Cost of Living & Budget
Can you really live on $500 a month? What about $800 a year? Pea covers every budget level from survival to luxury.
14 videos in this collection, spanning 2020 to 2026.
1. HOW MUCH House can you GET for 500 (RENTAL IN THE PHILIPPINES)
Pea tours a rental property in Valencia, about 15 minutes from Dumaguete City, showing what a mid-range budget gets you in the Philippines compared to Western prices. Rather than the usual "how cheap can you go" approach, she deliberately showcases a larger home suited to expats with families or in-laws.
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2. CHEAP LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES — A Filipino Monthly Budget
Pea takes viewers on an on-the-ground tour of Dumaguete's local markets, restaurants, and shops to show exactly what things cost and how Filipinos stretch small paychecks. The video doubles as a reality check for foreign men supporting a Filipina long-distance who want to understand what her actual budget looks like.
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3. HOUSE ON A BUDGET Simple House Design 20K - Building A Home In The Philippines
Pea gives a comprehensive progress update on building her parents their first real house on the island of Leyte, now eight weeks into construction and roughly halfway complete.
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4. CAN YOU MAKE IT ON 500 A MONTH In The Philippines
Pea takes the widely repeated claim that a foreigner can live on $500/month in the Philippines and stress-tests it by working backwards through a daily budget of $16.50.
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5. BUILDING A HOUSE IN THE PROVINCE: What Does It Cost?
Pea gives a detailed walkthrough of the house she's building for her parents in Leyte province, fulfilling a promise she made at age four. The video covers the construction progress, room-by-room tour, real material costs with inflation breakdowns, and the emotional significance of giving her family things most Westerners take for granted — like...
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6. HOW MUCH HAPPINESS CAN $5 BUY In The Philippines
Pea takes viewers on a Sunday shopping trip to her local discount clothing stores in Dumaguete to demonstrate how far five U.S. dollars goes in the Philippines.
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7. CAN YOU LIVE ON 800 PER YEAR These Folks Can
This is a follow-up to Pea's previous video visiting a traditional Filipino family living in the mountains. Viewers were so moved by the family's happy but bare-bones life that they suggested things the family could use.
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8. LIVE NEAR THE BEACH FOR ONLY 360 PER MONTH
Pea tours a rental property in Dauin, Negros Oriental with local real estate contact Alma, walking through every room and covering the full cost breakdown for foreigners considering a move to this quiet beach town about 20 minutes from Dumaguete City.
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9. How Much Money Does A Filipina Really Need? The True Cost Of A Provincial Life
Pea breaks down the real cost of living for an average Filipina in the Philippine provinces, peso by peso. The video is aimed at foreign men who are either considering living Filipino-style themselves or — more commonly — sending money to support a Filipina partner.
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10. How Much Do You Need To Live Like A King In The Philippines
Pea breaks down the real cost of living in the Philippines for foreigners considering the move, updated for 2024 with inflation-adjusted figures. Rather than giving a single magic number, she walks through every major budget category — housing, transportation, food, utilities, healthcare, and the girlfriend factor — explaining how lifestyle...
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11. A Luxury Life In The Philippines - What Does It Cost?
Pea tours a luxury one-bedroom condo unit for rent in Dauin, Dumaguete area, with real estate agent Elma. The walkthrough covers every room, amenity, and policy in detail, giving viewers a concrete picture of what high-end Philippine living looks like and costs.
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12. How Much Does A Woman Cost To Date
Pea hits the beach to interview random people about modern dating expectations — who should pay, how much a date should cost, whether women would demand a man cover their Uber and babysitter, and what the 80/20 rule really means in practice.
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13. Is A Foreign Pension Enough To Be Rich In The Philippines
Pea takes to the streets to ask a dozen random Filipinas exactly how much money they think foreigners have, where they think it comes from, whether they'd marry you for it, and whether your looks matter if you're loaded.
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14. The Pretty Filipina Challenge - Three Beauties On A Budget
Pea puts Filipina shopping skills to the test with a fashion challenge: three young women each receive 1,500 pesos (about $25 USD) and must find three complete outfits — casual, church, and sportswear — without going over budget.
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