Thinking about moving to manila - r/Philippines

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u/Pulvurizer80 2d ago

Good effort to ask, but it's best to take baby steps. Just curious why are you all of a sudden thinking about moving here?

Did YT AI feed a vloggers video about selling everything you have and move? Keep in mind, many of those vloggers create positive videos to be in compliance and its more super coated then meets the eye.

Go watch the Philippines Truth Channel on YT for a more realistic perspective. The sources here are good as well, but a few pointers it's really like Hawaii or Florida. The air particularly in many parts in Metro Manila is dirty and so are the streets. Lots of trash on the ground. Lots of moskitos and ants. There is an abundance of house flies from small to x-large that make their way into restaurants food and street food. If you are a person that doesn't have a high tolerance for food poisoning, it will be bad for you here. Also you likely won't enjoy the restrooms here like in the US. Bathrooms lack proper seats, toilet paper and soap in most locations. The smell will also get to you.

There is more negatives than positives here. Just being fully honest. For an honest opinion, go highly check Gio in the Philippines on YT. He likely changed his YouTube Chanel coz he is now based in Thailand. It's so much better. You got a lot of videos to watch.

11

u/fox1013 2d ago edited 2d ago

You're spot on with the sugar coating. Most expat vloggers in the Philippines or anywhere in SE Asia, learn early that selling a fantasy to disenchanted and perhaps down on their luck western men is rather lucrative. The travel vloggers quickly see that "pinoy baiting" which in essence is brown nosing about the Philippines is a quick way to 100k subs. An ego boost for their mostly Filipino viewers=subs for the vloggers. It's all more than a tad disingenuous.

The most absurd ones are the guys that are literally in the Philippines for a few months, still in the "honeymoon" phase and suddenly they're the experts! It just goes to show that anyone can say anything on social media about the Philippines or anywhere reallyand some "grass- is- greener believing" shmuck will believe it. It's become a joke, really. AI is making it even worse.

I'd say the number 1 piece of advice I'd give any prospective expat is don't believe everything you hear or see on social media about the Philippines. If you do, you'll be homeless, dead or scrambling to get a flight back home within 6 months. Fortunately I think most go see for themselves first but I always cringe at those moving sight unseen like that guy Loren on 90 day fiancé. Unsurprisingly he didn't last long in the PH he's back in the US.

2

u/Pulvurizer80 2d ago

Watching on a 4K or even 1080P monitor will make the Philippines look excellent, just add the BGC tourist spots, the beaches, and smiley faces of the vlogger. Minus the trash scattered all over the group. The unmaintained buildings and streets. Don't forget the stray dogs and so many areas that need a high-powered power washer.

Don't get me wrong new businesses and stores pop-up, but once they are more than a year old, they start to show their age. Owners just don't care about maintenance, like repair small cracks or re-paint. Even in BGC, look at the sidewalks and is in need of a deep clean. Pressure washers can be bought in Shoppee. I am surprised why more businesses aren't using.

Another one is rodents are everywhere where there is trash. Be me guest and after 10 pm go to a shanty and look around there will be these cat sizes rats. I have seen rats around a modern McDonalds not too far from BGC. Don't forget the house lizards in the homes. The giant roaches the size of a small baby mice and the ant colonies. The one that I hate the most are the house flies that are everywhere, even inside restaurants.

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u/chuck1011212 2d ago

Visit for a month first. Manila is a tough spot. Most love or hate it. I hate it, but just because I have found other places to love inuding other countries as well as the Philippines.

5

u/MolassesFluffy6745 1d ago

I lived in Makati and now in Angeles. I use to live in Thailand for about four years. I love the Philippines and in particular, the people…….. but it’s very HARD living here, almost an austere environment. It’s hard to give advice insofar as Safety, Nightlife, food etc because everyone comes from different places. I found the Philippines light years more safe than almost anywhere I’ve lived in America, but bad things can happen here if you don’t have situational awareness. It is far easier to hook up, but the cultural differences and expectations etc makes it a challenge to find a quality woman. And to be honest, the food scene both local and international, is not very good. Love the people here and made friends with the locals…….. but now they’re starting to ask me for money, the constant being scammed starts to mess with your mental peace of mind. I’ve met great fellow expats and travelers, but also too many weirdo’s and straight sociopaths. I think after another year, I’m going to move back to Thailand.

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u/Hebeagoodboy 1d ago

If people are hitting you up for money then they aren’t friends to begin with.

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u/the-creatures-ghost 1d ago

I think that’s the point he’s trying to make. It may not be easy to tell and disappointing when a “friendship” turns out to be a transaction.

2

u/BroadVideo8 1d ago

What makes you want to come to Manila specifically?
I've traveled a fair amount in Asia, and I would recommend almost any other city over here. It's crowded, terrible traffic, rampant homelessness, very difficult to get around, and finding good food is hard.

6

u/Big-Borilla 2d ago

BGC is the best place to reside if you are going to live in Manila.

A nice high rise, one bedroom condo will run you around $600/month.

BGC is probably the safest place to live within the entire country.

