$250 Cost of Living - Philippines - TOP affordable, safe, friendly, best English-Speaking Country

[@Peace839]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars Very informative Keep vlogging 👍

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@Peace839 thank you. I am working on a very important video right now. It’s one I created eight months ago that didn’t do as well as I wanted it to, but the content is extremely important for people moving to the Philippines. So I am editing it hoping to make it more successful the second time around. Crossing my fingers. Not sure of the title yet. But the thumbnail will have the American dream going up in flames on the left side and me on the right side with the words the Filipino dream on a surfboard and a little note attached at the top saying Plan B.

[@robertwinroth]

Thank you for sharing! Best cost of living in ph so far 👍

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@robertwinroth Thank you. I don’t like keeping track of every peso I spend because I know it’s so little, but I knew I needed to do this for educational purposes. I certainly would have appreciated seeing a video like this before I ever moved here. It would have alleviated a lot of my concerns. Another video that goes hand in hand with this one is: Rich Filipino/Poor Americano kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJXaZoyPjMp8n7s

[@BigTroubleD]

You really give me hope that I can have this life sooner than I thought. I could live just like you. What I worry about is insurance and healthcare the most though and aging there as well as VISA situation.

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@BigTroubleD I don’t want to sugarcoat anything and have someone move here who shouldn’t. Living overseas is not for everyone. I talk a lot more about this in my next video, so don’t miss it. It’s going to be an epic video with tons of information, a very practical and brutally honest guide for anyone interested in doing as I’ve done. The title is most likely going to be “ Come Here. Save Money. Build Wealth. Learn how with the Filipino Joe”. I’ve been polishing up the script and am about to start recording. Here are excerpts from the script on the things you asked about: HEALTHCARE. While many foreigners don’t carry Filipino health insurance, it is recommended to do so while you’re living here, especially if your lifestyle involves driving vehicles or any other risky behavior. If you have pre-existing conditions, you will need to look further into your healthcare and healthcare insurance options here, based on your personal situation. Everyone’s situation will be different. General healthcare, including dentistry, is typically inexpensive and paid for out of pocket. So your only real need for health insurance will be if you require more expensive medical procedures. Like many foreigners, I don’t carry Filipino health insurance because I’m fully insured in the U.S. When I need more expensive medical care, I travel to the U.S., and at the same time visit my family and friends. VISAS & YOUR LOCATION I highly recommend locating near an immigration office. I cannot stress enough the importance of this. If you live three hours away from the nearest one, that’s not going to be very convenient, especially if you have to go there every month or two to extend your visa. Also, if you live really close to one, you could forgo the express service charges and return for your visa extensions three days after applying for them. VISAS & EXTENSIONS It isn’t possible for me to provide visa information for everyone as it differs based on who someone is and what country they’re from. Details also change from time to time. So it’s best to do your own research at immigration.gov.ph or at a Philippine immigration office. As an American I’ve had no issues coming here and living by getting regular tourist visa extensions for the purpose of pleasure and visiting friends. I’m permitted to stay for up to 3 years with approved visa extensions. The cost of my visa extensions is very reasonable and included in my $250 a month cost of living. Once I leave the Philippines, I can return the next day. And when I return, I am eligible to stay for up to another 3 years with approved visa extensions.

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@BigTroubleD if you haven’t already, you should also watch this video: PLAN B: move to the Philippines kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHrdhp6veLCDprM

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@BigTroubleD Also, in the video, I talk more about not coming here with the attitude that you will be here forever. By living here inexpensively, most foreigners can drastically improve their financial situation and build wealth, which will be very helpful in relocating back to their home country or elsewhere in the future, should they want or need to. I think one of the biggest mistakes people make when coming to the Philippines, is considering that it’s forever. It may indeed be for the rest of their lives, but I think to expect that would be rather foolish.

[@BigTroubleD]

@@thefilipinojoe thank you so much for all the information. I had researched a bit into the Philippines and thought it would be a great place to live cheaply while allowing my investments to grow. Imagine only needing $3000 a year for a good long while and letting most of your nest egg grow. I wasn’t aware that you could extend your tourist visa for up to 3 years. What happens when the 3 years are up?

