My 8 months in the Philippines cost-per-month (and how it got there)

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#philippines #manila #cebu #foreignerinthephilippines #expat #usa #passportbros #paradise #retirement #digitalnomad #yolo

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thanks for watching! Trying to grow this and continue to provide the best content I can, can't wait to get back overseas and get rolling again. If you haven't yet and you get value from this type of content, help me out with a like and sub... Very much appreciated, more coming soon!

[@BarefootJeff]

Great video 👍

[@My_Unfinished_Business]

Thanks!! Really trying to follow your trips. I'm really considering retiring in the Philippines. Have about a year to go before I retire but will be taking a trip over next year to see if I like it. Keep making the videos because they are great and really help!!!

[@petesrules1508]

Finally a guy who produces accurate and realistic costings per month. Similar to what I do after a couple of decades here. Then if you have kids with you multiply it by 2.

[@JimiC.]

Dude this video made you my new hero.I have a filipina girl from the province but we want to have experiences like your trip for about 6 months before we settle down.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

FYI forgot to mention this includes the extra person so the extra plane tickets, tourist stuff etc when i wasn't alone ...got great deals on flights and many adventures were bus and ferry. Also it was usually one trip per month. We did well with food budget too. Accommodation cost is not affected by the second person. So if you're planning on traveling with someone this kind of budget is possible.

[@Wesna269]

always good to share with a companion.

[@MM-hq3li]

Thank you Chad. I’m going through tough times right now. But your helping me get through them. May God Bless you. You are a Kind person!

[@ChadFosterExplores]

I'm very glad I can help in any way, keep your head up and I hope things get better soon!

[@bradleymiller7375]

Love this Chad! I only wonder about extra expenses with a mate, Rosey. Although she probably helps with expenses as cooking and a great play mate!

[@CarefreeChris]

Yes. Welcome back! Awesome video and timely as we're looking to hit Siquijor in the next couple of weeks. We've reached out to TAGBALAYON Lodging House and trying to get in there. Thanks for the tip! Looks us up when you get here:)

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Oh nice! I really loved siquijor great place for motor bike, soo much to do there. Enjoy 😎 I'll be in touch soon!

[@belfast2bangkok]

Thank you! You're a great reference point for would-be visitors to the Philippines - such as me! Real costs matched to actual living in these places is invaluable...in contrast to others who apparently are living an ideal life without saying how it is funded. Your upcoming $2k or less series should be a great resource to people like me who are newbies!!

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Appreciate hearing that... Glad it's a help! Definitely more to come 😎

[@The-Contractor]

Awesome. I've been to the PI a few times. Very much looking forward to retiring there.

[@frankcentofanti9317]

Thailand wayyyyyyy better

[@JimMillsCSLC]

Hi Chad, I enjoy your channel. I just came across this video from 6 mo ago and WOW what a great recp of your expenses. Really valuable and USABLE information! Right now I'm torn between the Philippines and Panama which is far closer to the West Coast of the USA where I live, yet still a world away. Thanks again!

[@cowboymcq6711]

Great video dude thanks a lot. Big help

[@carlTis]

Great video . Very informative .

[@ShawnBowens]

I've been in the Philippines for about 10 months and you and I spend almost the exact same overall. My average also runs at $2400ish a month. FWIW, I also have a GF living and traveling with me full time and that's 100% of both our expenses. Thank you for a very realistic perspective on costs, as a fellow American living similarly this is the most spot on video I've seen on money.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

That's pretty cool man we must travel the same way! Thanks for watching and commenting I appreciate it

[@KingMitch_Fgc]

Lord yall rich lmao

[@Re3iRtH]

​@@KingMitch_FgcThat's poverty in the US 😂 $2400 spend is nothing, less than my rent was in Bethesda

[@KingMitch_Fgc]

@@Re3iRtH shit I spend 650 every month for all my bills lol. 2500 a month is insane. Pass me some wealth lmao 🤣

[@Re3iRtH]

@@KingMitch_Fgc Hahaha. Fair. I am fortunate to spend only 5 hours per year on my real estate investments and they produce over $10,000 per month in net income. I've been in the philippines for 2 months and i can't even spend 30% of the real estate income i have coming in 😂

[@airforceveteran8515]

Good for you! You have traveled many places in the Philippines! Enjoy! It’s more fun in the Philippines 🇵🇭

[@floren879]

Awesome 👏 welcome again to the Philippines mate!

