in all se-asia Living and eating like a westerner - well u pay like a westerner Think how much space u need - do u really need a big house with many rooms or big 2-3 bedroom condo or is a rented cheap studio condo enough? Its better to keep a low-profile and DONT SHOW how much money u have especially in Phil. Write down what u spend and keep track costs and have a budget as a HOBBY

[@imexpatbill]

Good rules to live.

[@gmm5550]

@@imexpatbill pretty basic rules. +15 years working and living in se-asia(+11 yr thailand 2 yr vietnam and 2 yr phillipines) , seen so many expats go broke or done pretty stupid things, especially with ladys involved. Most funny are the blokes renting/buying BIG luxury condos and virtually bragging for the bar girls they take home.. often do they sit there in aircondition all day and cant go out because their bodys dont acclimate to the climate and geting fat from beer and western fat food

[@user-of2co3ke5p]

🎯💪

[@willieshoemaker8680]

Funny you said do a budget as a hobby… I just started that a few months ago and thought the same, gives me something to do👍

[@gmm5550]

@@willieshoemaker8680 pretty interesting to track all expenses and cut away the unnecessary things

[@1307scooter]

I arrive on 6/13 and can't wait.

[@imexpatbill]

I hope you have the time of your life, great adventures and meet great people.

[@Gary-pogi]

Your comments are right on, at this exchange rate for one very frugal person, yes you can live on 800usd per month. Have several thousand set aside for emergencies and enough for a ticket home, also consider what happens if the exchange rate goes back to P40 for 1USD!

[@imexpatbill]

You are right, there is always that chance the rate could go down as inflation drops. Thanks for viewing.

[@robertutecht3125]

I live pretty well on 1200 USD. I have been here 10 yrs. Twice bankrupt by medical bills, abdominal aorta replacement, Sepsis, . Here in Cebu they have world class medical care, but is pay as you go. Meds, treatments, test.

[@imexpatbill]

And I should have mentioned that one's attitude towards life is at times just as important as money. Thanks for viewing.

[@Robmar40]

There are only 5 JCI accredited hospitals in the Philippines and they are all located in Metro Manila. None in Cebu.

[@wesgraham2262]

You can live in the Philippines for $500, $800, $1,200, $1,600, $2,000 or $3,000 a month. Depends on what you want and what you can do without. It’s all up to you. Asking, “How much do I need to live in the Philippines.” is like asking, “How long is a piece of string?” It depends, is the ONLY answer until you actually get here and start living. Only then will you really know.

[@imexpatbill]

Agree, just trying to paint a picture of what 800 would possibly look like.

[@wesgraham2262]

@@imexpatbill Oh, I totally agree with you. It needs to be shown what one can do with a particular budget and you’ve shown that very well. Didn’t mean to come across as disagreeing with you.

[@vgwalldecals]

I always looked at it as, $800 a month can be done if you want to live a Filipino lifestyle, if you want a western life style $2,000 to $3,000 a month. The very minimum $1,500 a month.

[@imexpatbill]

That's a good general range and 800 a month is a tight budget.

[@jlynnburton9718]

I see you follow Steven also

[@user-ji6hc7qx6w]

why live so materialistically? you moving here to change your life not live like a king, watch out as kings get kidnapped! change your life, loose weight, get off the booze. stop waisting $. 2000 if for a family 0f 3

[@vgwalldecals]

@user-ji6hc7qx6w it's called retirement. I worked too hard for too long for my entire adult life to live like a Filipino on $800 USD a month. If you only have $800 USD a month to live on, you are just surviving, not living.

[@rogerwilco4736]

​@@user-ji6hc7qx6whe would be existing, not living comfortably, eating at home and cooking my own meals my food bill is almost $500/month

[@rickyusa1000]

With any budget, especially if you're living off of savings, the ability to stick to that budget is very important and is very difficult to do for many people. A lot of people have a very hard time telling themselves "No".

[@imexpatbill]

Sometimes learning to tell yourself no is a life long lesson.

[@markledesma2396]

We eat out almost daily and spend less than $800 a month in Bacolod, a good Korean barbecue buffet is 400 pesos per person, I was in Glendale CA and spent $140 for 2 at a Korean restaurant for lunch.

[@imexpatbill]

And the taste of the food probably was close to the same.

[@vidong1704]

$800 is pretty good money and you can live OK on it.

[@imexpatbill]

Yes its a good low budget amount but if inflation doesn't slow down, might have to increase the amount.