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@BigTroubleD after the three years are up you have to leave the Philippines. But you can come back the very next day and the time limit starts over again. I highly doubt you’ll be here for three years without ever leaving the country. lol. I’ve been in the country this time since October 2022. So I am a little over two years now. I am planning to go to Italy for vacation sometime in 2025. Not sure when.

[@myrnamonserrat5795]

Hello Joe first time i watch your video that is a good accounting way 😊 Good job and happy for you you can save a lot of money and same as you i am living here also in Laguna and it looks to me that all day long you are in your expenses LOL thats good GODBLESS 🙏🙏🙏

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@myrnamonserrat5795 yes, I only kept track of my expenses for one month in order to create the KZbin video. I don’t normally keep track like that, as it isn’t necessary. I have always enjoyed a low cost of living and beautiful carefree lifestyle here. In the United States, it was too expensive. It was a very difficult life, working all the time and everything I earned working went to pay for everything just to survive. I had no extra money to truly enjoy life with. Sometimes, I had no money to even eat properly. For example, I could only afford to rent a sleeping room in NYC where I lived. Just for the cheapest sleeping room (bed space), I paid over P30,000 ($520) a month. Here, in the Philippines, I pay only P4000 ($70) a month for my own beautiful apartment, a BIG HUGE difference. 😁 Overall, for me, it is 10 times more expensive to live in the United States than here in the Philippines. In other words, for what it costs me to live one month in the United States, I can live here in the Philippines for 10 months. And not living like I lived in the US, struggling like a poor man, but a MUCH better quality of life, living here like a rich man. That’s the main reason why I moved here to the Philippines, to have more money to save and enjoy life with. In the United States, all of my money was spent just to survive. There was no money remaining after all of the bills were paid. That’s why I share my story on KZbin, so other people struggling in the United States can know that they have options. That they don’t have to stay in the United States and suffer. They can move here and enjoy a much cheaper and much better quality of life. A life that is a 10 times better life! 😊 Living here, I am able to enjoy a much much better life as a retiree on a pension. The Philippines is my home now.

[@lengabel9479]

Could not live in the city. My dream is to live outside the city and close to the beach and fishing, live in a bamboo house and walk to church. I have always lived on a limited budget and buy only what I absolutely need and nothing more. I am hoping to find a place where i can also share my fishing catch with people that live near by. God bless you sir

