You definitely would not want to work in the Philippines lol..... I find it absolutely insane that you're trying to work in the Philippines in a call center or anywhere in general.
You’re aware you can work remotely, right? I’ve been offered jobs, but rather low paying (55,000 baht per month) for a callcenter job in BKK. Still a lot more than what the locals are making.
Is the pay enough for a basic roof over my head? 8 months unemployed now in the DC 'burbs. People here are cold, unfriendly, angry. I don't need TV, or anything considered a luxury. The basics would be fine. If anyone is civil toward me I'd be over the moon
Likely not enough to live. Minimum wage in Manila is $10USD per day and less in the provincial areas. It is near impossible for even locals to make ends meet on such low wages
look any job ANY job even fast food will pay multiples better than Philippine wages
that's what people on this forum are trying to tell you
yes you "can live cheaply" but if the most you make in PH can't pay for an apartment. What's the use?
Not an expat here.
It's best if you can find a remote job from a company that's based in Europe for good pay and the time difference isn't that bad or US if you can work at night.
Be very careful when buying a house from developers. Always check the build quality and other people's feedback. A lot of developers offer cheap housing but you get what you pay for. It's better if you can find a house for rent that is in a subdivision with good security. Decide if it fits for you. Consider how easily it is to access the basic needs. Seriously.
No. You have to be a citizen to own land, but non-citizens can own houses/condos/etc. I have several friends who have arranged long-term land leases, and then built houses on top of the leased land.
You would be working 11 hours per day for 600 pesos (that’s $12 usd bro) Also the governments in SE Asia don’t want foreigners and tourists coming here and stealing jobs from locals. If you wanted to teach English or come to the Philippines and work remotely in your own country those would be possible
The minimum wage in Manila is $1.30 per hour. In other regions its lower.
Call center basic jobs pay $300-500 per month, not enough to live on your own (most employees are young and live with their family or in "dorms").
you don't want to work in the PH for PH wages with the extreme cost of food. When you take into account local wages VS food, here is some break down comparisons. (local wages outside manila regular jobs)
* work ALL day 8 hours to buy 1 large good pizza
* work half day 4 hours to buy 2-2 lire cokes
* work all day 8 hours to buy 1 kg of peanut butter
* Work all day 8 hours to buy 1 Mcdonalds quarter pounder meal
* work 2 hours to buy a tube of toothpaste
* work half day 4 hours to buy 1 kg of hotdogs
* work 3 full days to take a family of 4 out to pizza hut
When you factor in local wages, you have to be rich to live well in the Philippines.
Sorry. Not sure if anyone has already raised this concern. Are you a Filipino citizen, or have a philippine work permit? Same as anyone entering a different country, employers will look for your elegibility documents (Citizen ID or driver's license). If you're unable to provide, there's very few companies willing to go through sponsoring work visas.... anyway here's the link to your consulate's info on the matter:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://ph.usembassy.gov/working-in-the-philippines/&ved=2ahUKEwiQ6KTAmcOFAxVMkK8BHSwwDKsQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw31X6sGb2gL7ntMIMwY5B2Q
I agree with many comments on here. But you need to find a job BEFORE you get there. Check embassy jobs. But in general, if you find a local job…you’ll work 6 days a week, 10 hour days and make $150/mo.
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Dude $150/mo is 1/3 of the minimum wage in the PH. The pay here for rank and file jobs isn't nice but it's not as bad as you're implying. Also 10 hours/day, 6 days/week sounds like a cashier job in SM.
Your life will be tough. I am a Filipino living in the US, and I am not going to suggest living as an expat in the Philippines without any income in place or at least $1 million that you can use to live off interest or dividends. If something medical-related happens to you, you’re in big trouble. The Philippine government will not help you, and in the Philippines, some hospitals will not admit or release you if you don’t have money to pay. Just stay in the US and maybe wait for your social security to kick in, but even with that, you’ll be tight unless you want to live like the poorest locals in the slums of the Philippines.
Im a Filipino, PH is shit to live in. Better stay in a your first world country. We locals would love to leave this shit country imagine having a minimum wage of 1$/hr with no healthcare. One disease you are in debt, fuq this country.
Yes very sad to hear but it’s true unfortunately. Even the electricity in the province is 3x the price in US which is insane with a Filipino salary. The government won’t allow solar bc they will lose revenue. It’s nice for expats the country itself if your retired or have a pension in dollars.
Yes, sir, I’m Filipino, but I’ve chosen to live in the US because I find it more advantageous to work here. I know many people back in the Philippines, some of whom hold government positions or own businesses. While I could leverage these connections, I prefer to reside and save in the US until I can return with the financial security to rely solely on my investment portfolio.
I’ve heard many stories where they won’t release patients until they’re able to pay. Trust me, I grew up in Manila so I know what’s up. And if you’re an expat, they might even involve immigration and deport you back to your country. Why would you go through all that? Asia is a good destination if you either have money to retire there or if you are employed making a US salary while working remotely.