[@frank5436]

Another great video Chad. I'm happy for you returning to pi in less than a month! I will be moving there next year from Southwest Florida (Punta Gorda). I hate to wait but must wait for a surgery. Happy trails buddy.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thank you, sir... appreciate it. Good luck with surgery, getting healthy and getting out to Phil next year 😎

[@davidjames7382]

Thanks for your input! Hopefully you both are still together! Planning on visiting there next year

[@auroralakatos9185]

Yo! Chad! Just stopping by to say hello ❤

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Hello hello 👋 Thanks for stopping by!

[@billkeller3083]

You are experiencing the Philippines the right way! If you try to save money there you can suscessfuly. Can I ask you what you did for your job /work previously?

[@revelationmd]

Nice. Seems like your budgeting more as a holidaymaker than an expat. Or somewhere in between I guess. Living well on relatively little money (though plenty more than some live on) either way. Nice upload!

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Yea there was a big focus on traveling and adventure during those 9 months, this time around I'm focusing more on living in one place and budgeting, I'll make a follow up video on my new budget. Thanks for tuning in!

[@revelationmd]

@@ChadFosterExplores you’re welcome. Looking to follow in your footsteps myself in a few years - vacation for a bit with a view to settling somewhere I like. Nice one!

[@MM-hq3li]

Greetings from Miami. Hunker down for the storm Chad. Stay safe my friend!!!

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thanks! Fingers crossed that all turns out ok🤞

[@antoniominev6278]

Thank you for the good information and time you did that vlog.Than again Philippines looks awesome to visit. Thank you

[@alaskacpu]

Nice Video. Our budget is $2500 a month, but most of the time we rarely go over. My Filipino wife and I lived here for over 15 years and loving it. We stay away from Cebu, Muguette, Manila as much as possible. Tourist Traps

[@JuniorMurray13]

Hello I was looking to move in the Philippines and I was wondering if you have any remote work me and my gf can get into even if we’re making below 1k a month , I was wanting to move so I could train martial arts to fight professionally and to also get away from the toxic lifestyle of where were living so I’m taking the leap but just need a way to make usd if possible please let me know it would be a blessing and we can set up a video call or I could send my email for you to get to know me more because I understand it'll be hard to make a decision under a youtube comment to see if we’re the right fit to work with you or help find work

[@graceylifestyle593]

So beautiful places. And nice content with great editing skills. Thank you so much for visiting our country!

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thanks! 😎

[@graceylifestyle593]

@@ChadFosterExplores you're always welcome to come back here! ❤️🇵🇭

[@carletto_au]

Cannot believe we went to the same resort with in Maolboal. Max , the Italian guy is a great host

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Love max! Great place

[@ErinShine]

Awesome to see what things really cost!

[@jmfarrell5]

A great helpful video 👏🏻👏🏻

[@petesrules1508]

The maths is very easy, the more you do, the more you travel, the more you tour with a guest relations officer, and more shopping you do, the more it costs.

[@bretthoussenloge8744]

top video,,, very well explained, short and sweet. Polar opposite to overstay road who i like to also watch...

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thank you I appreciate the compliment, I still want to get better

[@Yacht2bz]

Thanks for a great video. I was liking some of the places you found to stay in various locations. Could you elaborate on how you find your stays........Airbnb, Agoda, etc.??