[@PhilippinesMyParadise]

Another fantastic video, thank you Bill for sharing! You can count on my unwavering support to your great channel/Ned👍👏👍

[@imexpatbill]

Much appreciated. Thanks for viewing Ned.

[@mgd4622]

Nice breakdown sir, and the added cash for other things.

[@imexpatbill]

There is always controversy whenever someone makes a budget video. I just tried to picture what an 800 dollar budget would look like. Pretty limited actually.

[@bynjoe2000]

your are back nice to hear from you.

[@imexpatbill]

Hey, thanks, after a three-year layoff gonna see how it goes. Enjoy making videos, posting on KZbin not so much.

[@Zmlsag]

in my city in Siberia, the average salary according to Rosstat is 77,000 rubles, which is equivalent to $800, but in reality many work for $300-400, which is 2 times less :) while working as a courier when working 12 hours a day is $1000+ per month

[@imexpatbill]

I will check out your channel.

[@geraldbaker42]

good video....nice pace and good info

[@imexpatbill]

Glad you liked it! And thank you for viewing !

[@timclark7478]

this is pretty realistic, electricity can run 6,000 peso/month in summer, great advice & just the right attitude to enjoy life in the islands 🌴

[@imexpatbill]

Adopting to the culture pays a big part.

[@artparkgarden8849]

Love your videos Bill. Keep them coming 😃

[@imexpatbill]

Thanks for the nice comment.

[@mavithsumalpong603]

Great KZbin video!

[@imexpatbill]

Thanks and a thank you for viewing.

[@EASTERNSTARS12]

I subscribed because you are in the country where I spent half of my life and if it will help u get extra fund then I support ur vlog

[@imexpatbill]

Thanks man, those were kind words, I am just hoping to get some funds so I can get what I put into it.

[@Beyondthebox11]

$800 a month will get you somewhere in the Providence eating rice spam Raymond noodles and some fish from the wet market. If you live in any kind of western world and want to have that same lifestyle in the Philippines, you’re gonna need a lot healthier budget than that. 2 to 3000 is the sweet spot. If you wanna live in a house, have a car and take your family out at least once a week you have to have a normal budget. 800 is not going to cut it. I’ve been living here since before the pandemic with my wife we moved from Florida. Inflation keeps coming up so make sure if you’re coming over here have some money stashed away. Hospitals are expensive, especially if you’re looking for good care. And 2000 for Furniture Is basically nothing. An LG washer dryer set up cost 1200 then where’s the rest of your stuff? I like the video but I don’t believe an $800 budget is realistic for a foreigner, unless he wants to live out in the woods. Like you said you don’t live for 800

[@kellyinPH]

850$ Canadian is our budget excluding visa costs. But that’s a beach house so maybe not for everyone. I eat healthier than ever and am living not just surviving.

[@imexpatbill]

There has to be some compromise, of course, you can't afford an LG washer/dryer (about 50K pesos) that's why you use a laundry drop-off service. The 800 budget is assuming you are coming here as a single person.- add wife, add family cost goes up.

[@Beyondthebox11]

Actually, the LG that we bought was 72,000 for the largest one. But on an 800 budget you cannot afford too much. There’s no strawberries raspberries blueberries. Steak dinners or big barbecues for the family. There is no 24 hour a day air conditioner, running like you would have in the states. When my wife goes shopping will spend 30 to 40,000 a month on groceries. But we like our steak, and good cheese. And of course, my wife is addicted to the hostess snacks and the little strudel things like she used to get from Publix. And of course, a single guy can live much cheaper than somebody with a family. But 2000 a month is still way cheaper than living. Anywhere in Florida rent is at least 2000 a month. It is still a deal over here. I have met a couple people that live at $1000 or less.they last about a year or two and they go back to their home Country. Most of the time I would hear them complaining. And their wife would be unhappy unless they were from somewhere in the providence. You have to figure the average Filipino wage is 43,000 a month per person so if a husband and wife works that’s like 86,000 according to GMA the news channel in the Philippines. So if you’re living off 800 you’re living worse than the average person here. And if you want to talk about hospital in the past year, I’ve spent 1.6 million pesos on my wife’s medical procedures at St. Luke’s in Manila. And we still have one more procedure as soon as she gets cleared by the end of the year. If you’re a foreigner or any plan on coming over here, please bring a little bit of cash for your budget and have something for an emergency.

[@mattbraban8637]

Good on you! But personally I don't believe a word.

[@jlynnburton9718]

I see you follow Steven also

[@jameslonergan5840]

Thanks for the video!

[@imexpatbill]

You are welcome and thanks for your support.