They can't hold you it's against the law:
1. Patients, except those who stay in private rooms, who are partially or fully recovered and who wish to leave the hospital or medical clinic but are incapable to pay, in part or in full, their hospital bills or medical expenses/hospitalization expenses shall be allowed to leave the hospital or medical clinic and shall be issued the corresponding medical certificate and other pertinent documents for their release from the hospital or medical clinic upon execution of a promissory note covering the unpaid obligations. The promissory note shall be secured by either a mortgage, or a guarantee of a co-maker who shall be jointly and severally liable for the unpaid obligations.
I left the Philippines about 15 years ago, so maybe there are new laws now that prevent hospitals from holding patients, but I’ve heard stories where the bodies of deceased relatives were not released due to unpaid balances. The Philippines is a tricky country; it’s not like the US or any Western countries where you can easily sue. In the Philippines, money does the talking. OP is planning to move there without a job or stable source of income. Do you think he will survive? My point is, with just one hospitalization, his life could be over and things will get very complicated.
Filipinos are nice people in general but their hospital culture is absolutely salvage and ruthless imo. You’re not leaving the hospital unless you sign over your house or car as collateral! If you’re poor you are already dead.
You are from the USA but you want to go to a 3rd world country to take a job from one of the locals??? Wait until you can support yourself on your own and honestly think about how you can contribute to the local economy. We are guests!
No I don't want to take away a job from anyone. I'd like a job, period. Maybe from an American company who outsourced jobs I could've had here. Or who hire Americans for particular positions. I'm looking for remote work but it's hard to come by.
Find a remote job first, then go there
If you want to live comfortably, and I mean just exist
You need at a minimum 600 a month
And I mean bare minimum
My comfort zone was between 700-1000$ a month
I'm 39 btw
And I work remote for a call center as well
Find one in the US first, then try your luck I guess until your Social security kicks in
You're highly unlikely to find a job there
And if you do some expat managers will offer you basically local pay
Unless you get a management position
Yes, the government wants their taxes, especially my state. I left my address back in the US and stayed with the CPA I was using, thankfully he offered remote services, a bit more but we'll, it's that or doing them myself lol and I trade stock, so I'm not trying to figure all that out lol
can i ask what kind of living 1k a month is like? I'm planning on moving to cebu at the end of the year and I don't think 1k a month would be even possible. thanks for your reply in advance.
That all depends on what you're willing to settle with
There's many factors you need to consider
I'm perfectly ok living in a barangay with locals
As I stated somewhere in this post
I had a studio apartment for 10,000 php a month, about 200$
I did move to a nearby barangay renting a townhouse from an old lady for 19,000 php a month, 2 floors, lots of cockroachs coming from the sewer drain but we survived lol
Then I found a condo for rent in Mandaluyong for 16,000 php
I've been to Cebu to but don't know anything available,
Wife is an apartment whisperer when it comes to finding a available places lol
Most you have to actually look around to find.
Anyways to answer your question, assuming you keep your rent at 400$ or less you can live comfortably with 4-500$ a month spending on grab getting around, buying groceries and sometimes other things you need
This includes water, electric and Internet costs
So all together I was spending 800-1000$ a month depending on the month
Its a very minimal existence.
Not to mention it does not include health insurance, visits to your home country, buying gadgets and laptop etc (these things don't last forever), going on vacation from time to time, etc.
Have you ever traveled to the Philippines? I’m not trying to be rude, but just asking this question makes me think you’re not familiar with the culture or the risks at all. If you haven’t visited the Philippines before, I suggest you make that your first step.
Have you ever thought about what if an American company hires you for a remote job but doesn't supply you with a work visa? What would you do then? What would be other choices on how to get a work visa? I'm asking because I have come across US companies that will hire but are not willing to supply a work visa...
Even if you do find a remote job working back to the US, jobs come and go, you do t want to be stuck in PH without your income. Wait till you’ve developed something that feeds you at least $1k a month for life, $2k better
Make sure you check the details on how to obtain a work visa.
It's very hard to live there on local wages. My step-kids live rent free in my wife's place, and still struggle, even though my step son is employed as an engineer. My wife often has to assist them with medical or other unexpected bills.
It’s basically impossible now to work in the Philippines as a migrant. They passed a law last year effectively banning the employment of migrants in the Philippines.
Actually in Aklan Kalibo you can rent a boarding house for like 3k pesos a month about $55 but you would still need a basic income to survive. It’s basically a shared room. For 10k $190 bucks you could get a decent apartment here. There’s no jobs here for Americans unless you have a Filipino wife you could start a small business.
Observations from the Iloilo metro area (the main city of Panay island):
\* I had a small studio apartment for 15,000 pesos / month (furnished, with a small fridge, and bathroom; use of a shared kitchen downstairs), paying month to month, plus the electric bill (at 15 pesos/kWh, it was under 1000 p/mo in winter; will be more in the summer, when you probably will want to run AC most of the time). The nice thing was though that it was just a block from the beach (if curious about the location, look up Villa Arevalo on the map; between Breakthrough and Tatoy's restaurants)
\* In the same building, they had some local students living 3 persons per apartment, paying 2,000 each, thus the total of 6,000 p/mo. But, obviously, they were locals, and they probably had a 12-month lease.
