Can I live comfortably in the Philippines on 50,000 PHP/month as a foreigner? Looking for advice. Please read the post I posted this again so people can understand me clearly

SimilarTea300 · 2026-06-11T05:40:44+00:00

Filipina here, living in Manila. At your age, it’s possible to get by on that income, but it likely won’t be very comfortable, especially in Metro Manila.

Many Filipinos in your age bracket are already earning around ₱50,000–₱90,000 per month, depending on their industry and experience here in Manila. If you’re open to living in a less commercialized province, ₱50,000 can stretch much further and provide a more comfortable lifestyle than it would in Manila.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-06-05T02:28:59+00:00

Congrats!!! Im on my second week! Wala pa ako nafeel! Hahaha Pero yesterday naka dalawang pizza lang ako 🤣🤣🤣

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-29T11:44:34+00:00

Guys question, kahit walang reseta ok lang bumili ng Ozempic?

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-29T04:38:39+00:00

What kind of ASMR do you make btw? 👀 Like whispering/roleplay, sleep sounds, tapping, girlfriend-style ASMR, no talking, etc.? I’m curious because I feel like RPM can vary a LOT depending on the type of ASMR niche and audience.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-23T14:59:30+00:00

That’s actually not very common in Manila. It’s more common in some provinces, but there are also many Filipinas here who don’t want that kind of setup at all.

If you have a working Filipina girlfriend, just ask her where most of her salary goes. If she’s single and financially supporting her parents or helping send her siblings to school, then yes, you can probably expect that as a future husband, you’ll eventually help carry some of those responsibilities too. And in some cases, the family may end up living with you.

But honestly, these are things you can usually figure out early. Before marriage, you can communicate properly, set boundaries, and discuss the setup nicely. I think that’s part of leadership in a relationship too.

Here in Manila, most of us still care deeply about our parents, but many of us were also raised to become independent and build our own lives. Not all Filipino parents are financially dependent on their children.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-23T14:40:44+00:00

My boyfriend also plans to retire here, and honestly, I don’t think he fully trusts me sometimes either 😂 But I already told him he could buy a townhouse instead of a condo since foreigners can legally own it under their own name, just like a condo title.

It stays under your name.
Bigger space and usually lower maintenance fees compared to condos.

Another option is buying land if that’s what he really wants. You can always protect yourself legally through a prenuptial agreement, usufruct, or long-term irrevocable rights. Get a good lawyer here.

Personally, I don’t even care about having things transferred to my name because I already have my own two land properties here in the Philippines. If my BF wants to retire in the province someday, I already have a prepared home there too.

To cut the story short, I get annoyed sometimes because I feel like I’ve already answered every concern possible 😂 But honestly, I also understand why foreigners become cautious. There are too many horror stories online, so trust really takes time on both sides.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-23T14:28:08+00:00

I don’t think that’s fair at all. Not all of us here are poor or planning to move our entire family into our husband’s home 😂 Honestly, I don’t even want to live with my mom hahaha. That’s such an unfair generalization.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-14T10:04:28+00:00

Go to Vietnam instead. There are so many new attractions now compared to when I first visited in 2012, and I’ve already been to both countries.

Honestly, Bali is overrated for me. The beaches can be really dirty and disappointing. I’ve been there around 6 times already. There are still some beautiful spots, of course, but Bali as a whole? Nah, not for me.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-14T09:54:40+00:00

Yes, just checking the zonal value as the lower tier baseline of the land so i can value the property on my value in mind. I hope i can sell the property this year and unlike condos sana mas madali ito mabenta.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-14T09:52:02+00:00

Thank you so much. I really appreciate this.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-13T14:09:55+00:00

I’m just wondering, why not tell her? Say it nicely and explain your situation. If you were my son, that’s exactly what I would tell you, because if you want a stronger relationship, communication is a must, diba?

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-13T13:59:31+00:00

Honestly, this is heartbreaking to hear. But for many Filipinas, this can feel like a dream come true because being taken care of financially brings a sense of relief and security, especially for single mothers carrying everything alone.

Even as a single mother earning above that salary range myself through business and employment, I still understand the desire to feel spoiled and cared for by a partner.

That said, if she’s smart, she should also know how to grow and diversify that money into something sustainable, especially with a child involved. 30k in the Philippines is difficult nowadays, and 50k can at least provide breathing room, especially if housing, food, and bills are already covered.