[@ChadFosterExplores]

I used mainly airbnb or booking .com. In city mainly airbnb

[@edmhie1]

That's a tourist budget not if you are retired there.

[@bills.1737]

Been watching your videos lately and can't say enough about how much i enjoy them!!! Where are you based out of? Cebu? I will be coming in the end of Feb for 3 weeks and would love to get together. Keep up the great work!!!

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thanks!! Dumaguete lately but currently traveling stay in touch!

[@XxArielxX986]

Hi Chad i enjoy watching your channel, I just got back from the Philippines, The places that i visit when i was there in, Bohol, Panglao, CDO, Camiguin, Manila, Thing that i did not like about the Philippines it was to hot and humid and the food was so unhealthy, So much traffic there, I can't see my self living there full time. Okay to vacation there, Nothing is better then the USA

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thanks for watching glad you enjoy the channel... yes those are definitely challenges in the Philippines I agree. Pros and cons everywhere. Are you considering other Asian countries next time?

[@edmhie1]

Not recommended for a spoiled westerner. You won't survive outside of your comfort zone. You have to prepair for yourself on survival because the world is going into a state of decay. Natural calamities are everywhere. You can't bring your money to hell. Enjoy life while it last.

[@BarefootJeff]

Heading to Thailand in 8 weeks and Philippines. Will be there for 3-6 months.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thats awesome, you're planning a nice long trip that'll be an incredible experience, won't be long now... enjoy!

[@BarefootJeff]

@@ChadFosterExplores I wish it was sooner like yours. Hopefully you will get aa few videos out from there while I'm still here. I know you will have a blast again.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

@@BarefootJeff I'll get some more content going asap 😎

[@allanbalbuena3659]

Chad I can’t wait to see little Chad running around lol 😂😂😂

[@allanfahrenhorst-jones6118]

Nice. More expensive than I thought. I suppose that was for two people.

[@mgysgtk8835]

Did you ever worry about ice and street food, giving you food poisoning? In the late 1970s & 1980s up to 2001, and 2007, we always had that concern and actually caught stomach bugs. What are your experience?

[@WanderingWolf365]

Wow that's a big budget - WW

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Yea it was travel and activity heavy, and I traveled with someone for a while. The One month when I didn't go anywhere or do too much it was under 1k so that's possible

[@andre1987eph]

This was bearable at 2x speed. good photography filters

[@carlsmith7458]

Hey chad! I really liked this video, being that I headed to Ozamiz, and then on to bohol for a couple of weeks with my girl. I do have a question. When and what kind of SIM card should I get ? I’m not educated on SIM cards at all. When I get it do I just insert it? . Then it’s ready to use . Can I call back home on it or text back home on it also. Sorry but I just don’t know how it works. 46 more days for a good 3 weeks vacation.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Smart and globe are the two big SIM card options, both are good. If you go to a load booth they will set it up for you. But basically yeah you just put the new SIM card in your phone it'll come with the Philippines phone number and there are places to put load on all over the place in the Philippines Viber app offers call out options for calling North America for a pretty low fee. I used it and it worked pretty good!

[@PetesPoolHallandFuneralParlor]

So from what others are saying $1000-1500 it really does cost more than I thought to stay in P.I. $1500-2000 would be tight if that's all you have to live on .

[@eduardoquiban947]

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBLE TO GET BROKE NOT PHILIPINES .. DO NOT BE STUPID OR FOOLISH IN THE PHILIPPINES DON'T LET SOMEBODY TO ,CHEAT YOU YOU MUST SAVE YOUR MONEY.

[@frankcentofanti9317]

Are you planning on visiting the better countries Thai, Vietnam or Bali

[@PhoenicianinthePhilippines]

Who did you go with for travel insurance?

[@ChadFosterExplores]

I was referred to safetywing (link in description) as being one of the good ones but they don't offer policies for Florida residents. I ended up going with Heymondo travel insurance.