[@josephzucha807]

there was a gentlemen, who used to travel around the world by hitchhiking, his yearly budged was about four or five hundred dollars, I met him personally, that was before wolves ate him one winter night...

[@MRBIGSLICK66]

Cheapest meal he ever had apparently

[@imexpatbill]

I did the hitchhiking thing in my youth, it's a dangerous means of transportation.

[@jerrystanley6820]

Good advice I would add allow as much time as possible to find that perfect house and spot. Well maybe not perfect but decent

[@imexpatbill]

If one meets a girl, usually where ever area the girl is from is where the foreigner will setup shop.

[@jerrystanley6820]

@imexpatbill I agree but yeah spend time looking in her area what I did found 4 bedroom 265 US

[@imeldareerman6280]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@imexpatbill]

You are so welcome and thanks for watching.

[@bhinbayoucity5691]

Allocating 60 a month for medical is playing it dangerously! Id say at least $20,000 in savings at a minimum.

[@imexpatbill]

Oh, I would totally agree but one has to start somewhere. I think I even mentioned in the video, that one should "pray to the health Gods" to stay healthy long enough for the fund to build up some. Thanks for viewing and your comment.

[@bhinbayoucity5691]

Well, i guess im just of the school that one should have already a set amt of USD in savings (set aside for emergencies) before making the move to a fireign country, but...to each his own!😊

[@JunRoss-pp3mv]

Major surgery is around $25K. I know someone personally that was in ICU for 3 weeks at St. Lukes & his total bill was $70K.

[@davidmaltais2912]

​@@bhinbayoucity5691I would never move until I have 80k saved up

[@rogerwilco4736]

That's not living $800 a month will provide a boring existence

[@imexpatbill]

It really depends on your attitude and what you are willing to sacrifice and what you are not willing to give up. I did mention that 800 was the bare minimum for a monthly budget.

[@faronray5765]

It can be done but not very much fun=existing-----surviving. No security, no traveling, no quality dating, no eating out, no bowling, no going out to get coffee, very slim choices. Then long term, inflation and the exchange rate could destroy that budget and then if you get really sick---------you die if you don't have money. Come to the Philippines with a plan and decent income to have fun, live well and thrive. $1500 ok, $2000 good, $3000 living great. I have over a $3000 budget(4 people, car payment in Cebu City) with no house payment and do really well with LOTS of choices to do just about anything I want during any month. Don't come here to the Philippines and rely on fate, other expats, luck, or begging. Now if you have thousands in the bank for back up and like to live on a very low budget, with walking, going to malls, staying home, that could work.

[@imexpatbill]

If one can't afford the Philippines, how hard life must be at one's home country. 😮

[@faronray5765]

@@imexpatbill Well, if you had only $800 dollars per month retired in America, you didn't plan very well. With all the housing, food, Medical and utilities subsidies available for low income people by the Govt, life would be a heck of a lot better that living in the Philippines on just $800 a month. A lot safer in America. I hate pinching pesos, dying in a foreign land because I didn't have any Govt resources to avail but most people don't think about that. Even $3000 dollars a month living in America is very hard. By making that much, you don't really qualify for any subsidies and you would be barely making it.

[@Not_A_Tourist]

I heard him refer to an 800 dollar budget, not 800 dollar income. Big difference.

[@rhinorey2791]

i am curious the name of the city you live ? i just ran into this video and curious to learn more. thank you very much for your time.

[@imexpatbill]

Bacolod City in the Negros Occidental province. Welcome.

[@EVITPOF]

you got such a positive attitude - you been your whole life that way or did the Phil. made you more easygoin? Anyway - I like your vids!

[@imexpatbill]

I think to some degree the Philippines has made me happier.

[@alexd8933]

I am renting a fully furnished 1 bedroom for 7500 peso. not sure why your rents are so high. Must be in a high priced area.

[@imexpatbill]

I pushed up the rental rates to try and find a range where you could find a place most areas.

[@rudes440sb]

I'd be able to do it if I had to. 1500 a month with a nice healthy stash tucked away is more my style. 😄

[@imexpatbill]

I would be able to do if I lived the single life but things would be tight.

[@rudes440sb]

@imexpatbill Yeah very tight

[@MENSA.lady2]

LIve on $800 NO. You might exist but it would not be what I call living.

[@imexpatbill]

Everybody has their "ideal" version of living and that has to match up with the "reality" version. You could make a model version of 2000 USD a month budget and there would be a portion of viewers who would say, it's not enough. As I stated in the video, 800 a month is not enough for my "ideal" style of living so I tried to create a "what if" and how I would spend it.

