Costs in Southeast Asia: LA vs. Manila 🇺🇸➡️🇵🇭

Costs in Southeast Asia: LA vs. Manila 🇺🇸➡️🇵🇭

As full-time travelers and digital nomads, one of the most common questions we get is: “How much does it really cost to live abroad?” To answer that, we decided to do a full breakdown comparing our monthly expenses in Los Angeles, USA, to our monthly costs living in Manila, Philippines.

The results were eye-opening, some things were surprisingly cheaper, others caught us off guard, and overall it gave us a real sense of how far your money can go in Southeast Asia. We captured the full experience in our latest YouTube video:

What You’ll See in the Video

  • Rent & Accommodation: How much we pay for housing in Manila compared to LA.

  • Food & Groceries: Dining out vs. cooking at home, and surprising differences in prices.

  • Transportation: Cost of getting around the city, from Grab rides to public transport.

  • Lifestyle & Entertainment: From gyms to cafes to weekend adventures, what it costs to live comfortably.

  • Real Reactions: Our honest thoughts on the affordability and quality of life.

5 Tips to Budget While Living in Southeast Asia 💡

1. Embrace Local Markets & Street Food
Eating like a local is not only fun and authentic but also budget-friendly. Street food in Manila can be a fraction of the cost of restaurant meals.

2. Choose Your Accommodation Wisely
Long-term rentals or serviced apartments often cost far less than hotels. Consider negotiating monthly rates for extended stays.

3. Use Public Transportation & Rideshares
Apps like Grab make getting around affordable, while public buses or jeepneys can save even more if you’re adventurous.

4. Track Your Daily Expenses
Use a simple budgeting app or spreadsheet to track spending. Southeast Asia is affordable, but small daily costs can add up quickly.

5. Mix Experiences
Balance splurges (like a weekend getaway or a fancy meal) with low-cost activities (temple visits, beaches, local hikes) to stretch your budget further.

Comparing LA to Manila really opened our eyes to how different cost of living can be, and how much flexibility Southeast Asia offers for travelers and digital nomads.

If you want an honest, practical, and sometimes surprising look at how far your money can go in Southeast Asia, check out the full video!

With love,
Vanessa & Jay 🌏💖

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