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@lengabel9479 That sounds really nice. If you locate properly in the countryside near a main road, you should have no problem getting to the city using cheap public transportation, like buses, vans, and tricycles. Unlike the West, the Philippines public transportation is not only cheap but reliable, even in the countryside. I used to be able to renew my visas every six months, but lately they have required me to renew every two months. So, make sure that you locate close enough to an immigration office that you are not inconvenienced by having to go there more often than you might expect to. It’s easy to live here on a tourist visa and just renew your tourist visa. It’s not necessary to get a retirement visa. You only have to leave the country once every three years on a tourist visa. So, I don’t recommend doing anything else that would make yourself more permanent here. The world is unpredictable so being able to easily leave a foreign country like the Philippines if necessary is wise. I think it is best to always maintain an easy way out. I live south of Manila, nowhere near the ocean. I know that the typhoons hit the Philippines from the east, coming from the Pacific Ocean, traveling north or west or northwest. So my advice is not to locate anywhere on the east (Pacific Ocean) side of the Philippines. It would be much better to locate on the west side. Areas prone to typhoons are Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, and northern Luzon, whereas Mindanao is largely free of typhoons. A lot of countries though, advise their citizens to avoid the Mindanao region. I personally have heeded that advice and have never been anywhere near there. Maybe that is where all the crime happens, I don’t know. But I can tell you that in my neighborhoods, I have never seen or heard of a single crime in the seven years that I have lived here. Statistically the Philippines is much safer than the United States. I truly feel that to be true, as I feel very safe here. But safety also depends on the person, and I am a very safe person to begin with. One way I stay safe is to never talk to anyone that I have any doubts about. You really learn to use your gut instincts when you’re living overseas. You really need to avoid anybody you have any qualms about, because it’s very easy to get kicked out of the Philippines if you get into any kind of trouble. Keeping your nose clean takes on a whole new meaning here. Avoid conflicts, drama, a celebrity lifestyle, arguments, gossiping, and don’t make any enemies. A low humble poor person profile is the best one to have here… it’s what most Filipinos subscribe to, even if they are rich. With over 7000 islands, one has many different places to choose from. You might want to avoid living near any military bases, just in case WW3 breaks out. Just saying. Also, I prefer the weather here where I live further north versus the weather I had before down south on the Leyte/Southern Leyte border. The weather is much cooler up north. Be sure to rent a place that has good ventilation. The Philippines is very humid and without good ventilation, you will have mold. With a bamboo hut, you won’t have to worry about that. But, I would recommend renting a concrete structure because of the typhoons. Bamboo huts often get swept away by typhoons along with everything inside. Occupants almost always evacuate to local shelters. Also be careful with the sun. You don’t want to have the sun hitting your windows during the hottest part of the day approximately 11 AM to 4 PM. It’s very important in making sure that you are comfortable with just fans. I don’t suggest giving out freebies of any kind because as a foreigner you will surely be targeted by everyone. It would be like stirring up a bees nest. Remember, this country is densely populated and word travels faster than the typhoons. I suggest trading your extra fish for fresh vegetables or something with church members you know and trust. If you’re going to attend a church, hopefully it will be one that helps you achieve your ideal life set up here. Nonetheless, don’t ever be fully or overly trusting like many foreigners are, nor thin skinned. Remain free and mobile, able to pick up and move to a new area if things don’t work out in the first location. Areas can differ very much from one another. I’ve lived in four different areas, each very different. I only liked 2 out of the 4, one being where I live now. A great area will treat you like a celebrity. You will love it. A bad area might treat you like an ATM or like an unwelcomed outsider.

[@KB3TLE]

Well Joe -- 'you' -- are my hero ! > I couldn't do it. But the good news is - I wouldn't have to ! Thankfully. My SS is nearly $1600 / mo. - which is very poor in the US (!) as you know ! ----- Several US expats are living quite frugal (not far from you) on about $800 / mo. in recurring expenses - most months - but not wanting for anything and not depriving themselves of anything either - according to them. They pay $80 / mo & use AC 24/7 for comfort. Eat western as often a they want & eat out all the time. ( Trace Martires area. ) They spent perhaps $1500 - $2000 fixing their apartment to their standards on long term leases. AC - TV - Fridge - MW - flush toilet - hot water - paint - bed - furniture........ and they are very "happy campers" now !!! That story of $1000 is quite possible - alone. Add a GF & add $$$.

