I subscribed today because you kept your video short and to the point. Thank you for that. My time is valuable to me. Thank you again for this information too.
If you had enough money to buy your own accomodation you'd save so much. That's what IV done in Bohol and IV bought 5 acres and built a great three bedroom home for 3 million pesos. I make about 40,000 pesos per month off livestock. Easily affordable to live here if you do this if you do the maths the place will owe me nothing in 6 years try doing that in a western country.
Thank you for sharing this Important information😀, Please continue making more videos; I can see the dedication and effort you put into your content. You deserve more viewers and subscribers. Keep up the hard work, and consider enhancing the quality even further! bro 🥰
I can't wait to get over there in a couple of years. I've worked out that I'll be able to budget 156,000 pesos per month, while keeping nearly $400-k U.S. in savings for emergencies.
Concise video. “Everyone’s experience will be different”, appreciate that disclaimer. Great insight as I believe that the video is very reasonable. I’ll be heading there to train Jiu Jitsu in the coming months and I’ve chosen Sheraton Manila Bay. Thanks for sharing.
Great info Craig. The cost of living has definitely increased over the last 25 years since I first went but I guess that's happened everywhere. It's still definitely cheaper than here in the UK, obviously depending on how you spend it. An honest review of cost...Aircon is definitely my best friend while we're there too 😂
Thanks for the video and sharing, my monthly budget is $1500 and I live in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City plus don't rely living pension to pension, you need extra savings and emergency funds. I'm very happy enough not paying any mortgage or rent. I know 5 farangs living there and all military veterans.
Groceries at Rustans and even SM can be expensive. Try puregold or walter. If you can find local brands do that. Imported goods will be more expensive. Fresh good and meat you buy at the wet market or palengke
The pverchatrging of electricity happened around the time of the pandemic. The government look into it and ordered the power companies to adjust the prices accordinglyy
Location is everything. It determines how much you will spend or not. My location is much lower than all of the You-Tuber's stuck on Manila, Cebu & Megauette. I rarely see any foreigners in my area, but I know there's a few. I've lived here with my wife over 15 years and our prices haven't fluctuated that much. We save more than we spend, since we paid cash for our 5br home that we built. Planning is everything too! A good plan can help you maintain a stable life in the Philippines.💞
I lived in makati in 2007/08. My rent then was 30k pm but I stayed in the best building next door to Greenbelt 1. The exchange rate then was close to 100pesos to the pound 👍👍
Dear Craig, wish you all the best in Makati, Philippines. I like more Makati than BGC. Only my opinion. A Filipina living in Germany. Good Luck and God bless. Will visit Manila next year and stay in Makati for some restaurants visits there.
Good morning Craig nice video mate, I myself have been living here for around 15 years, hence we chose to live in the cavite area, if you want a similar life life style to back it’s nearly the same I found housing and food are relatively cheaper than back home 😊
That is much cheaper than I expected in Makati. My monthly income when I retire in a few years will be $3200 -$3600 a month and some savings. Not great by US standards but looks reasonable by Philippines standards I guess. I am considering it.
I am thinking of living in the Philippines in the future and this video was really helpful to plan how much money I need per month. I would probably be fine with $900/month and that is definitely in my budget. Thank you for the insights.
Me too bro, i will retire from the British army at 42 years of age and move to the Philippines although i wont get the SRRV until I'm 50 years old but can hopefully extend on the 36 months tourist visa until I'm 50 then, I will look back on this message and be sure to reach out Glenn higgins, FYI I'm a Glaswegian assuming your last name is Scottish but yeah take it easy bro.
Totally agree, very subjective but good to see some real costs. Been coming to PH nearly 30 years and have a home in Isabela. No way could I live as a local. I spent my whole life working and intend enjoying my retirement. Although PH used to be a cheap place to live it is not that cheap anymore, if you live as a foreigner. Food, petrol utilities have all ballooned. We are a big family and like you live with a/C on nearly 24/7. I've never kept a record of spend, but would guess it's 3 times yours. Thankfully in HK I can live like a local and the difference between the two countries is minimal. So when the province addles my brain I go back to HK for a reality check, 😂
How big is your family? I intend to live on $2,000 USD a month for one person with no interest in bars, clubs, alcohol and girls but I do enjoy traveling and eating out though. I hope that is a good budget.
