Why the Philippines Just Got Cheaper for Expats (2026 Cost of Living)

Why the Philippines just got cheaper for expats in 2026 — and what it means for your Social Security. If you're an American retiree collecting Social Security in USD, your dollar goes further in the Philippines now than it did last year. The improved peso-to-dollar exchange rate is saving me approximately $200 a month compared to 2025. In this video I break down my real monthly expenses living in Dumaguete — rent, food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment — with actual numbers from my own life. Your Social Security dollars stretch further here, and I'll show you exactly how. #cost of living philippines #retiring in the philippines #social security philippines 💵 The exchange rate advantage is real. If you're getting paid in USD — whether Social Security, pension, or retirement income — 2026 is a better time than ever to consider retiring in the Philippines. ✅ Share your experiences in the comments! Thank you for your support BUY ME A COFFEE https://buymeacoffee.com/mikesphiliX PayPal https://paypal.me/MikesPhilippine Join our channel to get access to perks:    / @mikesphilippineretirement   Privacy Notice 🌟 Thank you for being part of this channel! We sometimes capture video or audio in public spaces here in the Philippines. We always aim to respect everyone’s privacy and do our best to blur or mask faces, especially children and bystanders. If you happen to appear in any of our videos and you'd like us to make changes, please feel free to reach out anytime at mikesphilippineretirement@.gmail.com We’re happy to help! We appreciate your support and understanding as we share stories and experiences from our journey. HEIDI CAJES- C&G CONSULTING VISA AND SRRV / 13A INFO https://cgconsulting.ph/mike HOW TO GET YOUR MAIL BACK HOME CHECK OUT iPostal1 The Complete Digital Mailbox a href="https://ipostal1.com/?ref=3647" target="_blank" AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this channel are affiliate links, meaning, at NO additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe FACEBOOK Check out my Facebook page Mikes Philippine Retirement https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... EMAIL MY E MAIL ADDRESS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS mikesphilippineretirement@gmail.com 00:00 Intro: Why the Philippines Got Cheaper in 2026 00:42 Rent: My Budget vs Newbie Budget 01:07 Electricity 01:31 Water Bill 02:06 Internet & Cable TV 03:04 Groceries 03:44 Inflation vs Exchange Rate 04:26 Dining out 05:30 Drinking Water 05:53 Coffee Budget 06:27 Laundry 06:50 PhilHealth 07:23 Visa Extensions 08:08 Transportion 08:50 Buying a Bike 09:43 Medical Emergency Fund 12:06 Miscellaneous 12:27 Total Budget Reveal: 2025 vs 2026 13:40 What's Actually Going Up (Inflation Breakdown) 16:00 Rent Stability & Final Advice