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@KB3TLE Thanks for your kind comments. I highly recommend that you check out this video of mine: Rich Filipino/Poor Americano kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJXaZoyPjMp8n7s I personally don’t recommend living here like a westerner. If someone wants to live like that, I recommend doing so in the west, not here. Not only is it more expensive to live like that here, but it attracts the wrong kind of attention, fake friends, etc., and could even put one in danger. American “wealth attitudes” don’t translate well here. It’s best to tell people you are poor and that you only get a small pension to survive on. Tell them anything else, and you’re inviting trouble. It’s important to realize that this isn’t America. It’s a completely different animal. Freedom of speech does not exist here for foreigners. Say something about someone and it could get you kicked out of the country, possibly arrested, and even jailed, even if what you said was true. Filipinos don’t complain either, so it’s important to do likewise. That’s a hard one for me. 🤣 It’s important to learn what’s legal to do or say here and what’s not. The KZbinr Filipina Pea has some really good videos about legal things every foreigner should know, especially if they are interested in dating here. It is very different from a legal standpoint. Don’t think that expats will make great friends here either. I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus, but you’ll see what I mean when you get here. It’s better to make friends with high quality trustworthy Filipinos, avoiding mixing and mingling with expats, strangers, and anyone you’re unsure about. I also recommend not drinking alcohol, it can be a problem here for some. Keeping one’s nose clean is a must here if one plans to remain here permanently. Don’t make trouble, any enemies, etc. Police checks are done with every visa renewal. A person, stranger, or neighbor can file a complaint on you very easily within their neighborhood for any reason whatsoever which could lead to you getting kicked out of the country and blacklisted. It’s a big reason why I advise people not to make themselves permanent here in any way. Always be ready, able, and willing to leave at a moment’s notice. Fantasies of permanence here are precisely that, fantasies. It’s great if you can pull it off, but don’t expect to. As for AC, it is not commonly used here. Like Filipinos, I have fully adapted to the weather here (it only took me a couple months to do so when I first moved here) and now I can freeze whenever I visit sunny southern California, truly, wearing winter clothes and even winter coats. The point is, it makes no sense to move here and never acclimate oneself to the weather. There’s actually only 3 months out of the year that I too might enjoy AC, but even then, it would only be from about noon to 3 PM and only when there’s no clouds blocking the sun rays. Otherwise AC really isn’t necessary. I will only contradict myself saying that it might be necessary if someone is moving here from a frigid climate like Russia. Southern Philippines is warmer than the north. I like the climate much better here where I live now, south of Manila, rather than in Leyte, Southern Leyte. So if you’ve not decided on an area to live yet, you might want to consider staying up north. Also, if one carefully selects a rental that doesn’t get hit and roasted by the midday sun, they should be fine with just having fans. I prefer two small fans myself and in the evening and nights, I place one just outside my upstairs window, and my apartment feels cool and comfortable as if it’s being air conditioned. I know very wealthy Filipinos here who hide their wealth, and don’t live any differently than the average Filipino in their communities. There’s a HUGE reason for that besides humility. It’s like Warren Buffett, despite his massive wealth, he lives modestly, just like his neighbors, and fits into his local community. On the other hand, Bill Gates bought up his entire community and built a mega mansion. Don’t imagine his neighbors are inviting him over to play bridge. Filipinos are very sociable. That’s how we entertain ourselves here, by socializing with each other. You step outside, and there’s people to talk to. I see other foreigners here who don’t socialize with the locals and I am truly saddened by that because they are missing out. It’s just not at all how most people live here. It’s not at all difficult to meet new people and make new friends like it is in the west. I make new friends here constantly. I was even adopted by a Filipino family. Americans are typically highly welcomed and embraced by the Filipino people. Not always, of course, but how many friends can one have anyways? 😂 I make much more money than my $250 cost of living. In the U.S., it’s common for people to pay their entire salary on just surviving there. It’s a way of life there. It’s not like that here. Yet many who move here, having paid everything they earned just to survive their entire lives, keep doing it here, despite no longer having to!!! Talk about CRAZY. That’s crazy to me!!! Here, anyone can do like me, live nicely without spending every penny on just survival. I have been saving tons of money here, in fact been living on that savings most of this year, having retired early. That was never a possibility for me in the US. With my low cost of living here, I am not only able to save money, but enjoy more niceties, like vacations. If I did otherwise, spent everything on my cost of living here, I would be living paycheck to paycheck here just like I did in the US and where still over 60% of the population does so (programmed to think that’s okay!) It’s not okay, it’s tragic. If you don’t know how nice I live here, check out the following video: $70/mo. Philippine Apartment kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZy5dmunet2dn5I Good luck with your move. I hope you too will have a lot of money left over to save and enjoy after paying for your basic essentials here. You can certainly live here like a rich Filipino. Even though I knew it was possible, it was an AMAZING surprise for me to see how much I could save here, get ahead, and enjoy more of what life has to offer.

[@fenderbend3r]

Wow, you are living like a filipino! Probably lower expenses than them. Awesome!