Hi@@louis20122 As a single guy and if as you say you're not into clubs, then USD2K is a more than enough. We are a family of 7 kids and 9 grandchildren and counting. Not all live at home, but they visit often. Like you, I enjoy traveling and wouldn't want to cut back.
more expensive in UAE if you stay there for 1 month times 3 for that budget housing in UAE is expensive and utility bill is higher plus groceries there and food are also higher than Makati.. in Compare to UAE...... makati is still cheaper but still decent living
Since you are living in Makati of course the price is higher. But if ur comparing to US this costs nothing since US is expensive. You are in expensive area.
For all the people who will chime in that you can live for far far less, I've been to many places in SE Asia for extended stays. The truth is that you can live for far less but it will likely be too uncomfortable for most people who come from countries like the US/Europe/Can/Aus/Japan, etc. If you can't go out, eat out, go for trips away from your home base, attend parties, get togethers, i.e. HAVE SOME FUN then what is the point? This budget doesn't even cover visits to the dentist, new eyeglasses every couple of years, plane tix home once in a while, clothes, crazy sh*t that happens in the Philippines and for all you single guys out there, DATING COSTS. If you think you're splitting the bill with most Filipinas? Add at least 50% to your food and/or entertainment budget or go home now. If you date one that can pay for dinners all the time, she likely is HiSo or makes way more than you and you can't roll with them.
Makati is fun, and your expenses are expected. I live in Dasmarinas and your cost are triple what I pay a month, Water $5, Food $130, Internet $60, Alcohol is $200 my most expensive thing. Housing is $0, our house is paid for, HOA $10, Rent for similar home in my subdivision is $300. so there but if your in Makati single your cost are expected.. So I am around 450 a month out the door
Maybe you can find more cheaper rent and also if you can eat local food then it's more cheaper, there's some good "Karenderia"(local eatery)....Try to save some money for your future savings because money is easy to spend and specially the hospital is very expensive...Just try to save as long as you can because we don't know what's gonna happen the next day...
@@nekotantei I don't think he does, couple of his video eating in a fancy restaurants so it means he doesn't eat local food 5x a week...lol... If you watched some of his video he mostly eat in some a bit fancy resto....There's no burgers in karenderia ...
@@MsVroege Well, it's what he claimed in this video and although I haven't watched the other videos, it might just be a case of not recording what he was consuming at the karinderyas.
Just to clear this up, I do eat in a karinderya around 5 times a week. If I'm making the effort to film a TH-cam video though I'll splash out a bit to make it worthwhile, but I haven't done a video in a restaurant for a few months though 👍
Hey Craig. Wes from Edinburgh here. ve lived all over the Philippines (5 years) . I live in Makati in the Legazpi Village Columns building. Drop me a message maybe we can hang out.
Hello! Mai I inquire where in makati you reside? Are you in the greenbelt area, or by poblacion or are you in the periphery of the villages? Many thanks and more power to you.
Thanks for saying pehsos and not paysos. Almost all western video’ers will say paysos. Somehow that highly irritates me. I thought the cost would be closer to 2000 dollars. So this is pleasant information.
Are you not using your AC for long? since we use ours for around 10 hrs. everyday that our bill is around 8-8.5k...or maybe the electricity provider in Makati is not the same in my city although it's kind of doubtful since we're also part of NCR.
Can you please share how you found your 25,000/mo apartment, and what it all includes or looks like? I actually just stayed there where you walked by at Hotel 1898 in Poblacion. I paid about $42/night for the hotel. I know rents are cheaper, but how did you find an apartment that's not a full 1 year commitment, as I'm assuming you're on a renewal 2-month visitor visa.
