From the Midwest redneck author of "The Rooster Crows at 4am!," "Lizard Poop!," and "The Philippines Expat Advisor"
How Cheap Can a Single Guy Live in the Philippines?
Just how cheap can a single guy live in the Philippines? Can he survive on 250 US Dollars a month? $500? How about 1,000 bucks a month? And surely anyone could live on $1,500 a month quite comfortably, right?
Depends if you merely want to survive, live comfortably or retire like a king (or queen) in this archipelago. Factor in location and lifestyle. Throw in how many relatives of your asawa or girlfriend you are supporting. If you have a asawa AND a girlfriend, toss that into the mix. (And if you DO have a spouse and a cute Filipina honey on the side, do you feel like spending six years in a Third World Country?)
My American expat friend, Scott B, moved to Iloilo City about two months ago. He recommends having a budget of $1,200, around 50,500 pesos at the current exchange rate. He occasionally goes out to movies, priced at around three dollars a ticket, and eats out quite frequently since he is an unattached single guy without a live-girlfriend or maid.
Scott cannot cook in his room unless he would sneak in a hot plate like Barney Fife used to do at Mrs. Mendelbright's boarding house on The Andy Griffith Show. But he's also a thrifty guy that shops at the local ukay-ukay stores to pick up clothing at a bargain price. The expat also uses the local jeepneys to get around Iloilo City just as my asawa and I do.
(Photo source: courier-herald.com)
I've known Peace Corps workers in Guimaras surviving on $250 a month. They eat a lot of rice and fish. I've also known some expats struggling to make it on $3,000 a month. I can assure you that if you want to live a "Western" type lifestyle when you retire in the Philippines, be prepared to pay for it. Those that adopt a more frugal "native" lifestyle will find more pesos in their pockets at the end of the month. 
So how about you? Are you a single guy living in the Philippines? Would you care to share how much it's costing you to live here. Maybe it could help out some others and give them a general idea of the cost of living in the PH. Me? I'm married and supporting three nieces and a nephew that live with us. I'll have some budget figures coming up in a future post.
Love the Andy Griffith Show! My all-time favorite.
If someone wants to move to the Philippines solely to live a US ifestyle on the cheap, I recommend a small college town here in the US. Probably cheaper than to move to the Philippines. All those American goods have to get shipped over which drives the price up up up.
Speaking of having a wife and girlfriend…here is a twist, just last night chatted with a woman from CB who has been the mistress of a married Chinese guy and has 2 kids from him. When I found out this tidbit, I was out the door.
Picking the wrong woman is one way to drive up the costs anywhere you live.
This is exactly the sort of article that so many of the “How Much Does it Cost’ crowd needs to read for actual content instead of skimming to the bottom line price. It will cost almost any amount per month one wants to choose … it’s up to the individual (or couple) how much they spend, not where they live and the other factors so many make seem important, when actually the location is a trivial factor.
The one thing to be sure of, you _CAN_ live way cheaper in the Philippines, but whether or not many people have the stomach or discipline to do so. “Ay, there’s the Rub” as friend William once wrote.
One of my all-time favorites, too, Steve, the first five years with Don Knotts, the classic black-and-white episodes.
Yep, if someone wants to move to the Philippines and expects to live a US lifestyle, you’re right. Might as well stay put. But then again, it IS more fun in the Philippines, Steve. It doesn’t get boring.
Surprised the woman told you that little bit of info, Steve. But you were wise to make a quick exit. Picking the wrong woman? Yep, I had some high maintenance girlfriends before I met The Sainted Patient Wife. She’s happy with a bowl of rice and fish head soup.
Good input, Dave S, as usual. No one can tell you have much it will cost you to live in the Philippines. That is all up to the individual. And a person can live cheaper here, but as you wisely stated some folks do not have the “stomach or discipline to do so.” So very true, Dave.
Well, once they see how gwapo I am, they tell me everything. For better or worse. lol
I like to shop at ukay-ukay stores when I was still in the Philippines and somehow even I am already here in the US and making my own money, most of the time, I shop at second hand store, Goodwill.
Presently the wife and little boy are averaging between P16,000 and P32,0000 a month depending on what relatives she’s decided to help out, lol.
Thanks for the info, Mark G, I appreciate it. And I understand that part about the relatives, believe me.
Always can find some good bargains at Goodwill, Garf, no doubt about that.
You must be as good looking as Tom Ramberg, Steve. He’s got the ladies “wolf whistling” at him.
Out of curiosity…is Scott’s biggest expense food since he eats out often?
Could be, Steve, though I think Scott’s housing expenses might might also be a major expense. But if he’s reading this sometime, maybe he could correct me on this.
yes steve,food is my biggest expense,i just paid my rent yesterday,9,875php which included 1,845php for electric and 385php for water,my internet and cable tv is included in the monthly.So for under 10,000 php i am happy.As i mentioned before i make my own sandwiches for lunch and dinner in my room and my breakfast.I still go to restaurants to get a good pizza,pasta,mexican food or some good fresh fish and i treat my grlfriend for dinner also.