[@kiko69]

That’s a reasonable province budget!Don’t even think of staying in Manila or large cities.BTW,that budget is for a single person.😊

[@imexpatbill]

Definitely for a single person even then it's a tight budget.

[@travellolo]

My basic groceries are 60 a week, which does not count for eating out. So 1200 a month is more realistic for a single man. Add 500 if you want to a girlfriend

[@imexpatbill]

Ha ha -"add 500 if you want a girlfriend" ( and we are not talking pesos)

[@travellolo]

@@imexpatbill Nope, 25000 pesos :)

[@JJthelonelybullinasia]

That's a boring life. What about entertainment, travel, eating out, etc. Sure you can live on $800 a month, but is it really living? Basically you're sitting around in average or below average housing just waiting to die. No thanks. Spend an extra $400 a month to actually eat out, travel around the Philippines, have fun, and enjoy your life.

[@imexpatbill]

I know expats living in wealthy subdivisions just sitting around doing nothing. Life is what you make of it, you can have a small budget and still travel, if that's your thing, just have to plan for it. I guess when you get right down to it, it's not the money but the desire that makes for an enjoyable life.

[@yegg14]

You're right, but I wouldn't really recommend living on $800/m USD. BTW, your buddy Robbie still around?

[@imexpatbill]

He moved away, but I think he is thinking about moving back. In my opinion Bacolod is a great city to live in, getting more modernized everyday and the people are great, truly is the City of Smiles.

[@tariqrahman6918]

Deffo ready get about how they ram everyone into the jeepnee’s

[@imexpatbill]

It's only at the terminals you are safe everywhere else

[@51dbail]

$800 a week is much better

[@imexpatbill]

Now that a "fun" budget.

[@51dbail]

@@imexpatbill that’s only 41600 a year. In the US you will just get by. But can be done if you own your home and have no debt. But more is better

[@britinoz4305]

Savings? Need to exit every 3yrs. And something for incidentals ...

[@imexpatbill]

As you can see even with 800 USD, things would be pretty tight. Thanks for viewing.

[@Alo.DeWinter]

you are the MAN bill !!!

[@imexpatbill]

No you're the man. lol

[@Marvin-hv4cm]

Yes it can be done. But forget chasing filipina's or helping your poor neighbors. Foreigners are treated as rich here. This is a big boost to a foreigners ego, and often he will drop his guard and start giving his money to the neighbors that treat him special.

[@imexpatbill]

True, it's the same where some old guys get it into their head that young women are attracted to them.

[@BB_usmc]

Brownouts is a deal breaker. How prevalent is it outside of BGC?

[@imexpatbill]

I will say this, having been here for over 10 years, things have slowly.......slowly gotten better, even solar has gotten cheaper.

[@KrayPurn]

$100 for electricity. $350 for food. $2,500 medical savings account startup with $100 monthly deposits to that medical savings account. $400 Rent - wifi - potable/drinking water - cooking gas. $400 Entertainment - Travel - Visa extensions. $50 Unexpected Pop-ups. $100 girlfriend monthly girly needs. $500 Dedicated monthly savings account build-up. $2,000 monthly all in should make for a fairly stress free and a fair bit of peace of mind if something drastic were to happen.

[@imexpatbill]

That's one way to spend 2K.

[@user-tl1ef2br8n]

Don't forget two months rent plus deposit and the cost of the bike with startup costs. Enjoy your vlogs and look forward to meeting you in the future. We are semi retiring to Bacolod in two years. Will be there next year for three months for turnover of our condo. All the best!

[@BenzJaguar]

$800.00 a month 😭😭😭

[@imexpatbill]

I put 800 USD as the least amount you can enjoy living here, naturally more is better.

[@pricklypine8863]

Why is ur rent so high?

[@imexpatbill]

I tried to find a happy medium that cover most areas of the Philippines, from urban to the provinces. Some say the 240 USD is too low for the Manila area.

[@JackKing-jc4vw]

People should receive shock treatment for continually bringing this topic up. I can bet without ever seeing another of your videos that advice on relationships is either released before or after this video. I can live in the Philippines on $500. to $50,000. a month. Why do people need their hands held for everything, I would think that people contemplating retirement could think and act on their own. Nothing against your channel my friend, just sick of the same 5 videos over and over again. I will apologize by subscribing.

[@imexpatbill]

Ha ha I'll take your bet, I don't do relationship videos. My heart is for people trying to survive on a limited income, I have friends back home living in their cars.