I just found an agent and made it clear I was only taking a place for 7 months (all landlords were ok with that). 2 months would be more difficult I'm sure. It's a decent building, more like a hotel. Just talk to agents, best found through Facebook groups or referrals. Good luck 👍
It's up to you and what you're comfortable with. In my opinion you could easily live comfortably on 4k USD a month almost anywhere in the Philippines. But, up to you and your lifestyle. Best of luck with the move 👍
That seems very difficult to do, i have not been to the Philippines but still seems unreasonable to live on $300 per month, don't you think ? actually you said it correctly you said surviving but that's different from living, you would have a miserable life if only had $300 per month.
WOW -- for these "inflationary times" - you appear quite comfortable in Makati - which as you know - isn't cheap at all by their standards ! -- And - you are doing the life you prefer w/o deprivation ?!? -- Which makes the $1200 (USD) all the more impressive ! - - - This might even provide a bit of truth to the claims of $600/mo. living - deep in the provinces with a dirt floor inside a $40/mo. shack - fishing everyday - eating a lot of rice bananas coconuts and self grown vegetables ? 🤗 ❤ 💥 🙏 👍 🌹 🍺
For a foreigner living in the Philippines, your expenses are cheap. Compared to living where I am, a $3000 living expenses per month is a very tight budget, without room for anything else.
I really start to believe expats living in Philippines are LBH. What I see on TH-cam is basic I mean basic plain standard of living. Not even close how middle class living in USA. I don't understand why people leave western countries and go to third world country to have lower standards of living . If I ever decide to relocate to third world country. I want to be sure I am at least living same level of western standards of living or higher. I know they are just few expats who really have money. I personally know just one expats with money living in Philippines.
The reason we come here is because it's total freedom and you can have a relationship without the fear of everything you own being stolen from you and no fear of government control over every aspect in your life
The fact that he is living in Expensive area. Lets convert it into US dollar, $1,250 per month
I love your video. Honest with no sugar coating. Still cheap considering it is Makati.
Nice to hear what seems to be a very honest estimated budget.
I subscribed today because you kept your video short and to the point. Thank you for that. My time is valuable to me. Thank you again for this information too.
25,000 pesos in a condo is way cheaper than BGC which mostly ranges from 50K up to 200K pesos per month. Nice seeing that unit in Makati.
If you had enough money to buy your own accomodation you'd save so much. That's what IV done in Bohol and IV bought 5 acres and built a great three bedroom home for 3 million pesos. I make about 40,000 pesos per month off livestock. Easily affordable to live here if you do this if you do the maths the place will owe me nothing in 6 years try doing that in a western country.
$1200 a month in Makati is a great deal actually. Aspiring expat here from the big apple 🍎…
@@Direx232 best of luck with the move 👍🇵🇭
This is great to know as we’re moving to Quezon City in March. Your lifestyle will is similar to what we’re aiming for.
Beat of luck with the move 😊
Thanks, very informative and direct to the point.
thank you for sharing this!
Great info. Very succinct. Now I have an idea how much it is to live in expensive areas like Makati.
Nicely done
Thank you for sharing this Important information😀, Please continue making more videos; I can see the dedication and effort you put into your content. You deserve more viewers and subscribers. Keep up the hard work, and consider enhancing the quality even further! bro 🥰
I can't wait to get over there in a couple of years. I've worked out that I'll be able to budget 156,000 pesos per month, while keeping nearly $400-k U.S. in savings for emergencies.
Best of luck with the move 👍
Concise video. “Everyone’s experience will be different”, appreciate that disclaimer. Great insight as I believe that the video is very reasonable. I’ll be heading there to train Jiu Jitsu in the coming months and I’ve chosen Sheraton Manila Bay. Thanks for sharing.
$1,250 works for me. Great video.
That's pretty cheap. I can barely stay for too long in Makati or BGC, but there is no way I could do it in a studio. Power to you, enjoy!
