IMHO anyone can live very well here on that amount provided you have your house and property paid for, truck and motor paid and your long term visa sorted. But to get to that level takes a few years of being here and really taking time to determine what your retirement goals are. Initial costs the first few years are much higher as you need to purchase your transportation, SRRV and you are paying rent. All of us live differently, I have friends who live in Dumaguete and pay 75,000 peso monthly for rent. I also have friends who live on about 40,000 peso monthly total. The main thing is to find peace of mind, happiness and enjoy this last season of life. Good luck guys and enjoy the journey.
Congratulations for this video of common sense. How much money anyone needs for a good life/retirement depends on each ones individual taste and budget and what you showed in this video would fully cover my personal needs.
Great video Simon and a great insight of Dumaguete that is never seen. Very jealous of the amount of choices you have there Never the less I am extremely happy living in our small province with limited choices. Wonderful to see Ellen and daughter Sure this great video will boast your subs to 4000 by Xmas. Take care as always Jim and Nora xxx
I live in the Philippines province on $1000 month no rent , allow for medical $300 month, I don't see you living a better life on 3k month , maybe spend it on more booze which will shorten your life, a lot of the restaurants in the Philippines don't have a lot of hygiene like the west, so be careful, quality of life is important unless you want to be pissed out of your head every day
Ellen and Simon, Excellent video, great idea n presentation. Far more modern than i had envisaged. As Jim mentioned, i truely hope this helps toward pushing you to the 4k mark ASAP... Also nice to have seen Ellens daughter. Enjoy your festivities.. Cheers Glenn
Yes for sure you can live on $1,000 a month, especially if you like Jolly Bee’s. And not having much of a life. After years living here, I believe, $2,500 to 3,000. But it’s up to you how you want to live.
Not having much of a life? It always amazes me the arrogance of comments like yours. I've been an expat for 13 years now. I don't live on a budget, my costs are what they are in whatever country I live in but one thing I've noticed is some of the happiest people I've met over the years, leading the fullest lives are on a limited budgets. Why are you so certain your life is better than theirs?
Hi Simon great video. I'm a retired British who lived in Thailand for about 13 years but back in old blighty at the moment. I'm looking at possibly living in Cambodia but have recently been looking at the Philippines due to the pension agreement with the UK. Just wondering if you're rent is in the cost of that $1,000? Would be much appreciated if you could me know 😊 Merry Christmas
Hello mate, yes rent and everything is included. If you're interested in my living costs mate, my rent etc I do fairly regular cost of living videos that cover all of that. You can find them on my home page. Best of luck with wherever you decide to move. Merry Christmas 🎄
Great content mate, all the food looked superb. Probably the 🍕 the star. You have the right attitude., get out and enjoy yourself. Not quite an old man yet.
Great video china. One of your best in my opinion. You certainly proved to the uninitiated that the 2 to 3k US is a fallacy. Here in Cebu it's more like 1500 US a month, but the choices here are endless. That pizza in Racer looked sensational mate. Catch you guys tomorrow for some fun and frivolity.
We can't always mate, our next living cost video is probably gonna be closer to the $2000 mark cause were doing a bit of travelling, Christmas presents etc. I'm only highlighting the $1000 point because I've done a couple of cost of living videos (sorry I know you hate them mate 😂) when it has come to $1000 and I've had comments " that's not living, it's just surviving etc" so I wanted to show some of the things you could do over here if you were living a $1000 a month budget. Anyway, Merry Christmas Ted, all the best for the New Year 👍
I think its possible to live on a reasonable budget but not for a new Expat. Once you''re setup and know all the places, deals, housing setup and best options plus have a basic lifestyle then its doable. But as a new Expat that doesn't even know where they will live or what area of the Philippines they want to move the expenses will easily be $2,000 or $3,000.
