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Thinking about retiring or relocating to the Philippines? This is the guide that tells you the truth.

Most books about moving abroad sell you a dream. This one prepares you for a life.

The American's Practical Guide to Living in the Philippines was written by an American nurse who left Alaska after a 23-year marriage ended, found love on a Filipino dating site, sold everything he owned, and moved to the Philippines — all in the span of three months. He's the first to admit it was reckless. He's also honest enough to acknowledge that it worked out through a combination of genuine connection and extraordinary luck — and that the same path has gone badly wrong for many others who weren't as fortunate.

That hard-won perspective is what makes this guide different. It doesn't romanticize. It doesn't sensationalize. It gives you the complete, current, practical picture of what life in the Philippines actually looks like for an American in 2026 — the extraordinary advantages alongside the real challenges — so your decision is informed rather than impulsive, and your move is built on preparation rather than hope.

Inside this comprehensive guide, you'll find:

Every visa option explained in plain English — tourist extensions, the updated SRRV retirement visa (with the little-known Veterans Courtesy Visa that can save military retirees thousands of dollars), the 13A marriage visa, and Balikbayan privileges — including current 2026 fees and requirements

Honest cost-of-living breakdowns across three lifestyle tiers — budget ($1,000–$1,400/month), comfortable ($1,500–$2,200/month), and premium ($2,500+/month) — with real peso prices and the hidden costs most guides never mention

City-by-city location guide covering Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Baguio, and small island living — with honest pros and cons for each, including the healthcare proximity question that should drive your location decision above everything else

Banking and money management — how to get your U.S. income to the Philippines cheaply and reliably using Wise, Remitly, and the Schwab account that saves expats real money every month

U.S. tax obligations that don't stop when you move — FBAR, FATCA, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, Social Security abroad, and the VA benefits available to veterans living in the Philippines (including the dedicated VA Regional Benefit Office in Manila)

Healthcare navigation — the world-class private hospitals in major cities, the stark limitations in rural areas, how to choose and structure international health insurance, and the medical evacuation planning that every expat outside a major city needs

Dating, relationships, and marriage — the cultural landscape, family dynamics, financial expectations, red flags, scam patterns, and the legal reality of marrying in the only country besides the Vatican without divorce

Safety and natural disaster preparedness — a geographically honest assessment of where risks are real and where they're overstated, the typhoon signal system, earthquake protocols, and flood preparedness

And much more!

The American's Practical Guide To Living In The Philippines

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