[@XxArielxX986]

Chad the best bang for your buck to find a high quality Filipino and move to Thailand, Infrastructure is so much better in Thailand and also the food, condominiums are cheaper and nicer there by far

[@ChadFosterExplores]

I'm also excited to explore Thailand, I've heard great things thanks for comment 😎

[@Wesna269]

$2300 per month average for a good time is great. Do you drink alcohol? I find drinking alcohol can become one of the biggest expenses.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

I'm not a big drinker at all so that definitely saves money

[@n.jberard384]

Chad, can I ask you which airlines you will use for your flight. What seating do you recommend for a long flight? Thanks in advance! Maybe you can do a video on airplane traveling to an overseas destination.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Phillpines airlines and only good experience, from talking to people though there are lots of good options depending on where you are flying from. I always choose aisle just for getting up and stretching but I know people that travel long distance a ton have different approaches to travel I'm still relatively new to it

[@n.jberard384]

Thanks Chad. Do you fly economy or business class

[@ChadFosterExplores]

@@n.jberard384 just exonomy

[@mwj5368]

Did your expenses of course include your lady friend? Can I bring my bicycle on eht airlines for an extra shipping fee?

[@curtisake7431]

One thing you didn't mention is when you had your companion, your costs basically doubled because you were probably paying for the both of you. Chad you mentioned you rented motorbikes. I am just curious. Do you have license to operate a motorbike? Some expats does and others doesn't. If not, I highly recommend you get your motorbike license. It is very easy to do. As always, awesome vid brother. You are making me home sick to get back there. Cheers!!!!

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Oh yes that includes both of us, our accommodation cost didn't go up for the second person since we just got mostly studios etc, food we did very well with in terms of going to the market and mainly eating Filipino food so that kept the budget under control. Ferry and plane tickets etc and tourist things were double. With one trip per month that's how it worked out. Some of the adventures were bus like going up to bantayan so that wasn't too expensive. As always thanks for watching and thanks for the comment I appreciate it!

[@Zulethe992]

Crazy how you can travel and live like that and spend about half of what I spend just to exist here in America. I never go out, travel or buy anything other than the bare essentials

[@Avacadofrommexicoyeah]

Yep I have only lived in expensive places in US too

[@irishadriano554]

Hi chad can er collab where are you in the Philippines

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Not there yet but will be in September! 😊

[@eprohoda]

Chad-Love it~ you made great , catch you later. ;))

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thanks!

[@CoachDarren]

Can you provide the links to some of the websites in the video where you staying for under $20 a night

[@PhoenicianinthePhilippines]

Hi Chad, which airlines did you choose to use or is there only 1?

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Philippines airlines 😎

[@PhoenicianinthePhilippines]

@@ChadFosterExplores was that inter-island as well?

[@ChadFosterExplores]

@@PhoenicianinthePhilippines Philippines airlines ,Cebu pacific and air Asia 😎

[@hersh1669]

How were you meeting the girls... Organically? Dating site?

[@ChadFosterExplores]

I happened to have met them online but meeting in person organically is a good way to approach finding a partner as well. Both have pros and cons

[@rein3684]

Did you use Airbnb to find lodging? Thank you for sharing your expenses. Subbed.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Thanks for the sub! I used airbnb often, but also booking .com

[@touchsmith4630]

Did you have to pay that $22 in cash or do they take credit cards

[@clong0184]

Where was green apple dental located?

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Ayala mall cebu city :)

[@garyr4327]

There are two Ayala malls in Cebu, one is at the IT park and the other one about a mile south also called the Ayala center. Which one is it? Thank you for this video.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

@@garyr4327 it's the one in Cebu Business Park, the main big one and the dentist is on the ground floor at the terraces 🙂

[@NumadDude]

Was the cost for those months for yourself only ?or including the girl’s expanses as well?.thats would make difference ,in term of the flight tickets and meals.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

It is including everything. Accommodation doesn't change for2 and we did well with finding inexpensive meals/cooking mostly, but yes flights ands ferries or entry fees tours were for 2 .