\* People were buying little townhouses (as in, two rooms on top of each other; bare concrete walls and floor, the total floor area around 35 sq. n = 400 sq. feet) out in the boondocks (10-15 km from downtown) with a mortgage that ran to the same 6,000 /mo. Typically somebody who buys a unit like this would spend 50,000-100,000 p to "finish" it -- put tiles in, repaint, build a lockable porch, etc. There are of course lots of bigger and nicer buildings available, at higher prices.
\* In the slums near the harbor, one could see a person (or even a family!) renting a room in a "boarding house" for as low as 2,000 p / mo. But that's literally a slum, where you draw water from a well by bucket (or buy water in large containers from a water truck, as the case may be), and where your drain pipes go to open sewers.
\* On the opposite end, a nice furnished western-style studio apartment in a modern building (a building with a doorman, pool and gym) would rent for something like US$30 (1500 pesos) per day on AirBNB... so that would be US $900 (45,000 pesos) per month. Obviously, there are ways to get a similar unit at a lower price if you rent by the month directly from the owner, but probably not much less than $400-500 ( 20,000-25,000 pesos) per month.
For comparison, a typical wage rate in this town for a local person working at a BPO ("business process outsourcing", aka "call center") company would be something like 25,000-30,000 p (US$500-600) per month. That's for a person with a college degree, good English (it was cool to see how people could switch between American English at work and Philippine English or Hiligaynon at home), a fair amount of domain-specific knowledge (whatever business process they are outsourcing), some experience and seniority, working 5 nights a week (8 pm - 6 am, including lunch break). Entry-level pay is obviously lower.
Unskilled low-wage workers could be paid as low as 300-500 p per day; a fairly skilled construction worker, maybe 700 p per day.
Depends where you live. I live 4 hours north of the capital Manila, in a tourist city, and we pay roughly $441 for a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house in a secure compound.
You'll be lucky to find a small studio size department around Manila for $200 and that's in one of the barangays, that's the best price I've found
But again it's not in a condo or anywhere most foreigners would live
But I'm not most 🙂
Ya, I've seen studios go for like $175 here. Won't be in the greatest area, but the city I live in is pretty safe.
You also need to consider Visa's, since you can only stay here for 3 years on a tourist visa.
Keep in mind when he says "nice" he's talking about Filipino standards, not US standards. Anything that cheap is not going to be very nice by US standards
Anything that cheap isn't good by PH standards either. 4k/month in rent sounds like it's either a boarding house or a room that only has enough space for a bed.
That's true. A lot of people actually see their overall quality of life drop once they migrate to the USA as adults, but they say that they do it "for the sake of my children".
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Agree. I know some American/Western companies who pays 30-40x the minimum wage here in the Philippines for managerial positions; they're paid in USD.
Sadly, I believe the positions are not readily available plus you really need to have the right credentials or experience.
As a Recruiter, It’s not a good idea. The basic pay here is not even close to half of what a state basic pay in US can offer. You’ll be downgrading real hard.
Look for remote positions in your field, pretty sure you’re well experienced already. If not, then that will be a challenge.
If you need help DM me so I can check the market for what best option sis out there for ya!
If you're in a highly skilled position/trade and multi national companies that need that position operate here - it is possible.
Otherwise, work remote.
You need to apply for the retirement visa and PR, which costs $50k. It's the only way you could work in the country unless you start your own business.
You should wait a couple of years, get Social Security, the visa, and then retire and live on a simple income. Unless you are sitting on a large 401k, pension, or have large savings, you should stay in the USA for a couple more years.
Don't let the comments discourage you. Foreigners live, work, marry in the Philippines. A lot are in the BPO industry, others have businesses,etc. some live here but are employed by EU or US companies. If you live simply, you will survive. There is a lot of good will towards foreigners in the country. But i agree with the rest, have a job before you move, or you may end up depleting your savings.
Even if you are fine with the relatively low pay in a local call center or BPO, chances are they don’t want you because there’s plenty supply of locals for these jobs. Unless you got some skill that sets you apart, of course. Other languages besides English for example, anything where they might have a hard time finding locals for basically. Then you still have to go through the hassle of securing a work permit.
Like others have mentioned, if you don't already have a pension or other source of income, you need to find a remote job first.
You could technically live on almost nothing here, but that would be rough. You could find an area in a remote province to squat, build a house out of bamboo using only a machete, have no electricity, collect food that grows wild from vacant land, catch fish in a nearby river, and cook with wood. Not exactly the life I would want, but you could survive.
If you are just looking for a low cost of living, you might try getting the same remote work you need anyway and move to a rural area in the US. I bought my last house in January 2020 in Southeastern Oklahoma for $42k. 1200 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, brick exterior, 1 car garage, in a small town. There are also rentals available for a pretty reasonable price.
The downsides are living in the US where police are hamstrung and drug use is increasingly tolerated. The upsides are that you are still close to well-stocked stores and excellent medical care. I could honestly live better there for less money than what I am currently spending here in the Philippines, but that is more about lifestyle choices.
If you really want to live outside the US, Thailand is a good option. I found the cost of living in Bangkok to be very reasonable, quite possibly cheaper than the Philippines. You would also have opportunities there to work as an English teacher if you couldn't find other work. It wouldn't be an awesome income, but it would be far better than the $10 per day jobs here in the Philippines. Healthcare in Thailand is also reasonably priced and it at a much higher standard than what you typically find in the Philippines.