😎👍🇺🇲 All of that looked pretty good. Here in the PNW Seattle (40 miles north of). It's like $20-30 for a sit-down meal. Easily $12-16 for fast food. I cook at home 99% of the time. Maybe fast food once every 3 or 4 months. I would prefer to cook at home but if affordable reasonably healthy food was available. I would probably eat out often. Currently I save every dime I can and put it towards my retirement. I live on a pretty small budget now. Housing is the big ticket item. Was a pretty good video. Haven't seen any of this in other videos. Actually seen very little of Dumaguete except for the waterfront walking and traffic near the Mall. Cheers from Fluffy in the PNW Seattle WA area ✌️.
New Sub Loved your video I lived in AC for 3 months on less a month and did just fine there al the haters saying you can't live on 1k a month are full of it haha... I even had money left over each month but had to get out cause the heat in that country messed me up haha..
Hello Simon and Ellen 🎉 Im coming to Dumaguete on March 2025...for a week and also heading to Siquijor,...and booked at Stellaz....that's how I discovered ur channel...hope to meet you and Ellen...greetings from FL
Looks fattening, I was forty pounds overweight last year, went Carnivore, lost most of the fat now, can be boring however and beef is getting poricey here in Canada. What would be the price of a pound of beef where you are?
Oh yeaaah, it's fattening 😮 I think the beef is about 400 pesos a kilo but that's ground beef in the shops not sure about steak prices. I only ever eat steaks in restaurants and that really varies from restaurant to restaurant.
Single bloke - $800 a month. I lived like that for years in a nice condo, eating 7-11 chicken and stuff like that. Occasional pizza. Plenty of beer tokens. Never really ate local food except right at the beginning when I was totally broke. Now im a family guy, $2000 is comfy.
No, not just the food. Everything is included, house rent etc for 1000 but not always sometimes it's more, closer to 1500 occasionally its less. The point I was making with the video, is when I've done cost of living videos when the month has been 1000 I've had comments " oh you can't live on that" that's not living it's surviving" etc I was just trying to show how cheap eating out etc can be if you go to the right places 👍
Happy Christmas 😂😂 i can not understand why so many expats complain about the food here in the PH why do they think america food is so much better ?? ( state of mind )😅😅😅
I don't think it's better or worse. Just different. If you live close to amenities like restaurants, grocery stores and Malls. Most everything is available. If you have to shop at the local markets. That requires some cooking skills and creativity. Most Americans can cook partially or fully preprepared foods (myself included). So it's quite different needing to prepare everything for yourself. Especially without refrigeration. I'm just guessing why they complain. For myself. Not having a stocked fridge would be very unusual.
Well, neither do I. I did make a point of saying "wealthy' locals in the video. The point of which was to show that if you're on a limited budget you can save money by going to higher end Filipino restaurants as opposed to more expensive western restaurants. Anyway, Merry Christmas 🎄
I'm not trying to be too negative, but most of the food there looks deep fried, prob. a lot of sugar and salt added as well. Ok for the occasional splurge, but not the healthiest cuisine. Did see a lot of overweight folks in the background. But good vid anyways.
Thanks mate, you're right about the food though, it's a very tough country in terms of healthy eating. Almost everything is deep fried that's why we don't eat out all the time. If you want veggies and salad you gotta do it at home.
What are your professional qualifications? Did you complete a university degree? How high up did you rise in the corporate ladder? Or are you just a basic blue collar guy like most guys in the Philippines?
I AM watching now. And I AM enjoying as always. Plus I know commenting helps with Your algorithm. 👍 Keep up with Your borderline phenomenal work. 😉 🥐☕/🍻/🍷🧀🥑
Great video! Great life! Always like finding new places! I look forward to checking them out when i get back! Thanks for the suggestions.
