I'm an American who has put together this list to make the move to the Philippines much easier for people who are looking to make it their new home. Foreigners have been making the same mistakes for many years, so I hope this list helps prevent them. I'm sure I've left a few things out, but I've covered the most important points.
1️⃣ Before boarding a flight to the Philippines, be sure to register on the Philippine eTravel app on your phone. It's free. If anyone asks you to pay, it's a scam site. Registration can be completed within 72 hours before departure, and airlines flying to the country require a QR code at check-in. If you don't register, you may face delays at immigration, problems at airline check-in, or in serious cases, be denied boarding.
Even if you plan to stay in the Philippines for this trip, you must show a return or onward ticket, or you may be denied boarding. Many people use dummy tickets, and you can learn more with a quick YouTube search.
Note: I recommend buying a genuinely cheap outbound ticket for about $50 (it always works for flights to Thailand). I've heard that enforcement against dummy tickets is getting stricter... and getting caught with a fake ticket is not worth it.
2️⃣ You can live reasonably well in the Philippines on $1,000–1,500 a month, especially if you settle in a province. Remember that city life is much more expensive.
Also remember that staying requires paying visa fees. My rule of thumb is to set aside at least $50–60 a month for visa costs. Don't overstay your visa. You could be deported and blacklisted. If your visa extension is late, late fees will pile up, so always renew on time!
If your budget is tight, don't bring the bad habits of drinking every day, eating out every day, and chasing women... Those habits will bankrupt you and leave you on the street in a foreign country. Remember there is no safety net here. Live responsibly, or stay where you are.
Give up Western ways of thinking, and stop the impulse buying that everyone does in America. Live like a local, not like a weekend millionaire!
My recommendation is a monthly income of at least $1,500–2,500.
3️⃣ Most importantly, before you come, contact your bank and credit card companies and get all your new cards in advance... that way the expiration dates will be longer. It would be a hassle if your card expired six months after you arrived.
Don't tell your bank or card company that you're moving to the Philippines. They may close your account. To avoid ATM fees while living abroad, I also recommend a Charles Schwab debit card.
Keep at least 2–3 credit cards with zero balances, and use them only in a truly extreme emergency.
It's also good to open Remitly and Wise accounts before you leave, so you can send money to me when needed.
You'd be surprised how many foreigners lose their debit cards here. Having Wise and Remitly accounts can save you from trouble.
4️⃣ I personally use Mint Mobile, but in any case, be sure to keep a US phone number, because your bank and card companies may send you verification texts. Bank verification texts come up often, so keep your home-country number.
Trust no one! Always keep your income and finances secret. Never tell your new girlfriend either. And don't let yourself be persuaded to invest in a business here, whether by a foreigner or anyone else... Many people have lost their entire fortune that way. Don't get scammed!
5️⃣ Never lend money!! If you do lend it, consider it a gift. You're very unlikely to get a single peso back.
You also need to be able to say "no." If you can't refuse anyone, stay where you are... Almost every other day someone asks for money and it keeps leaking away. You have no obligation to pay for your girlfriend's family's living expenses. I'm not saying don't help sometimes, but draw a line. Otherwise you'll be taken advantage of.
6️⃣ The first thing you'll spend money on is rent... the roof over your head, followed by utilities. Learn to cook at home. You'll be surprised how much you can save.
My tip: find out where the local fresh market is and buy vegetables there. It's much cheaper than the supermarket. If you want imported foods, be prepared to pay... I recommend S&R or Landers for those.
Not buying a motorcycle or car is also a way to avoid extra costs. Use public transportation only when needed. The key is to live somewhere that the supermarket, pharmacy, and mall are all within walking distance. Save that money!!
7️⃣ Get travel insurance. If you can't afford it, save at least $100 a month as an emergency fund... and never touch it!
8️⃣ Many people here live on pensions and Social Security, and some still work remotely. I retired at 50 on a police pension, and I still have 7 years until 62, when early collection becomes possible.
If you're like me and haven't applied for Social Security yet, you can use a family member's or friend's address, or a virtual mailbox like Traveling Mailbox or iPostal1. That way you can see your mail online, and if checks arrive, those companies can deposit them if you have a US bank account... It's convenient even if you're not in the country.
When the time comes to apply for Social Security, never say you've moved to the Philippines. Otherwise you'll have to handle an annual Proof of Life Letter. The postal system here isn't very good, so there's a risk you'll receive the letter late and fail to reply on time. Then your Social Security payments could stop, and restarting them can take more than a month. Many foreigners have gone through this. Don't be one of them; keep an address in your home country.
9️⃣ Some people are healthy, and some need medication every day. Among people over 65 here, some enroll in Medicare and some don't. Just know that you cannot use Medicare in the Philippines, and you'd have to return to the US to use it.
Personally, when I turn 65, I won't enroll in Medicare unless my health is poor at that point. It makes no sense to pay $200 a month for something you can't even use here. I'll save that $200 as my emergency fund.
Military pensioners have no choice because of Tricare and must enroll in Medicare, but most of us can decline. Just be aware that if you decline now and enroll later, you'll face a penalty... so look into it before deciding anything.
🔟 Learn to budget!! Everyone's monthly income and needs are different, so no one can tell you the right monthly budget... Some people spend freely and some are more frugal. If you want to make the Philippines your new home, I recommend having at least $1,500 coming in each month. You can live on less; I know many people here who live very well on $800–1,200 a month.
As long as you have a roof over your head and food in the fridge, that's enough. You'll be fine. So don't be shaken if others tell you not to move here... especially if you're already struggling with high living costs in the US. …