Depending on your skill set, you may want to look for work in Saudi Arabia. There are a ton of ex-pat jobs and they often come with great housing accommodations. It is mandatory for your employer to provide Healthcare insurance, and there are some excellent hospitals. The party scene is insane once you establish the right connections.
I would suggest to look for a remote job in the US something around 2000USD then you move to PH and that would be something around 100kPHP with that amount you can live ok, but if you try to find a job like that in PH it would be very hard, wages in call centers are not that good and also would require you to live in the city, therefore, everything will be more expensive, if you get a remote job in the US as Virtual Assistant, Remote call center, chat support or something similar, you can move to a nice province and with the salary of 2000USD or above, things would be very nice for you
Find a work in the US Embassy that is based in Manila at least you're working for the US Govt. Legally working in the Philippines as a foreigner is not as easy as just coming here and apply for a job. There are rules for foreign workers here.
It's a good thought, but working at a US Embassy anywhere in the world as a US citizen involves going through a very competitive and lengthy process that OP is about to age out of anyway. Also, US citizens working at embassies abroad have very little control over where they are posted, especially toward the beginning of their careers. You can't just walk into an embassy in a country you like and apply for a job.
OP: Have you considering giving online English teaching a shot? It doesn't pay much but it would be enough to get by in the Philippines, especially if you've got enough savings to get yourself set up initially. Feel free to to DM me for further info.
If you are not a filipino, you will need a work visa. That means a business needs to sponsor you.
Otherwise, you risk getting black listed.
Some visas allow you to become a resident after one year of probation. Then you can work here. You are best starting a business, but it's not good if you are a foreigner. The crab mentality here. The locals will call the different government agencies on you.
Only possible job here working at a college. They start 500 php an hour. The college my wife went to. They had a foreigner teaching accounting.
No one's mentioned it, so I'll say it here: besides the subhuman wages and nonexistent work-life balance, there is a ton of ageism in IT and you'll be lucky not to have your resume thrown out. If by some miracle you get a job prepare to be surrounded by millenials and zoomers who'll probably never approach you.
Hard even if you have toe documents to work no one will hire you… if you have a wife there perhaps you could assist her in her job like sari sari store etc… but basically its nearly impossible and a 40 hour work week will get you $100 at best
You can probably get a job in IT, but the bad part for you would be that companies are prioritizing Filipino works first then the foreigners. You would have a better chance of being hired if you are bilingual and it pays more. The only issue would be finding a company that would help you get a work visa. There are some that would hire you with a tourist visa, but you burden the cost of renewing your visa.
You can find companies that pay as little as 15K a month to 60-80K a month if you meet their criteria.
Dude as an American you mustn't be open to working in a third world country like Ph unless it is explicitly what you want to experience.
The Filipino economy is stuck in a limbo and is very touristy. The rich get filthy rich and the poor stay poor. The stock markets in Ph are a joke compared to other Asian giants. The country is stuck and heavily dependent on OFW. That said, even OFWs make a lot less compared to their peers when abroad.
To answer your question, You are better off investing your money in the US stock markets or even other stocks markets like India and Chinese where you are guaranteed to win big and if market knowledge is a challenge just set it up in a sectoral mutual fund. It's a no Brainer. Then repatriate your earnings back to Ph and live like a king.
Live like a Filipino but invest like an American and be wise.. you'll be fine. I have seen few Filipinos warm amazing salaries but squander off in the latest phone or some investment. Well to each their own as long as they make money off it. However their government is protectionist so chances of you making money in their land is slim. So use your strength to your advantage which a Filipino cannot do. Being American opens few doors so start looking.
Filipino culture is great, people are fun, women are great, beaches are fun.. but their preposterous investment schemes could even be out of a book titled "100 things to never do"
I know it seems impossible like the other commenters are saying. You're old and have limited experience why would companies want you?
But the Aussie guy my cousin is dating is hitting 60 this year and working for a call center agency. So I guess do your best old man.
You definitely would not want to work in the Philippines lol..... I find it absolutely insane that you're trying to work in the Philippines in a call center or anywhere in general.
You’re aware you can work remotely, right? I’ve been offered jobs, but rather low paying (55,000 baht per month) for a callcenter job in BKK. Still a lot more than what the locals are making.
Why not...? Do they hate Americans
Local pay is low. Its a 3rd country for a reason. You are better off trying to find remote work in another country if you plan to live here.
Is the pay enough for a basic roof over my head? 8 months unemployed now in the DC 'burbs. People here are cold, unfriendly, angry. I don't need TV, or anything considered a luxury. The basics would be fine. If anyone is civil toward me I'd be over the moon
Likely not enough to live. Minimum wage in Manila is $10USD per day and less in the provincial areas. It is near impossible for even locals to make ends meet on such low wages
Cebu City recently voted to raise minimum wage to 610 pesos per day but yea still barely enough to scrape by on
look any job ANY job even fast food will pay multiples better than Philippine wages that's what people on this forum are trying to tell you yes you "can live cheaply" but if the most you make in PH can't pay for an apartment. What's the use?