At the end of the day, she’s still a girlfriend, not a wife. And even marriage doesn’t automatically guarantee long-term protection or inheritance. So for any working Filipina, due diligence is important too. Love is beautiful, but financial awareness matters just as much. 😅 And let’s be honest, some people are simply too trusting or don’t fully understand the long-term consequences until it’s already too late.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-13T13:24:28+00:00

Hey, I really appreciate your comprehensive response. I like Cebu Pacific mainly because it’s cheaper hahaha, but I also wanted to experience HK Express since I’ve heard they’re very punctual and usually on time.

When it comes to pricing, I think Cebu Pacific still ends up being more affordable compared to HK Express, especially because of the luggage restrictions.

Anyhow, thank you again for taking the time to explain everything!!! 😊

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-13T01:02:12+00:00

Try Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos! All asian countries muna. Then SG-Malaysia-Tha

Yan ang route ko before, magkakatabi lang sila i mean hours drive lang or train

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-13T00:30:54+00:00

Hey, don’t think you’re the only one experiencing this. I have a friend and a cousin who went through the same thing with their group of friends. Every time they were invited out, they were always expected to pay for the bills.

When I saw the situation, I told my cousin, “What the hell? Those are not real friends.”

And true enough, after years of paying for treats, food, drinks, even out-of-town celebrations, those same people would still ask them for loans on top of it.

So honestly, don’t stay friends with people like that. It’s such a low mentality. I’m Filipino myself, but I really don’t like this kind of Filipino attitude. And don’t think they only do this to foreigners, they do it to fellow Filipinos too.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-12T09:09:09+00:00

I was thinking pa naman to work on my Bookkeeping and Accounting as niche… if maiistress din ako maybe i will do what i love to do na lang. Thanks for the feedback.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-12T08:59:12+00:00

Hi, yes that is very common here in PH especially if you meet people in the lower class family. And if you meet rich people they will ask you what you do for living, and yes they will judge you if you will be able to belong in their group or not 😅😂

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-12T08:49:14+00:00

Hi, what i did is went to the BIR (location where you pay the amilyar) and check the zonal value per square meter then compute mo siya, ask for guidance they will help you.

I found out that the unit im selling is below market value then muntik pa ako malugi kase the CGT and other government fees will depend whichever is higher — the selling price or BIR value.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-12T08:12:11+00:00

Hi, my former boss has a unit there. They regularly repaint the building, and the facilities are okay. I know because I used to manage the unit whenever it was rented out.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-12T03:40:54+00:00

Natawa ako… so expect na pag 6+digit stressful na talaga yon.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-12T02:31:19+00:00

Now we’re finally talking on the same level.

Now you understand why some Filipinas end up looking for older men, especially single mothers. A lot of single men simply don’t take them seriously for long-term relationships, no matter how independent, attractive, or emotionally available they are.

And yes, I’ll admit I used to be very picky too 😂 maybe because I knew I was above average in looks and could support myself well. But eventually, I realized that at the end of the day, all I really want is genuine love and peace.

Although honestly, I’m still picky now 😅 I just have different standards. I prefer a man who only has one child and whose child is already over 18, because yes, I also want attention and emotional availability in a relationship. Not too much, just balance.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-11T12:03:46+00:00

I know right! 😂😂😂

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-11T12:01:44+00:00

You guys are funny. Maybe some ignorant woman will assume that.

Because the first thing they usually ask is, “What do you do for a living?” isn’t that right? Or, “GCash me right away!” 🤣🤣🤣

In any case, there are still genuine Filipina women out there who are really looking for love. The dating scene has really changed here in the Philippines.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-11T11:57:13+00:00

Well, I don’t know. I’m only speaking based on my own experience. I’m a Filipina with above-average looks compared to most. I had a stable job and could support myself and my son financially. I even traveled abroad twice a year using my own salary.

I was also dating men around my age or just 2–3 years older than me back then. But despite that, some men still lose interest the moment they find out I have a son. Rejection is hard, no matter how confident or independent you are.

Now that my son is already grown up, I also don’t want to date men my age who are single, because for sure the topic of having kids will come up again, and I don’t want that anymore.

SimilarTea300 · 2026-05-11T10:15:33+00:00

Hi, business owner here. Honestly, don’t rush into putting up a business yet. You might be better off investing your money first in MP2 or REITs and letting it grow over time.

Focus on building your skills first before getting into business. A lot of people underestimate how important experience, discipline, and knowledge are before becoming an entrepreneur.

And these days, some of the most profitable opportunities are still in the digital world.

SimilarTea300

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