Frank Barros
Founder & Author
I'm a Filipino-American who grew up in Manila and currently lives in New York City. I go back to the Philippines often — it's still home in a way that's hard to explain to people who haven't grown up between two countries.
I built this site because I kept getting the same questions from friends, coworkers, and internet strangers: "How much does it actually cost to live there?" "Which visa do I need?" "Is it safe?" The answers were always scattered across outdated blogs, Reddit threads from 2019, and YouTube vlogs that spend 20 minutes getting to the point.
So I made the resource I wished existed — one place with real data, honest opinions, and zero fluff. Every cost figure is researched. Every visa guide cites official sources. And when I don't know something, I say so.
Why Trust This Site
I grew up there
Not a digital nomad who spent three months in Cebu. I grew up in Manila, went to school there, and still have family across the country.
Everything is sourced
Cost figures come from real listings and local research. Visa guides link to official Bureau of Immigration and PRA pages. You can verify anything I write.
I get both sides
Living in the US taught me what foreigners find confusing about the Philippines. Growing up Filipino taught me what locals take for granted. That gap is what this site fills.
What This Site Is (and Isn't)
This is a practical resource. I write about costs, visas, neighborhoods, and logistics — the stuff you actually need to figure out before moving. I give my honest opinion when it's relevant, and I label it as such.
This is not a tourism site. I'm not trying to sell you on the Philippines. Some cities are great for expats and some aren't. I'll tell you which is which.
If something on this site is wrong or out of date, email me. I'd rather fix it than pretend it's perfect.
Get in Touch
Found an error? Know something I don't? Just want to say hi?