[@thefilipinojoe]

Indeed. I am. I lived in the countryside for most of the 7 years I have lived here and that’s where I learned to live more like a Filipino, learning from my friends and neighbors there how to be more frugal and not waste my money. I highly value that experience. It made all of the difference. I now live in the city south of Manila where people tend to spend more money. But, I have found that it is very easy to live here for the same amount of money that I lived on in the countryside. Being a foreigner, nearly every Filipino thinks I’m richer than they are. They see and view my lifestyle as privileged. I laugh because I actually spend so little, and I know that some of them (who think that way) are much richer than me, and like you said, spending a lot more money to live. But, a lot of them are families too, which naturally adds to their cost of living.

[@fenderbend3r]

@thefilipinojoe some of us never appreciates our own life and situations until we see other countries. We are so lucky but we are blessed if we know this. Happy for you man. 3 yrs and we are moving there too. All the best

[@thefilipinojoe]

Here’s another video I made to help westerners understand the Philippines better and how to achieve a lower cost of living here, because it’s a process, not a guarantee: Rich Filipino/Poor Americano kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJXaZoyPjMp8n7sfeature=shared

[@jocunningham]

Great job! Filipino Joe indeed!😊

[@thefilipinojoe]

Thanks 🙏

[@Loigis]

Confirmed can be done🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@Loigis Yes, and very easily.

[@mmakasangguni2624]

Where in the Philippines do you live? I have no income coming in until I turn 62 in 3 years. Will be living off savings.

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@mmakasangguni2624 mamatid. There is an immigration office in Santa Rosa, Laguna, if you want to live closer than I do to an immigration office. I also lived this cheaply in Sogod, Southern Leyte and Osmená, Leyte, but there wasn’t an immigration office nearby. Maybe they’ve opened up one since. This low cost of living is available in lots of places here, but I don’t know where, as these are the only places that I have lived. I talk about the process of obtaining a low cost of living in the following video, saying a low cost of living isn’t a guarantee, it’s a process. That is very true and this video explains the process: Rich Filipino/Poor Americano kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJXaZoyPjMp8n7s

[@mariaschiffler6739]

May I ask what area of the Philippines? Thank you for your very informative video.

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@mariaschiffler6739 This low cost of living is available in lots of places here, but I don’t know where, as these are the only places that I have lived. Sogod, Southern Leyte Osmena, Leyte Mamatid, Laguna I talk about the process of obtaining a low cost of living in the following video, saying a low cost of living isn’t a guarantee, it’s a process. That is very true and this video explains the process: Rich Filipino/Poor Americano kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJXaZoyPjMp8n7s

[@SadButTrue__]

What part of the Philippines do you live in? I'm planning on moving to the Philippines in the first quarter of 2025 and haven't decided where to start. So far, I'm thinking about Kalibo or Iloilo.

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@SadButTrue__ My area might bore you. I have never gravitated towards expat, expensive, or well known places here. I avoid expensive cities and places like tourist traps as far as choosing where to reside, and only go to such places on special occasions. I would never live in Cebu or Manila here mostly because of the overwhelming population and traffic. I understand that they can be more expensive too, but you can’t trust what you hear online. A guy might say it costs him a fortune to live somewhere here, but he may be renting an expensive place in an expensive area, rather than what’s more typical and reasonable. I probably wouldn’t ever live in the southern parts of the Philippines again because of the hotter weather there. It’s also important for me to not live where there are frequent typhoons, as I fear global warming is only going to get worse and be making these storms worse. I would also avoid any areas with US military bases, as when WW3 happens, I imagine those places being the least safe. A lot of foreigners move here seeking a western experience and a social life with other foreigners. I would never do that personally. If I had no interest in changing and adapting to the Filipino people and culture here, as in fully integrating myself and adopting them as my own, I wouldn’t have chosen to live here. Because to really be happy overseas, which I am, I knew that I had to change and adapt to the country, its culture, and the people. And, the Filipinos, in general, have made wonderful friends. I would even guess that one could, on average, make higher quality friends with high quality Filipinos here, rather than with other foreigners. All that said, I used to live in Sogod, Osmena and Pamahawan on the Leyte / Southern Leyte Border, experiencing there both (a smaller) city life, and living in the countryside. It cost me about the same to live there as where I live now in Mamatid, Cabuyao, Laguna. The often ignored and smaller cities here, from what I’ve seen, are nothing at all like small cities in the west. In the west you’re lucky if a small town has one restaurant, a bar, barbershop, hair salon, a school, and a gas station. Here, a small city is packed full of more businesses and schools than you could ever imagine, including malls and American fast food restaurants, like McDonald’s. That’s because the Philippines is so densely populated and not over regulated like it is in the west. It’s very easy for people to open businesses here. Very easy to build houses too, even dirt cheap ones. I’ve never been to Kalibo or Iloilo. One last thing, I prefer living near an immigration office. In Leyte, I was located a 3 hours drive away and that was okay then, but would not be now. They used to allow me to extend my visa for six months. But something has changed. Maybe with the new president? I now have to renew my visa every two months. That’s why I prefer living near an immigration office. Although I rarely go to Manila, it is close enough to where I live, that I can go there without any issues. I don’t have a car, don’t need one as everything I need is within walking distance. But I do have an adopted family here, and they often invite me to go places, like Manila, and have always offered to take me to Immigration. It’s a lot of fun here. Socializing with others is the recreational pastime here, not going to the movies, playing golf, bowling, etc. all you have to do here to socialize with people is step outside. People are everywhere. Living here is an indoor outdoor lifestyle. S&R is the Costco of the Philippines. My favorite part of Costco is the café, especially the pizza, and the Costco Café is bigger and better here “at S&R” which is probably because of so many people living here, which also means the S&R Café is always hopping.