Dating the woman here is gonna cost you,so figure that in,and if your girl asks for money figure that in also.Now here is something that a woman i am dating asked of me and i was thinking here it starts,she asked me for 500 php last sunday and i was concerned as she told me she would pay me back in 5 days.Understand that yes i can afford to give her 500 thats not a problem,problem is what is she wanting from me in this relationship?Well last nite,4 days later she handed me 527 php,the extra 27 php were for the lady napkins i picked up for her the other day.
I sleep sound and have no barking dogs or roosters to bother me,i am living in what is essentially a hotel room with a hot shower and a refridgerator for under 10,000php a month.
Its like living in a studio apartment,i can tolerate this because of the years i spent in the military living in a barracks and as a civilian living in studio apartments.
I enjoy this location and is hard to think about moving to a house when all i have to do now is get out of bed and close the door behind me and in 3 minutes i am at robinsons mall sittin in a movie theatre,restaurant,grocery store,wet market,hospitol clinic,bar,laundry mat,bank,fitness gym….
As a comparison our rent is P4000 for one bedroom, a kitchen and living room in a second floor walk-up in Calbayog City. The web, electric, cable, cooking gas and water are extra, about another P2200 a month. Food runs about P2000 a week when I’m not there and double when I am.
I think you will find that for most expats living here in the Philippines that food is their biggest expense.
Here in Tagum City on the wonderful island of Mindanao Meriam and I rent a 2 bedroom apartment for 5,000 pesos per month. 60 sq meters with 2 CRs. The bedrooms are upstairs and the master bedroom has a CR. We had a 6.5 earthquake a couple of years ago and no damage so the place is well made.
I really like living here in Tagum City. The folks are really nice. The new G-Mall is great… Love going to the movies!!!
It is more fun in the Philippines… This is a great country to retire in… Married or single you guys need to get here and enjoy life…
Thanks for the detailed info, Scott B. I’m glad things are working out for you in Iloilo. I know you like hanging out where all the action is, but I’m just a boy in the ‘burbs. Too quiet for a single guy like yourself. Glad your friend paid you back that P500. As you’ve know we’ve got a couple jeeney rides to see a movie, but Melinda goes out to the local market and can get some pretty decent fish and vegetables. We’re going to see the Expendables next week and that’s about all the excitement an old geezer like me can handle.
Thanks for the info, Mark G. It helps give some of the folks out there an idea of the living costs and I appreciate it. As far as food goes, I take a separate shopping cart for myself when we do our monthly grocery shopping trip. My asawa takes a cart for our three nieces, nephew and herself. My cart is just about as full as hers when we get to the checkouts (but she does buy fish and rice during the month, also. I get all of my breakfast, lunch and dinners item in one shot.)
Thanks for the info, Gary, it’s appreciated. We’ve got a new G-Mall in nearby Oton that I haven’t checked out yet. And Gary, I echo your sentiments, “It IS more fun in the Philippines!” Folks, you’re truly missing out if you haven’t visited the PH and considered it as a retirement destination. Life is good.
I went to robinson mall yesterday to see the movie Bourne Supremancy but their was a million school kids there waiting to see some kid star named Enrique Gil so i turned around and went to a barangy where my lady friend lives and spent 3 hours playing the philippine card game Tongat.
I really enjoy the game as i am still learnin it but it has a poker style to it and i like bluffing and winning the pot.As far as the movie Expendables,i would rather drink a bottle of exlax and eat a pound of cheese than sit through a movie with chuck norris and dulf lungren in it,sorry dave but my idea would at least keep me awake.
Scott B, you’re dissing Chuck Norris? Man, the guy might be 72 but I bet he can still kick butt. I’m 60 and can barely get out of bed.
You will love the Expendables2 Dave… Meriam and I watched it last Thursday… It was great to see Chuck Norris again.
We’re going on Monday to see it, Gary. I love Chuck Norris and really enjoyed watching the first film. Looking forward to seeing the sequel.
Dave,
Don’t forget about Gary Wigle too
Dave,
Lots of good info about living expenses. One expense i won’t have is for housing, Anne will have her new house built. She is very thrifty with money, so expenses won’t be too bad. With my pension and her income from her business, we will be fine. Also only motor vehicle will be a van for her business. Will be riding jeepneys and tricycles like you do. Be safe
Sorry Dave, I got to agree with Scott B. Chuck Norris is about the worst ‘B’ actor ever and Dolph Lundgren is about as exciting as watching the grass grow.
Randy, we’re not going to the movie to see, Dolph Lundgren. I like most of the cast they put together for the sequel. Jason Statham, Jet Li, Bruce Willis and Arnold along with Sly Stone (who needs to cut back on the botox) and Van Damme, “Thor,” Liam Hemsworth and Nan Yu (check out this LINK for her pic.) Now if Scott B has any objections about Nan Yu, I just don’t know what else I can say.
How could ANYONE forget Gary Wigle, PapaDuck?
Sounds like you’ve got a plan, PapaDuck, I commend you for that. You’ve evidently met the right lady and I’m very glad to hear that. If we would have stayed in Guimaras, we would not have a house payment either. Can’t convince the asawa to move back, so it looks like we’ll be staying here. We’re going to check out a new section of our subdivision that I’m told by management here has 24/7 water. Wow!
I agree, I will rent the movie when it comes out on DVD, just not a fan of those two characters. It should be a good movie to watch.
I never liked Dolph, Randy, but always liked Chuck despite his lack of acting skills.