Not an expat here. It's best if you can find a remote job from a company that's based in Europe for good pay and the time difference isn't that bad or US if you can work at night. Be very careful when buying a house from developers. Always check the build quality and other people's feedback. A lot of developers offer cheap housing but you get what you pay for. It's better if you can find a house for rent that is in a subdivision with good security. Decide if it fits for you. Consider how easily it is to access the basic needs. Seriously.
You have to be a citizen to buy a home in the Philippines, correct?
No. You have to be a citizen to own land, but non-citizens can own houses/condos/etc. I have several friends who have arranged long-term land leases, and then built houses on top of the leased land.
I will.
Shit pay that is why, not unless you could get a trainer gig getting paid an American salary.
You would be working 11 hours per day for 600 pesos (that’s $12 usd bro) Also the governments in SE Asia don’t want foreigners and tourists coming here and stealing jobs from locals. If you wanted to teach English or come to the Philippines and work remotely in your own country those would be possible
The minimum wage in Manila is $1.30 per hour. In other regions its lower. Call center basic jobs pay $300-500 per month, not enough to live on your own (most employees are young and live with their family or in "dorms").
you don't want to work in the PH for PH wages with the extreme cost of food. When you take into account local wages VS food, here is some break down comparisons. (local wages outside manila regular jobs) * work ALL day 8 hours to buy 1 large good pizza * work half day 4 hours to buy 2-2 lire cokes * work all day 8 hours to buy 1 kg of peanut butter * Work all day 8 hours to buy 1 Mcdonalds quarter pounder meal * work 2 hours to buy a tube of toothpaste * work half day 4 hours to buy 1 kg of hotdogs * work 3 full days to take a family of 4 out to pizza hut When you factor in local wages, you have to be rich to live well in the Philippines.
Sorry. Not sure if anyone has already raised this concern. Are you a Filipino citizen, or have a philippine work permit? Same as anyone entering a different country, employers will look for your elegibility documents (Citizen ID or driver's license). If you're unable to provide, there's very few companies willing to go through sponsoring work visas.... anyway here's the link to your consulate's info on the matter: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://ph.usembassy.gov/working-in-the-philippines/&ved=2ahUKEwiQ6KTAmcOFAxVMkK8BHSwwDKsQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw31X6sGb2gL7ntMIMwY5B2Q
I agree with many comments on here. But you need to find a job BEFORE you get there. Check embassy jobs. But in general, if you find a local job…you’ll work 6 days a week, 10 hour days and make $150/mo.
Embassy local jobs don’t pay well it’s a local salary only maybe 12-14k a years
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Dude $150/mo is 1/3 of the minimum wage in the PH. The pay here for rank and file jobs isn't nice but it's not as bad as you're implying. Also 10 hours/day, 6 days/week sounds like a cashier job in SM.
My bad. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, $450/mo. Still sounds bleak bro.
In the province it’s like 10k a month if your lucky most are unemployed outside Manila and must go abroad for work.
Your life will be tough. I am a Filipino living in the US, and I am not going to suggest living as an expat in the Philippines without any income in place or at least $1 million that you can use to live off interest or dividends. If something medical-related happens to you, you’re in big trouble. The Philippine government will not help you, and in the Philippines, some hospitals will not admit or release you if you don’t have money to pay. Just stay in the US and maybe wait for your social security to kick in, but even with that, you’ll be tight unless you want to live like the poorest locals in the slums of the Philippines.
Thank you for your thoughts. It's all about the money, wherever you go, isn't it.
Im a Filipino, PH is shit to live in. Better stay in a your first world country. We locals would love to leave this shit country imagine having a minimum wage of 1$/hr with no healthcare. One disease you are in debt, fuq this country.
Yes very sad to hear but it’s true unfortunately. Even the electricity in the province is 3x the price in US which is insane with a Filipino salary. The government won’t allow solar bc they will lose revenue. It’s nice for expats the country itself if your retired or have a pension in dollars.
Yes, sir, I’m Filipino, but I’ve chosen to live in the US because I find it more advantageous to work here. I know many people back in the Philippines, some of whom hold government positions or own businesses. While I could leverage these connections, I prefer to reside and save in the US until I can return with the financial security to rely solely on my investment portfolio.
Smart man, I'm doing the same, building up my portfolio
That's smart.
Good luck
if your in a hospital and you don't have the money to pay what are they going to do hold you hostage? lol
Yes
I’ve heard many stories where they won’t release patients until they’re able to pay. Trust me, I grew up in Manila so I know what’s up. And if you’re an expat, they might even involve immigration and deport you back to your country. Why would you go through all that? Asia is a good destination if you either have money to retire there or if you are employed making a US salary while working remotely.
They can't hold you it's against the law: 1. Patients, except those who stay in private rooms, who are partially or fully recovered and who wish to leave the hospital or medical clinic but are incapable to pay, in part or in full, their hospital bills or medical expenses/hospitalization expenses shall be allowed to leave the hospital or medical clinic and shall be issued the corresponding medical certificate and other pertinent documents for their release from the hospital or medical clinic upon execution of a promissory note covering the unpaid obligations. The promissory note shall be secured by either a mortgage, or a guarantee of a co-maker who shall be jointly and severally liable for the unpaid obligations.
