Dennis and Annabelle — combining an American expat perspective with local Filipino insight.
Hi, I’m Dennis.
Along with my partner Annabelle, I moved from the United States to the Philippines in 2025.
This website documents what we’ve learned along the way—the good, the bad, and the things nobody tells you before you move.
The Company Closed My Division. So I Moved to the Philippines.
I spent years as an Operations Manager running a contract packaging facility. Then my company eliminated the entire division. I was part of a RIF — reduction in force — and just like that, the job I’d built my routine around was gone.
I could have started the job search. Updated the LinkedIn profile. Gone through the whole cycle again.
Instead, I looked at my girlfriend — who had spent the last 15 years living in America, far from her family — and we made a different call. In September 2025, we packed up and moved to the Philippines so she could finally go home.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
We landed in Ormoc, settled in, and started figuring things out from scratch — visas, banking, healthcare, where to live, what things actually cost versus what YouTube says they cost.
There’s a lot of content out there about moving to the Philippines. Most of it skims the surface, or it’s five years out of date, or it’s so optimistic it borders on misleading.
I wanted something more practical. Real numbers. Real tradeoffs. Real experiences. The stuff that actually trips people up in the first few months.
So I built this guide.
Where I Am Now
After several months in Ormoc, we’re now in hte process of moving to Dumaguete — one of the most popular spots for expats in the Philippines, and honestly, a good fit for us. Slower pace, walkable, real community.
I’m writing everything here based on what I’ve actually done, spent, researched, and gotten wrong. When I reference a cost, it’s because I paid it. When I say something is harder than it looks, it’s because I found out the hard way.
What This Guide Covers
- Visas — what most expats actually use, and what to ignore
- Cost of living — real monthly budgets, not YouTube estimates
- Healthcare — what’s affordable, what’s not, and why insurance matters
- Banking & money transfers — how to access your money without getting gouged
- Housing — how to find a good place without overpaying on your first lease
Phone & connectivity — staying reachable without a US plan
A Note on How This Site Works
Some links on this site are affiliate links — if you buy something through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I’ve personally used or researched thoroughly: the health insurance providers, the banking tools, the phone setup. Nothing here is sponsored or paid placement.
If you have a question the guides don’t answer, feel free to reach out at Dennis@philippinesexpatguide.com
I read everything.
Annabelle grew up in the Philippines and spent more than 15 years living in the United States before returning home. Having both an American and Filipino perspective has been invaluable. Many of the guides on this site are shaped by conversations between us—combining what expats struggle with and how things actually work locally.
Start Planning Your Move
New to the Philippines?
Download the free checklist and avoid the mistakes most expats make during their first six months.
• Just starting your move → Start with the Pre-Move Checklist
• Trying to figure out your budget → See Cost of Living
• Need to keep your US phone number → Follow this step-by-step guide