Great info Craig. The cost of living has definitely increased over the last 25 years since I first went but I guess that's happened everywhere. It's still definitely cheaper than here in the UK, obviously depending on how you spend it. An honest review of cost...Aircon is definitely my best friend while we're there too 😂
new subs here. mabuhay. and welcome to our beautiful country.
Thanks for the video and sharing, my monthly budget is $1500 and I live in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City plus don't rely living pension to pension, you need extra savings and emergency funds. I'm very happy enough not paying any mortgage or rent. I know 5 farangs living there and all military veterans.
Great video ❤
Groceries at Rustans and even SM can be expensive. Try puregold or walter. If you can find local brands do that. Imported goods will be more expensive. Fresh good and meat you buy at the wet market or palengke
The pverchatrging of electricity happened around the time of the pandemic. The government look into it and ordered the power companies to adjust the prices accordinglyy
The senators have a hand on getting bribes from utility companies
Location is everything. It determines how much you will spend or not. My location is much lower than all of the You-Tuber's stuck on Manila, Cebu & Megauette. I rarely see any foreigners in my area, but I know there's a few. I've lived here with my wife over 15 years and our prices haven't fluctuated that much. We save more than we spend, since we paid cash for our 5br home that we built. Planning is everything too! A good plan can help you maintain a stable life in the Philippines.💞
Exactly as we did. A very smart move on your part. No vloggers here either thank Goodness. Friendly people to boot.
I lived in makati in 2007/08. My rent then was 30k pm but I stayed in the best building next door to Greenbelt 1. The exchange rate then was close to 100pesos to the pound 👍👍
Short and to the point. Great video kind Sir👍✌️.
Dear Craig, wish you all the best in Makati, Philippines. I like more Makati than BGC. Only my opinion. A Filipina living in Germany. Good Luck and God bless. Will visit Manila next year and stay in Makati for some restaurants visits there.
Good morning Craig nice video mate, I myself have been living here for around 15 years, hence we chose to live in the cavite area, if you want a similar life life style to back it’s nearly the same I found housing and food are relatively cheaper than back home 😊
Keep it up man.
That is much cheaper than I expected in Makati. My monthly income when I retire in a few years will be $3200 -$3600 a month and some savings. Not great by US standards but looks reasonable by Philippines standards I guess. I am considering it.
That would be a decent amount in pretty much all of the Philippines. Best wishes for your retirement 👍
$1,200 is actually pretty cheap for Makati. I wast expecting a $1,500 minimum.
I am thinking of living in the Philippines in the future and this video was really helpful to plan how much money I need per month. I would probably be fine with $900/month and that is definitely in my budget. Thank you for the insights.
Thanks for sharing. Super helpful! What international health insurance do you have and what does that coverage look like?
Welcome! It's with a company called SafetyWing. Can't remember the exact details but think it covers up to $250kUSD in emergency medical expenses
Thank you so much for the video now I can be in peace living in Cebu province with $1,700 pension for both me and my husband
Its xpensive city to live thanks for sharing
Very good
Not bad at all, very reasonable
I think it is reasonable. 😊
Appreciate your video, I'll retire Philippines in 2030
Me too bro, i will retire from the British army at 42 years of age and move to the Philippines although i wont get the SRRV until I'm 50 years old but can hopefully extend on the 36 months tourist visa until I'm 50 then, I will look back on this message and be sure to reach out Glenn higgins, FYI I'm a Glaswegian assuming your last name is Scottish but yeah take it easy bro.
Totally agree, very subjective but good to see some real costs. Been coming to PH nearly 30 years and have a home in Isabela. No way could I live as a local. I spent my whole life working and intend enjoying my retirement. Although PH used to be a cheap place to live it is not that cheap anymore, if you live as a foreigner. Food, petrol utilities have all ballooned. We are a big family and like you live with a/C on nearly 24/7. I've never kept a record of spend, but would guess it's 3 times yours. Thankfully in HK I can live like a local and the difference between the two countries is minimal. So when the province addles my brain I go back to HK for a reality check, 😂
How big is your family? I intend to live on $2,000 USD a month for one person with no interest in bars, clubs, alcohol and girls but I do enjoy traveling and eating out though. I hope that is a good budget.