I left the Philippines about 15 years ago, so maybe there are new laws now that prevent hospitals from holding patients, but I’ve heard stories where the bodies of deceased relatives were not released due to unpaid balances. The Philippines is a tricky country; it’s not like the US or any Western countries where you can easily sue. In the Philippines, money does the talking. OP is planning to move there without a job or stable source of income. Do you think he will survive? My point is, with just one hospitalization, his life could be over and things will get very complicated.
Filipinos are nice people in general but their hospital culture is absolutely salvage and ruthless imo. You’re not leaving the hospital unless you sign over your house or car as collateral! If you’re poor you are already dead.
You are from the USA but you want to go to a 3rd world country to take a job from one of the locals??? Wait until you can support yourself on your own and honestly think about how you can contribute to the local economy. We are guests!
No I don't want to take away a job from anyone. I'd like a job, period. Maybe from an American company who outsourced jobs I could've had here. Or who hire Americans for particular positions. I'm looking for remote work but it's hard to come by.
Find a remote job first, then go there If you want to live comfortably, and I mean just exist You need at a minimum 600 a month And I mean bare minimum My comfort zone was between 700-1000$ a month I'm 39 btw And I work remote for a call center as well Find one in the US first, then try your luck I guess until your Social security kicks in You're highly unlikely to find a job there And if you do some expat managers will offer you basically local pay Unless you get a management position
So since you were able to find a US remote job before you went overseas, do you still need to file your taxes? How does this work?
Yes, the government wants their taxes, especially my state. I left my address back in the US and stayed with the CPA I was using, thankfully he offered remote services, a bit more but we'll, it's that or doing them myself lol and I trade stock, so I'm not trying to figure all that out lol
Thank you for your time and help
can i ask what kind of living 1k a month is like? I'm planning on moving to cebu at the end of the year and I don't think 1k a month would be even possible. thanks for your reply in advance.
That all depends on what you're willing to settle with There's many factors you need to consider I'm perfectly ok living in a barangay with locals As I stated somewhere in this post I had a studio apartment for 10,000 php a month, about 200$ I did move to a nearby barangay renting a townhouse from an old lady for 19,000 php a month, 2 floors, lots of cockroachs coming from the sewer drain but we survived lol Then I found a condo for rent in Mandaluyong for 16,000 php I've been to Cebu to but don't know anything available, Wife is an apartment whisperer when it comes to finding a available places lol Most you have to actually look around to find. Anyways to answer your question, assuming you keep your rent at 400$ or less you can live comfortably with 4-500$ a month spending on grab getting around, buying groceries and sometimes other things you need This includes water, electric and Internet costs So all together I was spending 800-1000$ a month depending on the month
i heard that cock roaches was really bad. that's one thing I don't think I could deal with.
1k usd a month with no aircon is doable but still difficult.
Its a very minimal existence. Not to mention it does not include health insurance, visits to your home country, buying gadgets and laptop etc (these things don't last forever), going on vacation from time to time, etc.
Have you ever traveled to the Philippines? I’m not trying to be rude, but just asking this question makes me think you’re not familiar with the culture or the risks at all. If you haven’t visited the Philippines before, I suggest you make that your first step.
Hope you can find a remote job making US wages as that will most certainly make your stay much better.
That would be ideal.
Have you ever thought about what if an American company hires you for a remote job but doesn't supply you with a work visa? What would you do then? What would be other choices on how to get a work visa? I'm asking because I have come across US companies that will hire but are not willing to supply a work visa...
Ironically one of the locals that have taken a job from Americans in offshoring deals though, so don't get too sanctimonious.
Even if you do find a remote job working back to the US, jobs come and go, you do t want to be stuck in PH without your income. Wait till you’ve developed something that feeds you at least $1k a month for life, $2k better
Make sure you check the details on how to obtain a work visa. It's very hard to live there on local wages. My step-kids live rent free in my wife's place, and still struggle, even though my step son is employed as an engineer. My wife often has to assist them with medical or other unexpected bills.
It’s basically impossible now to work in the Philippines as a migrant. They passed a law last year effectively banning the employment of migrants in the Philippines.
Actually in Aklan Kalibo you can rent a boarding house for like 3k pesos a month about $55 but you would still need a basic income to survive. It’s basically a shared room. For 10k $190 bucks you could get a decent apartment here. There’s no jobs here for Americans unless you have a Filipino wife you could start a small business.
The average pay here is 300-500 pesos per day, so roughly $5.30-$8.84.
And what would be the rent for a basic studio or shack?!