IMHO anyone can live very well here on that amount provided you have your house and property paid for, truck and motor paid and your long term visa sorted. But to get to that level takes a few years of being here and really taking time to determine what your retirement goals are. Initial costs the first few years are much higher as you need to purchase your transportation, SRRV and you are paying rent. All of us live differently, I have friends who live in Dumaguete and pay 75,000 peso monthly for rent. I also have friends who live on about 40,000 peso monthly total. The main thing is to find peace of mind, happiness and enjoy this last season of life. Good luck guys and enjoy the journey.
Congratulations for this video of common sense. How much money anyone needs for a good life/retirement depends on each ones individual taste and budget and what you showed in this video would fully cover my personal needs.
Thanks mate, Merry Christmas 👍
Great video Simon and a great insight of Dumaguete that is never seen. Very jealous of the amount of choices you have there
Never the less I am extremely happy living in our small province with limited choices. Wonderful to see Ellen and daughter
Sure this great video will boast your subs to 4000 by Xmas.
Take care as always Jim and Nora xxx
Thanks Jim, I have a great Christmas mate, if we don't chat before the New Year have a good one. Love to you and Nora xx
I live in the Philippines province on $1000 month no rent , allow for medical $300 month, I don't see you living a better life on 3k month , maybe spend it on more booze which will shorten your life, a lot of the restaurants in the Philippines don't have a lot of hygiene like the west, so be careful, quality of life is important unless you want to be pissed out of your head every day
Ellen and Simon,
Excellent video, great idea n presentation. Far more modern than i had envisaged.
As Jim mentioned, i truely hope this helps toward pushing you to the 4k mark ASAP...
Also nice to have seen Ellens daughter.
Enjoy your festivities..
Cheers
Glenn
Thanks Glenn, always appreciated mate. 👍
Yes for sure you can live on $1,000 a month, especially if you like Jolly Bee’s. And not having much of a life. After years living here, I believe, $2,500 to 3,000. But it’s up to you how you want to live.
Not having much of a life? It always amazes me the arrogance of comments like yours. I've been an expat for 13 years now. I don't live on a budget, my costs are what they are in whatever country I live in but one thing I've noticed is some of the happiest people I've met over the years, leading the fullest lives are on a limited budgets. Why are you so certain your life is better than theirs?
I like Jollibee. It's a small part of a great life in the Philippines.
$1000 is more than enough to live a comfortable life in most areas in the Philippines.
Living the good life as a local - Cannot beat it - top video!
Thanks mate, Merry Christmas 🎄👍
Hi Simon great video.
I'm a retired British who lived in Thailand for about 13 years but back in old blighty at the moment.
I'm looking at possibly living in Cambodia but have recently been looking at the Philippines due to the pension agreement with the UK.
Just wondering if you're rent is in the cost of that $1,000?
Would be much appreciated if you could me know 😊
Merry Christmas
Hello mate, yes rent and everything is included. If you're interested in my living costs mate, my rent etc I do fairly regular cost of living videos that cover all of that. You can find them on my home page. Best of luck with wherever you decide to move. Merry Christmas 🎄
Living the dream Simon. Cheers from Australia! 👍
Thanks mate, Merry Christmas 👍
merry Christmas Simon and other half.it's lovely to see you both so happy together 😊
Thank you. Have a great Christmas too 🎄👍
Great content mate, all the food looked superb. Probably the 🍕 the star.
You have the right attitude., get out and enjoy yourself. Not quite an old man yet.
Thanks mate, Merry Christmas 🎄
Great video china. One of your best in my opinion. You certainly proved to the uninitiated that the 2 to 3k US is a fallacy. Here in Cebu it's more like 1500 US a month, but the choices here are endless. That pizza in Racer looked sensational mate. Catch you guys tomorrow for some fun and frivolity.
Thanks Digger, really looking forward to tomorrow night 🍺🍺😁
I'm pleased you can live a happy life on $1000 a month. I couldn't enjoy life on 1G but kudos to those that can.
