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. It's part property showcase, part cultural window — Pea and Elma's banter reveals as much about Filipino life and humor as the condo itself.

Location and setting ​

• The condo is inside an exclusive resort property in Dauin (near Dumaguete City, about 15–20 minutes by car to the mall and city center)
• Beachfront with a marine protected sanctuary — no fishing allowed, but snorkeling and diving are available with a dive shop right next door
• Two swimming pools (one per building section), one approximately 9 feet deep in the center
• Pool area includes a bar where you can sit and drink
• The resort hosts Saturday night events with food and drinks available for order
• A yacht harbor is visible from the property — Pea spots one during filming
• Kayaking and kite surfing (seasonal, during amihan/northeast monsoon around December) are available
• A small hut/gazebo area near the beach for morning coffee, remote work, or hosting guests outside your unit
• National Highway is a 2-minute walk away with pedicabs, buses, and jeepneys for transportation

The unit itself — detailed walkthrough ​

• One bedroom, two bathrooms (one en suite, one powder room for guests)
• High ceilings with exposed wooden beams
• Decorated with cultural touches: anito figures (pre-colonial Filipino spiritual carvings, common in Baguio where Elma used to live) and a traditional sunka board game
• A porch/balcony area with views of the pool and water — Pea suggests it's good for cigar smoking, poker games, or just decompressing
• Bedroom: queen-size bed with hotel-style presentation (heart-shaped towel swans), rattan furniture, split-type air conditioning, bedside tables with lamps on both sides
• Pea specifically praises the bedside tables — she's annoyed that many Filipino homes lack them
• Extremely quiet — Elma says you can only hear birds chirping
• A vault/safe in the closet for valuables

Bathroom ​

• Described as "luxurious, like a hotel"
• Rainfall shower mounted high on the wall
• Glass block walls that let in natural light, making the space feel larger
• Dual setup — two shower areas so a couple can use it simultaneously (Elma jokes about not having to fight with her husband for bathroom time)
• Pea contrasts this with typical Filipino bathrooms: often tiny, sometimes just a "one square foot" shower area with a single fixture

Kitchen and dining ​

• Full kitchen with oven (Germania brand), induction cooktop (no gas — electric only throughout the unit), hood vent
• All cutlery, bowls, plates, and a rice cooker provided — "all you have to do is bring yourself and your clothes"
• Dual sink with hot and cold water and good water pressure
• A pantry (Elma notes most Filipino homes don't have dedicated pantries)
• Dishwasher included — Pea jokes this is "for lazy people" and that Filipinas prefer to wash dishes by hand
• Dining table seats four (was being repaired at time of filming)
• Elma started cooking at age 5 out of necessity — the only thing she knew how to make was rice, growing up in the mountains with no oven

Costs and policies ​

• Rent: ₱75,000/month (approximately $1,299 USD at time of filming)
• WiFi and water: included free
• Maintenance of exterior/common areas: handled by property management
• Tenant pays only electricity
• No brownouts — the compound has its own large backup generator
• Gym (Bala Fit) available on-site for approximately ₱3,000/month membership
• Minimum lease: one year, negotiable for longer terms with possible rent adjustment
• Restaurants next door within the compound and along the National Highway nearby (close to Bacolod area with many dining options)

Strict restrictions ​

• No pets allowed
• No children allowed — the unit is restricted to couples only
• Pea probes this policy: what happens if your Filipina girlfriend gets pregnant during the one-year lease? Elma confirms the landlord won't kick you out mid-lease, but the lease will not be renewed — you'd need to find a new unit
• The no-kids/no-pets rule exists because other tenants don't want noise from dogs, screaming children, or (Pea adds with Filipino flair) chickens and roosters

Pea and Elma's banter and cultural moments ​

• Pea riffs on all the roles she'd need to fill at this property: waitress Pea, bartender Pea, chef Pea, tour guide Pea, diving instructor Pea
• Elma jokes about trapping a man in the pantry as a "pleasure palace" with a "session in progress, don't disturb" sign
• Pea says she doesn't wear clothes most of the time (joking about not needing the closet)
• Elma's contact information provided in the video description for anyone interested in rentals or property viewings in the Dauin/Dumaguete area

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