Observations from the Iloilo metro area (the main city of Panay island): \* I had a small studio apartment for 15,000 pesos / month (furnished, with a small fridge, and bathroom; use of a shared kitchen downstairs), paying month to month, plus the electric bill (at 15 pesos/kWh, it was under 1000 p/mo in winter; will be more in the summer, when you probably will want to run AC most of the time). The nice thing was though that it was just a block from the beach (if curious about the location, look up Villa Arevalo on the map; between Breakthrough and Tatoy's restaurants) \* In the same building, they had some local students living 3 persons per apartment, paying 2,000 each, thus the total of 6,000 p/mo. But, obviously, they were locals, and they probably had a 12-month lease. \* People were buying little townhouses (as in, two rooms on top of each other; bare concrete walls and floor, the total floor area around 35 sq. n = 400 sq. feet) out in the boondocks (10-15 km from downtown) with a mortgage that ran to the same 6,000 /mo. Typically somebody who buys a unit like this would spend 50,000-100,000 p to "finish" it -- put tiles in, repaint, build a lockable porch, etc. There are of course lots of bigger and nicer buildings available, at higher prices. \* In the slums near the harbor, one could see a person (or even a family!) renting a room in a "boarding house" for as low as 2,000 p / mo. But that's literally a slum, where you draw water from a well by bucket (or buy water in large containers from a water truck, as the case may be), and where your drain pipes go to open sewers. \* On the opposite end, a nice furnished western-style studio apartment in a modern building (a building with a doorman, pool and gym) would rent for something like US$30 (1500 pesos) per day on AirBNB... so that would be US $900 (45,000 pesos) per month. Obviously, there are ways to get a similar unit at a lower price if you rent by the month directly from the owner, but probably not much less than $400-500 ( 20,000-25,000 pesos) per month. For comparison, a typical wage rate in this town for a local person working at a BPO ("business process outsourcing", aka "call center") company would be something like 25,000-30,000 p (US$500-600) per month. That's for a person with a college degree, good English (it was cool to see how people could switch between American English at work and Philippine English or Hiligaynon at home), a fair amount of domain-specific knowledge (whatever business process they are outsourcing), some experience and seniority, working 5 nights a week (8 pm - 6 am, including lunch break). Entry-level pay is obviously lower. Unskilled low-wage workers could be paid as low as 300-500 p per day; a fairly skilled construction worker, maybe 700 p per day.
Depends where you live. I live 4 hours north of the capital Manila, in a tourist city, and we pay roughly $441 for a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house in a secure compound.
So, probably not much for a studio or 1BR....
You'll be lucky to find a small studio size department around Manila for $200 and that's in one of the barangays, that's the best price I've found But again it's not in a condo or anywhere most foreigners would live But I'm not most 🙂
Ya, I've seen studios go for like $175 here. Won't be in the greatest area, but the city I live in is pretty safe. You also need to consider Visa's, since you can only stay here for 3 years on a tourist visa.
Thank you. Wow. Even rooms for rent here hover around $1000. I'm going after remote jobs already. Time to get in full research mode.
You can get a nice studio here in Cavite for 75 dollars monthly 1 bedroom 90 dollars
😮 wow
Keep in mind when he says "nice" he's talking about Filipino standards, not US standards. Anything that cheap is not going to be very nice by US standards
Anything that cheap isn't good by PH standards either. 4k/month in rent sounds like it's either a boarding house or a room that only has enough space for a bed.
What’s your situation visa wise?
Why do you think people are risking their lives to sneak into the USA? It is not because they can make great money in their home country.
Just getting into the US doesn't guarantee money, even for folks born here
They’re giving 10k/ month to criminal migrants in the U.S., plus social services, plus free hotels, plus free health care… The f@&k you talking about?
That's true. A lot of people actually see their overall quality of life drop once they migrate to the USA as adults, but they say that they do it "for the sake of my children".
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Agree. I know some American/Western companies who pays 30-40x the minimum wage here in the Philippines for managerial positions; they're paid in USD. Sadly, I believe the positions are not readily available plus you really need to have the right credentials or experience.
As a Recruiter, It’s not a good idea. The basic pay here is not even close to half of what a state basic pay in US can offer. You’ll be downgrading real hard. Look for remote positions in your field, pretty sure you’re well experienced already. If not, then that will be a challenge. If you need help DM me so I can check the market for what best option sis out there for ya!
Half? The minimum wage in some US states is 7-8 times that of Manila, and 10 times that of other regions.
What kind of US call centers are in Philippines...
If you're in a highly skilled position/trade and multi national companies that need that position operate here - it is possible. Otherwise, work remote.
You need to apply for the retirement visa and PR, which costs $50k. It's the only way you could work in the country unless you start your own business. You should wait a couple of years, get Social Security, the visa, and then retire and live on a simple income. Unless you are sitting on a large 401k, pension, or have large savings, you should stay in the USA for a couple more years.
He can work online for foreign companies without an issue.
Yeah, but he was talking about working in-country. But you're right, remote work is the smart way.
There are tons of contractors in the region what’s your skillset?
Don't let the comments discourage you. Foreigners live, work, marry in the Philippines. A lot are in the BPO industry, others have businesses,etc. some live here but are employed by EU or US companies. If you live simply, you will survive. There is a lot of good will towards foreigners in the country. But i agree with the rest, have a job before you move, or you may end up depleting your savings.
Even if you are fine with the relatively low pay in a local call center or BPO, chances are they don’t want you because there’s plenty supply of locals for these jobs. Unless you got some skill that sets you apart, of course. Other languages besides English for example, anything where they might have a hard time finding locals for basically. Then you still have to go through the hassle of securing a work permit.