We can't always mate, our next living cost video is probably gonna be closer to the $2000 mark cause were doing a bit of travelling, Christmas presents etc. I'm only highlighting the $1000 point because I've done a couple of cost of living videos (sorry I know you hate them mate 😂) when it has come to $1000 and I've had comments " that's not living, it's just surviving etc" so I wanted to show some of the things you could do over here if you were living a $1000 a month budget. Anyway, Merry Christmas Ted, all the best for the New Year 👍
Did you say 219 php for that dish your gf ordered (7:34)? That's less than four quid. Amazing.
Bang on 3 quid mate, with today's exchange rate 👍
@@SpeakingofAsia and with that seaview as well, from a modern and clean looking restaurant. Great stuff
Wonder how much less it would cost if eating healthy at home. Smoothies, vegetables, fruit, variety of beans, some fish, some chicken mainly.
What makes this video is you and Ellen having a good time together. Well worth $1000 a month.
Thanks mate, have a great Christmas 🎄👍
I think its possible to live on a reasonable budget but not for a new Expat. Once you''re setup and know all the places, deals, housing setup and best options plus have a basic lifestyle then its doable. But as a new Expat that doesn't even know where they will live or what area of the Philippines they want to move the expenses will easily be $2,000 or $3,000.
I love the shush at n. Point! And enjoy the local street food,even if i can afford to eat whatever i want!thanks for the video!
Pleasure mate, Merry Christmas 👍
Happy B Day Lad!!
Thanks mate, Merry Christmas 🎄
😎👍🇺🇲
All of that looked pretty good.
Here in the PNW Seattle (40 miles north of).
It's like $20-30 for a sit-down meal. Easily $12-16 for fast food.
I cook at home 99% of the time. Maybe fast food once every 3 or 4 months.
I would prefer to cook at home but if affordable reasonably healthy food was available. I would probably eat out often.
Currently I save every dime I can and put it towards my retirement. I live on a pretty small budget now. Housing is the big ticket item.
Was a pretty good video. Haven't seen any of this in other videos. Actually seen very little of Dumaguete except for the waterfront walking and traffic near the Mall.
Cheers from Fluffy in the PNW Seattle WA area ✌️.
Thanks for watching Fluffy. Best of luck with your retirement 👍 Merry Christmas mate 🎄
New Sub Loved your video I lived in AC for 3 months on less a month and did just fine there al the haters saying you can't live on 1k a month are full of it haha... I even had money left over each month but had to get out cause the heat in that country messed me up haha..
Welcome to the channel mate 👍
Hello Simon and Ellen 🎉
Im coming to Dumaguete on March 2025...for a week and also heading to Siquijor,...and booked at Stellaz....that's how I discovered ur channel...hope to meet you and Ellen...greetings from FL
Save journey mate, be great to meet you. Merry Christmas 🎄
What's the round-trip flight cost looking like? I'm considering the same.
@Countywatch it's $1,278....and purchased the ticket early December.
@marichelmaltese8736 OK. Thanks. I need to expedite my passport renewal. Then, get out of Florida for a trip. Much needed.
USD conversions are a bit off mate. About £1 to $1.25 right now
I wasn't that far off mate 😂😂
I like Northpoint for variety of food and live music
Me too 👍
Looks fattening, I was forty pounds overweight last year, went Carnivore, lost most of the fat now, can be boring however and beef is getting poricey here in Canada. What would be the price of a pound of beef where you are?
Oh yeaaah, it's fattening 😮 I think the beef is about 400 pesos a kilo but that's ground beef in the shops not sure about steak prices. I only ever eat steaks in restaurants and that really varies from restaurant to restaurant.
@@SpeakingofAsia Its four bucks a pound for regular ground beef here in Canada,
Beef is ludicrously expensive compared to pork
@@WendDesaulniersprobably close to what it is here mate. Strange as it may sound, it seems to be cheaper here to eat out than it is to cook at home 🤔
Great video .