[@DingusCirc]

Bacolod =Boring. $800 budget =super boring lifestyle

[@imexpatbill]

Like your choice of music.

[@brucekenworthy6731]

Forgot visa cost

[@imexpatbill]

I don't think I did, about 2 minutes in I mention putting 40 USD a month aside for visa renewal.

[@Hoochie243]

People have different Quality of life....but all you people are missing the Point about retirement...why don't you start making a video of " How to save $800 a month in the Philippines? Living on $800 $1200 or $1500 in the Philippines means nothing if that is all you make ...by the way there is thousands of people in the US living on $800 and have way more than this guy .I know a family of 6 living in a 3 bedroom condo in California living on $600 a month. .of course it's low income housing but she has 2 cars and free child care and going to college...let's not try to compare the Philippines to the US because you will just get embarrassed...the purpose of moving to the Philippines is to safe money but if you are just moving to survive than it's just Geographic...I know someone living in the Philippines making $2000 and have no money in the bank...they didn't even have money to go to the US to attend his own son funeral....living on $1200 a month in the Philippines..Hope you don't get sick

[@imexpatbill]

I have always said moving to the Philippines, in fact moving anywhere away from your home country is not for everyone. I would love to see how that family of six, living in California in a 3 bedroom condo on 600 USD a month are making it, I hear living in California budget-wise is really hard. I enjoy seeing how different people live and how their happiness is tied to their outlook on life. Too often many people assume since one has less money they are less happy than those with more.

[@larryellington3543]

There is absolutely no way a family of six to live on $600 per month in California. That is patently absurd on its face even with housing assistance and EBT just gas car maintenance and food would be beyond 600 per month

[@tracymorgan5386]

@@larryellington3543probably the family is getting food stamps, Medicaid and if there is no income coming in they have a housing voucher that is paying their entire rent, not to mention every year getting child credit money up to 2500 per child I think, possibly maybe one or more children have any disability physical/or emotional they could get a disability check every month which is not counted as income so doesn’t effect their other benefits etc.

[@RonaldH]

What cell phone company are you using there that gives you unlimited calls/text and 40 GB of data for 500 pesos per month?

[@robertutecht3125]

Pretty sure is misstatement

[@VittoShulman]

I use DITO for 499 I get 50GB per months, unli text and call. Smart also has a similar deal: 30gb plus 2hr youtube per day unli text etc.

[@imexpatbill]

Smart - 499 pesos, its only on the smart app.

[@imexpatbill]

I think I have see that deal in DITO store at the malls.

[@josepanicucci8591]

PH is not the ideal country for foreigners to settle foreigners in PH can't own properties full business ownership & have very limited rights foreigners may obtain PH citizenship thru naturalization if born & raised in PH which is not the case of newcomers PH is heaven on earth for rich Filipinos only

[@imexpatbill]

I would agree that the PH is not for everyone and it's true as far as rights are concerned you are only a visitor. But honestly I think it's still a great place to call home if you can adapt.

[@brettpower6508]

Wow that would be a miserable life on that budget!!

[@imexpatbill]

Its all about attitude what is heaven for one is hell for another.

[@bipolarpunt5721]

Live like a low income person in a foreign country, no thanks..

[@imexpatbill]

Realistically it's better here with a low income than back in the USA on a low income.

[@bipolarpunt5721]

@@imexpatbill Yes, your homeless in the west and in PH about half the Filipinas make more money than you. Just pray you dont incur some unexpected medical or theft expenses.

[@user-ji6hc7qx6w]

im living in Valencia on $800 Canadian, witch is very frugal living, but it can be done.

[@imexpatbill]

As long as you are content with your life, then you are living the millionaire lifestyle.

[@edprobe4707]

Click bate..... come-on man. This junk isn't helpful

[@imexpatbill]

Anyway thanks for commenting.

[@billclarke7500]

It's not living it's just existing

[@imexpatbill]

For those living on 800 USD a month, the life you can have here is better than back home.

[@user-of2co3ke5p]

Everybody dont need all the bells and whistles.

[@sentinel80]

You can live on $300 if you choose but you will have to live in a tent, eat street food and do little else 🤷‍♂️

[@Exousia718]

Street food is better than fast food, like McDonald's, KFC, jolly Bee.

[@KaliBahayKubo]

Street food is FAST FOOD ...

[@PineappleOnPizza69]

BS. You can live in Philippines for 250 dollars. Most Filipinos live this way. If you earn 800 dollars in PH you are at the top 10 percent.

[@imexpatbill]

I would put 800 USD a month more in the lower middle class level.