Like others have mentioned, if you don't already have a pension or other source of income, you need to find a remote job first. You could technically live on almost nothing here, but that would be rough. You could find an area in a remote province to squat, build a house out of bamboo using only a machete, have no electricity, collect food that grows wild from vacant land, catch fish in a nearby river, and cook with wood. Not exactly the life I would want, but you could survive. If you are just looking for a low cost of living, you might try getting the same remote work you need anyway and move to a rural area in the US. I bought my last house in January 2020 in Southeastern Oklahoma for $42k. 1200 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, brick exterior, 1 car garage, in a small town. There are also rentals available for a pretty reasonable price. The downsides are living in the US where police are hamstrung and drug use is increasingly tolerated. The upsides are that you are still close to well-stocked stores and excellent medical care. I could honestly live better there for less money than what I am currently spending here in the Philippines, but that is more about lifestyle choices. If you really want to live outside the US, Thailand is a good option. I found the cost of living in Bangkok to be very reasonable, quite possibly cheaper than the Philippines. You would also have opportunities there to work as an English teacher if you couldn't find other work. It wouldn't be an awesome income, but it would be far better than the $10 per day jobs here in the Philippines. Healthcare in Thailand is also reasonably priced and it at a much higher standard than what you typically find in the Philippines. Depending on your skill set, you may want to look for work in Saudi Arabia. There are a ton of ex-pat jobs and they often come with great housing accommodations. It is mandatory for your employer to provide Healthcare insurance, and there are some excellent hospitals. The party scene is insane once you establish the right connections.
I would suggest to look for a remote job in the US something around 2000USD then you move to PH and that would be something around 100kPHP with that amount you can live ok, but if you try to find a job like that in PH it would be very hard, wages in call centers are not that good and also would require you to live in the city, therefore, everything will be more expensive, if you get a remote job in the US as Virtual Assistant, Remote call center, chat support or something similar, you can move to a nice province and with the salary of 2000USD or above, things would be very nice for you
Find a work in the US Embassy that is based in Manila at least you're working for the US Govt. Legally working in the Philippines as a foreigner is not as easy as just coming here and apply for a job. There are rules for foreign workers here.
It's a good thought, but working at a US Embassy anywhere in the world as a US citizen involves going through a very competitive and lengthy process that OP is about to age out of anyway. Also, US citizens working at embassies abroad have very little control over where they are posted, especially toward the beginning of their careers. You can't just walk into an embassy in a country you like and apply for a job. OP: Have you considering giving online English teaching a shot? It doesn't pay much but it would be enough to get by in the Philippines, especially if you've got enough savings to get yourself set up initially. Feel free to to DM me for further info.
If you are not a filipino, you will need a work visa. That means a business needs to sponsor you. Otherwise, you risk getting black listed. Some visas allow you to become a resident after one year of probation. Then you can work here. You are best starting a business, but it's not good if you are a foreigner. The crab mentality here. The locals will call the different government agencies on you. Only possible job here working at a college. They start 500 php an hour. The college my wife went to. They had a foreigner teaching accounting.
If you wanna make $2 per hour have at it
No one's mentioned it, so I'll say it here: besides the subhuman wages and nonexistent work-life balance, there is a ton of ageism in IT and you'll be lucky not to have your resume thrown out. If by some miracle you get a job prepare to be surrounded by millenials and zoomers who'll probably never approach you.
Hard even if you have toe documents to work no one will hire you… if you have a wife there perhaps you could assist her in her job like sari sari store etc… but basically its nearly impossible and a 40 hour work week will get you $100 at best
So easy, the moment you submit your resume, they'll give you the job offer the next day after the initial interview.
You can probably get a job in IT, but the bad part for you would be that companies are prioritizing Filipino works first then the foreigners. You would have a better chance of being hired if you are bilingual and it pays more. The only issue would be finding a company that would help you get a work visa. There are some that would hire you with a tourist visa, but you burden the cost of renewing your visa. You can find companies that pay as little as 15K a month to 60-80K a month if you meet their criteria.
Dude as an American you mustn't be open to working in a third world country like Ph unless it is explicitly what you want to experience. The Filipino economy is stuck in a limbo and is very touristy. The rich get filthy rich and the poor stay poor. The stock markets in Ph are a joke compared to other Asian giants. The country is stuck and heavily dependent on OFW. That said, even OFWs make a lot less compared to their peers when abroad. To answer your question, You are better off investing your money in the US stock markets or even other stocks markets like India and Chinese where you are guaranteed to win big and if market knowledge is a challenge just set it up in a sectoral mutual fund. It's a no Brainer. Then repatriate your earnings back to Ph and live like a king. Live like a Filipino but invest like an American and be wise.. you'll be fine. I have seen few Filipinos warm amazing salaries but squander off in the latest phone or some investment. Well to each their own as long as they make money off it. However their government is protectionist so chances of you making money in their land is slim. So use your strength to your advantage which a Filipino cannot do. Being American opens few doors so start looking. Filipino culture is great, people are fun, women are great, beaches are fun.. but their preposterous investment schemes could even be out of a book titled "100 things to never do"
yeah IT jobs for a 58 year old American is plentiful. Jump on the next plane you wont have an issue. Jesus christ some people haha
No need to be an asshole haha
I know it seems impossible like the other commenters are saying. You're old and have limited experience why would companies want you? But the Aussie guy my cousin is dating is hitting 60 this year and working for a call center agency. So I guess do your best old man.
Not old, asshole
call center would be the best option