[@Johnny-ql2vd]

Enjoyed J. Very informative. How do us retired Americans reside in the P.I. full time? Thanks in advance Sir….

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@Johnny-ql2vd Basically, Americans who have no criminal record and keep their noses clean can remain in the Philippines for up to 3 years by extending their visas before they expire at any of the immigration offices in the Philippines. I talk about the process of obtaining a low cost of living in the following video, saying a low cost of living isn’t a guarantee, it’s a process. This video explains the process: Rich Filipino/Poor Americano kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJXaZoyPjMp8n7s

[@Johnny-ql2vd]

@ Thanks Brudda

[@Johnny-ql2vd]

@ Thanks for the info Kind Sir

[@thefilipinojoe]

You’re welcome

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@Johnny-ql2vd you’re welcome. Anytime. KZbin doesn’t always notify me of new messages on a comment I already replied to, so it’s best to start a new comment if you want to make sure I get it. Thanks 🙏

[@JefeLee1267]

What your age sir,if I nay ask Great content

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@JefeLee1267 Thank you. I turned 62 last month.

[@JefeLee1267]

300 monthly for a one bedroom ?

[@thefilipinojoe]

@JefeLee1267 no. $300 is way too much to pay for an apartment in the Philippines. My entire cost of living is only $250 here. I pay $70 a month for my beautiful one bedroom townhouse apartment. You can see it here in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZy5dmunet2dn5Ifeature=shared

[@JefeLee1267]

You just answer my? Thanks

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@JefeLee1267 you’re welcome. ☺️

[@51dbail]

budget and what you make a month, Two very different things. You can shoot for a low budget, but you better be making a lot more than that. me i shoot for 100k a month. That is not my income.