Hi@@louis20122 As a single guy and if as you say you're not into clubs, then USD2K is a more than enough. We are a family of 7 kids and 9 grandchildren and counting. Not all live at home, but they visit often. Like you, I enjoy traveling and wouldn't want to cut back.
more expensive in UAE if you stay there for 1 month times 3 for that budget housing in UAE is expensive and utility bill is higher plus groceries there and food are also higher than Makati.. in Compare to UAE...... makati is still cheaper but still decent living
Since you are living in Makati of course the price is higher. But if ur comparing to US this costs nothing since US is expensive. You are in
expensive area.
25k per month? Yep that's the usual City Center prices.
Leave the City Center areas and you'll get condo rents ranging around 12k to 6k.
For all the people who will chime in that you can live for far far less, I've been to many places in SE Asia for extended stays. The truth is that you can live for far less but it will likely be too uncomfortable for most people who come from countries like the US/Europe/Can/Aus/Japan, etc. If you can't go out, eat out, go for trips away from your home base, attend parties, get togethers, i.e. HAVE SOME FUN then what is the point?
This budget doesn't even cover visits to the dentist, new eyeglasses every couple of years, plane tix home once in a while, clothes, crazy sh*t that happens in the Philippines and for all you single guys out there, DATING COSTS. If you think you're splitting the bill with most Filipinas? Add at least 50% to your food and/or entertainment budget or go home now. If you date one that can pay for dinners all the time, she likely is HiSo or makes way more than you and you can't roll with them.
Makati is fun, and your expenses are expected. I live in Dasmarinas and your cost are triple what I pay a month, Water $5, Food $130, Internet $60, Alcohol is $200 my most expensive thing. Housing is $0, our house is paid for, HOA $10, Rent for similar home in my subdivision is $300. so there but if your in Makati single your cost are expected.. So I am around 450 a month out the door
I think it just depends on the life you want.
A simple life for me is great
i think 1500-1800 usd one can live well in filippines
I pay $120 a month in Olongapo. $50 AC. I have a air fryer free wifi .. lunch $ 5 all u can eat. Food $250 a month. Beer $125 a month. No beach there
So what is your total NUT ?
How much for international schools
Maybe you can find more cheaper rent and also if you can eat local food then it's more cheaper, there's some good "Karenderia"(local eatery)....Try to save some money for your future savings because money is easy to spend and specially the hospital is very expensive...Just try to save as long as you can because we don't know what's gonna happen the next day...
It was already mentioned in the vid that he eats at karinderyas 5x a week
@@nekotantei I don't think he does, couple of his video eating in a fancy restaurants so it means he doesn't eat local food 5x a week...lol... If you watched some of his video he mostly eat in some a bit fancy resto....There's no burgers in karenderia ...
@@MsVroege Well, it's what he claimed in this video and although I haven't watched the other videos, it might just be a case of not recording what he was consuming at the karinderyas.
Just to clear this up, I do eat in a karinderya around 5 times a week. If I'm making the effort to film a TH-cam video though I'll splash out a bit to make it worthwhile, but I haven't done a video in a restaurant for a few months though 👍
Thank-you Craig, do you pay anything for a visa?
@@kennethschweighardt4920 Yes there's a charge for extending tourist visas. I think it's around 8000php for 6 months...
U still save if u grocery like S.m. cuz ur food for 1 week is cheaper than eating outside
Hi. What bring to to the Ph?
Hey Craig. Wes from Edinburgh here. ve lived all over the Philippines (5 years) . I live in Makati in the Legazpi Village Columns building. Drop me a message maybe we can hang out.
Sounds good! If you're on Instagram drop me a message there - don't think you can direct message on YT
Actually if you're spending less than $1500.00 U.S. dollars a month that's great!😊
Hello! Mai I inquire where in makati you reside? Are you in the greenbelt area, or by poblacion or are you in the periphery of the villages? Many thanks and more power to you.