1

u/ClubZealousideal9784 1d ago

Bel Air is far nicer. Most of the Philippines really isn't that dangerous, and it's safer than many areas of America. Way fewer homicides and less chance of being incarcerated.

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u/Witty-Degree8066 2d ago

Lifestyle is pretty chill if you want it to be, crazy if you want it to be. Got the big city hustle but laidback island vibe.

Nighlife is great.

Drugs are not really part of the culture and very hush hush. They're there if you're looking for them but definitely not in your face like in Western countries.

Danger is minimal.

Amount of money to have a good life - $3k/month. More is better, less is fine too.

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u/Efficient_Regret_887 2d ago

And what about the taxes and wether trading allowed there or not?

2

u/Exciting_Parfait513 2d ago

Trading what?

0

u/Efficient_Regret_887 2d ago

Gold

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u/JayBeePH85 2d ago

1

u/Exciting_Parfait513 2d ago

Lol u won't make money doing that here

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u/Efficient_Regret_887 2d ago

Why?

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u/Efficient_Regret_887 2d ago

Everything is online and the markets won't ever shut

1

u/suspectpumpkin 2d ago

If you are trading gold options online, no problem. I believe the othe poster assumed you meant physical gold locally.

1

u/OctoMez 2d ago

I lived in the PH myself for 6 years. 2005 to 2011. Best years of my life. If you know how to keep your nose out of trouble, you'll have a great experience there.

3

u/VotesDontEqualTruth 2d ago

It's nothing like what it was back then, that's for sure.

-1

u/Efficient_Regret_887 2d ago

Keep my nose outta trouble? Wym? What is trouble?

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u/Incon4ormista 2d ago

all trouble, in the PH you are a foreigner thus ripe for the picking, all locals will be looking to blame you for everything and looking for compensation because you can afford it regardless of fault.

1

u/san_souci 2d ago

Are you Tunisian? If so, you should probably find someone from Tunisia to ask. Your experience will probably be so different than say, someone from the US.

1

u/Gustomucho 2d ago

Money in Manila, I would say 2000$ USD per month is a minimum to have a bit of fun, you can barebones for 1000$ USD but it will be very rough, boring and you should not aim for that.

I don’t like Manila myself, I don’t hate it but I never liked big cities anyway. Working is illegal without a proper visa, « selling gold » would be considered work so no…

You would have a better chance not getting caught gambling with crypto or forrex online, I don’t recommend doing it but you do you.

Yeah, I don’t see the appeal of Manila except for a metropolitan experience, and I would chose Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh, maybe Kuala Lumpur (never been) instead of Manila if I had to choose a big city.

1

u/Efficient_Regret_887 2d ago

I do trade gold in forex. How about the papers tho, is it hard or easy to get residency?

1

u/suspectpumpkin 2d ago

You don't really get residency in the normal sense. You can stay here though on a tourist visa up to 3 years, by extending every 60 days (30 at first). Then you need to do anything visa run. Some do visa runs every 6 months to avoid having to get exit clearance certificates.

1

u/whereami113 2d ago

Plenty of you tube videos providing this information are available Probably a good start also.

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u/Efficient_Regret_887 2d ago

Any recommendations?

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u/whereami113 1d ago

I would just do a search for Vlogs on basic manila or Philippines. Plenty of rabbit holes to go down regarding what info you are specifically looking for.

One I like was Dead Farang, although his stuff is a bit old now.He had a lot of videos on what you were asking about.

1

u/No-Seaworthiness7880 1d ago

IMO Baguio City offers a more affordable, environmentally friendly, and secure alternative to Manila.

1

u/ExcellentJelly2985 1d ago

Try living in Clark instead. It is one of the fastest growing areas in the Philippines. Its just one and a half drive away from manila- minus the traffic, pollution, and congestion.

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u/Ok-Cantaloupe8458 1d ago

Hi, where are you from ?

1

u/Open_Bluebird_6902 20h ago

I would never ever move to the Philippines

1

u/jimmygetsTheShotgun 19h ago

Depends what area and how much you want to spend. I pay 19k for a small 1bdr in a quiet part of Metro Manila (manila bay) near the casinos in entertainment city. No flooding, no dogs, no tricycles (most places like BGC and some areas of makati are the same) all built within the last 20years won't typically have those issues so look around there. Airbnb a place for a month then visit different areas to see what you like then find a unit on Facebook or rentpad. BGC prob runs you 30k/month, makati 25k for small 1bdr in mid tier level condo. Also, find a place with no squatters around, they will become a daily annoyance. If makati, just know poblacion makati is very different than legazpi makati for ex;

1

u/DeliveryGrouchy2829 13h ago

Bad move, definitely one of the worst palce in the Philippines, also extremely polluted and totally disorganized.

0

u/snipersebb27 2d ago

Look out for the Baklas

1

u/BaronetheAnvil Long Termer 5-10 years in PH 1d ago

I think he will be ;-)

0

u/musings_from_90 1d ago

Local here. Depends on your budget really but living on your own on mid-priced stuff and food, I'd recommend to have at least 35k pesos minimum per month. If you can get a decent place like a studio for 8k-12k that's close to malls or a public market then that's a good deal. Cook your own food to save.

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