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@51dbail People must earn at least or more than their budget, so I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. As for earning $100K a month, that’s a ridiculous amount of money, $1,200,000 a year; which is $1,997,000 a year more than I personally need to pay my bills. What do you need so much money for? Pizza? Have you ever heard of “the parable of the poor fisherman and the rich banker?” I read it many years ago and it made me realize something very important; that I didn’t need to break my back to become a millionaire in order to attain my ideal lifestyle. In fact, I quit a good job in NYC, moved here, and have been living my ideal lifestyle ever since, and I am very much not a millionaire. That parable and other wise tips about succeeding in the Philippines are contained in this informative video: Rich Filipino/Poor Americano kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJXaZoyPjMp8n7s I created this video for people like myself and multi-billionaire Warren Buffett, who are interested in spending less on life’s basic necessities, not more, so that they can save, invest, and enjoy more of what life has to offer. Most Americans, over 60% in fact, are seriously struggling financially, working hard and barely surviving payday to payday. They have absolutely no extra money to save for a rainy day, retirement, or enjoy their lives with after paying their bills. For many of them, the American dream is dead. I relate well with them, because I used to be just like them, living and working in the U.S. before moving to the Philippines 7 years ago. I made this video to not only let people know what the real cost of living is here in the Philippines for a single person living an ordinary lifestyle, but to let anyone searching for a more ideal; safer and more affordable place to move to, know that the Philippines is such a place. I personally don’t recommend wealthy people move to the Philippines who are show offs. The Philippines is much more ideal for people who are easy going, live like the general population, and keep a low profile, no matter what their wealth status. Much like Warren Buffett, despite his massive wealth, lives in an ordinary neighborhood and drives an ordinary car. Showing off or just letting people know that you’re wealthy, especially in a foreign country, is dangerous because it can attract the wrong kind of attention. Need I say more?

[@vincereyes8286]

What about entertainment expenses? :)

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@vincereyes8286 that’s actually not a cost of living expense. That’s considered discretionary spending. It’s important to understand the difference between the two. The cost of living of a place is typically determined by what it costs you to survive, where discretionary spending is basically everything else. In some places, a personal vehicle might be a requirement for survival, thus a cost of living expense, where in other places it isn’t necessary at all, thus falls into discretionary spending. In fact, in some places, like NYC, having a private vehicle is not only discretionary but can be very costly. As for entertainment, if your entertainment is gambling, your entertainment could cost you a fortune. I’ve known more than a few such people. If on the other hand you enjoy playing video games on your phone, your entertainment expense could be zero. My entertainment doesn’t cost me anything, which is socializing with my friends and neighbors.

[@vincereyes8286]

@ I am currently living in the suburbs of Chicago looking to partially living in the Philippines in 2 years. “Living” for me includes some entertainment :) else it is otherwise :). But to each their own. I would love to be able to survive for $300 a month :)… I admire your self control . I guess your military days play a vital role in your being so disciplined.

[@thefilipinojoe]

@vincereyes8286 I have a very unique personality which does actually make me very different from the average Joe. I made a video about my personality because I saw so many videos that were too textbook rather than personal. Here is my unique personality video… kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGTEo4qLqbh7l8Ufeature=shared You will not find the need to go pay for entertainment here. Filipinos are extremely sociable people and all you have to do to be entertained here is step outside and socialize with your neighbors. Playing basketball is a favorite pastime here too. But mostly people just sit around talking. It’s not at all like the west. You can certainly find paid entertainment to spend your money on, but it’s not everywhere here, because it’s not how people typically live here.

[@anthonynorris1016]

The secret is getting set up...

[@thefilipinojoe]

@@anthonynorris1016 I have another video: Rich Filipino/Poor Americano kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJXaZoyPjMp8n7s In that video I say that obtaining a low cost of living here is not a guarantee, it’s a process. That’s so true and in that video I show the process, which for myself was more about personal development, learning, and thinking better than anything else. I know a lot of foreigners who never get off to a good start as far as living here at a low or reasonable cost of living, and blow through more in one month than I spend in a year. There’s nothing wrong with spending one’s money, but I can think of a lot better things to spend my money on than life’s basics like rent and food. Having money left over after all the bills are paid means having more money to enjoy MORE of what life has to offer. Living in the United States, I didn’t have that opportunity. It took everything I earned just to survive there payday to payday. As for fixing up a new apartment to suit one’s tastes, that is an additional expense, but the total cost depends on the individual. Some people are happy with just a mattress on the floor and a few other necessities. I prefer a designer home. In my new apartment, I achieved that fairly easily with paint, pictures, and furniture, some which I borrowed, including the bench seat which I had reupholstered for about $100. Paint, I would say is the real secret here in the Philippines to make an otherwise blah rental really nice. My apartment, luckily, already looked really nice. The only paint I added was the black feature walls, doors, and kitchen cabinets. The warm cream walls were already that color. $70/mo. Philippine Apartment kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZy5dmunet2dn5I