Poblacion 👍
JEEEEEEEZ yet another one!!
Thanks for saying pehsos and not paysos. Almost all western video’ers will say paysos. Somehow that highly irritates me.
I thought the cost would be closer to 2000 dollars. So this is pleasant information.
Are you not using your AC for long? since we use ours for around 10 hrs. everyday that our bill is around 8-8.5k...or maybe the electricity provider in Makati is not the same in my city although it's kind of doubtful since we're also part of NCR.
I use my AC a lot but maybe there's other factors such as AC type, size of condo, I don't cook, etc.
It depends on the type aircon. Non-inverter type will cost you a lot. Inverter types can save you money.
Can you please share how you found your 25,000/mo apartment, and what it all includes or looks like? I actually just stayed there where you walked by at Hotel 1898 in Poblacion. I paid about $42/night for the hotel. I know rents are cheaper, but how did you find an apartment that's not a full 1 year commitment, as I'm assuming you're on a renewal 2-month visitor visa.
I just found an agent and made it clear I was only taking a place for 7 months (all landlords were ok with that). 2 months would be more difficult I'm sure. It's a decent building, more like a hotel. Just talk to agents, best found through Facebook groups or referrals. Good luck 👍
Love Makati
Oriental Gardens owners and tenants
Shoot here I am scared to take the plunge because I only have a 4k usd pension every month for now. I am waiting on it to be 6k usd first.
It's up to you and what you're comfortable with. In my opinion you could easily live comfortably on 4k USD a month almost anywhere in the Philippines. But, up to you and your lifestyle. Best of luck with the move 👍
Nice summary. I would want a house, couple hot maids. lol
some people survive in a $300/month budget there 😅
That seems very difficult to do, i have not been to the Philippines but still seems unreasonable to live on $300 per month, don't you think ? actually you said it correctly you said surviving but that's different from living, you would have a miserable life if only had $300 per month.
How long you been here mate
8 months now, flying by
WOW -- for these "inflationary times" - you appear quite comfortable in Makati - which as you know - isn't cheap at all by their standards ! -- And - you are doing the life you prefer w/o deprivation ?!? -- Which makes the $1200 (USD) all the more impressive ! - - - This might even provide a bit of truth to the claims of $600/mo. living - deep in the provinces with a dirt floor inside a $40/mo. shack - fishing everyday - eating a lot of rice bananas coconuts and self grown vegetables ? 🤗 ❤ 💥 🙏 👍 🌹 🍺
Its not as cheap as thailand
How big is the studio? Makati is nice.
I think it's about 25sqm. Building does have a pool, gym, security, etc so it's more the amenities I guess that add to the cost
@@Craig_in_AsiaIt is not bad for one person to be honest.
Thats spending cost when you are single but if you have a filipina gf or wife must be double😁
For a foreigner living in the Philippines, your expenses are cheap. Compared to living where I am, a $3000 living expenses per month is a very tight budget, without room for anything else.
Where are you now ?
Lots of cable wire
Much better stay in BGC HIGH STREETS OR BGC UPTOWN.. MUCH BETTER FANCY AND MODERN THAN MAKATI..🏙️🏙️🏙️
Yeah, big fan of BGC. Used to live there 👍
Compare it with peoples daily wage :)
I really start to believe expats living in Philippines are LBH. What I see on TH-cam is basic I mean basic plain standard of living. Not even close how middle class living in USA. I don't understand why people leave western countries and go to third world country to have lower standards of living . If I ever decide to relocate to third world country. I want to be sure I am at least living same level of western standards of living or higher. I know they are just few expats who really have money. I personally know just one expats with money living in Philippines.
The reason we come here is because it's total freedom and you can have a relationship without the fear of everything you own being stolen from you and no fear of government control over every aspect in your life
I think I'm living on the wrong country lol
How much is your electricity bill now?😅 2024.