Thanks mate, merry Christmas 🎄
Haven't tried that sizzlers here😊 ill have to see if there's one in luzon 😊
I'm not sure if they're a chain but they look like they probably are. Hope you find one, Merry Christmas 🎄👍
@SpeakingofAsia merry Christmas 🎅
A lot of people live on a budget. It's called being fiscally responsible.
Single bloke - $800 a month. I lived like that for years in a nice condo, eating 7-11 chicken and stuff like that. Occasional pizza. Plenty of beer tokens.
Never really ate local food except right at the beginning when I was totally broke.
Now im a family guy, $2000 is comfy.
Merry Christmas mate 🎄I'm glad life is working out for you, hope your dad is good too. Be lucky 👍
I enjoyed the video. The food looks great. Very hungry now!
Thanks for watching mate. Merry Christmas 🎄
Great video!! "Your head for scale..." 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks mate, merry Christmas 🎄
So you’re living on 1k a month or your food bill is 1k a month?
No, not just the food. Everything is included, house rent etc for 1000 but not always sometimes it's more, closer to 1500 occasionally its less. The point I was making with the video, is when I've done cost of living videos when the month has been 1000 I've had comments " oh you can't live on that" that's not living it's surviving" etc I was just trying to show how cheap eating out etc can be if you go to the right places 👍
How many locals actually earn a 000 US dollars?
000 dollars? Very few I hope, that wouldn't be very fair 🤔
@@SpeakingofAsia I was being lazy - 1,000 dollars
Kari Kari was my wife’s favorite meal until I introduced her to steak 😂❤
😂😂
I see absolutely nothing wrong with any of those establishments. Food looked good to me.
There isn't mate, good food. Not too healthy but damn it tastes good 👍
happy birthday mate
Thanks mate, merry Christmas 🎄👍
Bread with tomato sauce was invented by Italians. Real Pizza as we know it now was invented by Americans.
Happy Christmas 😂😂 i can not understand why so many expats complain about the food here in the PH why do they think america food is so much better ?? ( state of mind )😅😅😅
I don't think it's better or worse.
Just different.
If you live close to amenities like restaurants, grocery stores and Malls.
Most everything is available.
If you have to shop at the local markets. That requires some cooking skills and creativity. Most Americans can cook partially or fully preprepared foods (myself included).
So it's quite different needing to prepare everything for yourself. Especially without refrigeration.
I'm just guessing why they complain.
For myself. Not having a stocked fridge would be very unusual.
I’ll make some American bbq we can compare it to fish and rice if you’d like lol
Don't know that many locals that get 1000 amonth
Well, neither do I. I did make a point of saying "wealthy' locals in the video. The point of which was to show that if you're on a limited budget you can save money by going to higher end Filipino restaurants as opposed to more expensive western restaurants. Anyway, Merry Christmas 🎄
I'm not trying to be too negative, but most of the food there looks deep fried, prob. a lot of sugar and salt added as well. Ok for the occasional splurge, but not the healthiest cuisine. Did see a lot of overweight folks in the background. But good vid anyways.
Thanks mate, you're right about the food though, it's a very tough country in terms of healthy eating. Almost everything is deep fried that's why we don't eat out all the time. If you want veggies and salad you gotta do it at home.
What are your professional qualifications? Did you complete a university degree? How high up did you rise in the corporate ladder? Or are you just a basic blue collar guy like most guys in the Philippines?
🤔
@@SpeakingofAsia- Nothing worth bragging about, huh?
@@Qima1 Or maybe bragging isn't my style?
It's not OK to blaspheme the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
😂😂😂
It's shorthand for the serenity prayer.....
Yes it is. Do it an you'll see none of your fears will be realised
I AM watching now. And I AM enjoying as always. Plus I know commenting helps with Your algorithm. 👍 Keep up with Your borderline phenomenal work. 😉
🥐☕/🍻/🍷🧀🥑
Thanks mate, much appreciated. Have a great Christmas 🎄