[@frozeny7665]

Im at 600-800 If live there already with something luxury, wellness, massages and all.. All more seems like waste.. Why not renting some apartment with bed and all inside for 1 month each. Cost are depends on area 300-500$ month.. 25-50 a night is crazy

[@mattsnider5904]

Forgive me if I missed this detail. Are you retired? You don't look retirement age is why I ask. I have to wait til my 60s for retirement funds unless I want heavily penalized.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

No sir, I'm an occupational therapist, but I have a couple rental properties that provide a small income that allows me to do this but my goal is to grow this channel and monetize in other ways to make it my new 'career' 🤞😅 I'll put the work in and see what happens! Thanks for watching!

[@AlvinFujioka]

2300 average per month is really good for what u did. u did a lot of travel and many activities and eating. thanks for sharing. good info

[@AlvinFujioka]

my wife went to visit siargao island where she grew up last sat for 3 weeks for the fiesta. hope u can visit siargao island. really developed as a tourist spot over the last 10 years

[@brucekenworthy6731]

how long is the flight

[@chicagogyrl4846]

I have heard that Thailand is much better. I have heard that the food where you are is not good, but the food in Thailand is really good! Also something about the beaches in the Philippines. I guess the beaches are very far apart and are a pain to get to, and they take a long time to get to them, not to mention the ferry ticket, plane fare, and all other extra expenses you must fork out to get to them! I know that you must take the ferry to get to Boracay. I see in your video that is exactly what your doing, having to spend an arm and a leg, and tons of time and hassle just to get to one of them!! Also that most of the beaches there are private, not public. In Thailand there are beaches everywhere, you can actually get to them easily, and they are public!! So, if I were going Asian, I would go to Thailand, not the Philippines, and even better than both of them put together Playa de Carmen, and Cozumel in Mexico!

[@kimonharamis7812]

Nice vid. I need to get my butt over there.

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Do it 😎

[@kimonharamis7812]

@@ChadFosterExplores just retired. Headed to Europe and then the Philippines.

[@sakichler]

What happened to rose? She is so awesome!

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Hey thanks for watching! From my understanding Rose is doing well. Unfortunate circumstances led to us no longer spending time together as of several months ago. Thank you once again for watching and leaving a comment. Appreciate it!

[@KADIEM-LLC]

Chad, is Rose coming back??

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Hey thanks for watching! From my understanding Rose is doing well, but due to unfortunate circumstances we are no longer spending time together as of several months ago. Thank you once again for watching and leaving a comment. Appreciate it!

[@mrdave22]

i wish i was free to go. that's crazy cheap

[@DH-wr7rw]

Are you paying for Airbnb or hotels for lodging?

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Both, depends on where I am... more airbnb in cities. I also you use booking.com

[@Coffewithsteve]

Average 2k American for good life that be 2500 canadian.

[@allen9129]

wow

[@alals6794]

usd 400 for a crown in Cebu city?...........Here in metro Los Angeles, you can have a steel crown installed for usd 150 circa 2023. haha

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Actually Emax crowns in the US average between $1200 and $1800, $400 is pretty amazing. Thanks for watching I appreciate it!

[@joelgalvan3056]

Not me looking up flights 🙄😏

[@ChadFosterExplores]

Probably depends on locations, Im actually looking at one-way flights now from Cebu City to dumaguete and most are around $25 to $35 one-way US. I remember my flight to coron was a fair amount more, I think $70 one way.

[@chicagogyrl4846]

It’s amazing until the electricity goes out and it’s 100 degrees outside! 🤣😂

[@dalesmf4310]

You kept saying “we” so were you covering another person? crazy high monthly costs for 1 person. Maybe I do as the locals do better than others. Never came near your monthly spending.

[@theswede5402]

Nah F that, im gonna have 1200 bucks a month to live on.