Spaniard moved to the Philippines, came home with hard lessons

The Spaniard who moved to the Philippines and came back with a lesson learned

He left Spain fed up, believing Southeast Asia was a shortcut to the easy life. Months later he returned with barely any savings and the certainty that emigrating to a country without infrastructure or a real job market is no bargain. What went wrong with the plan?

The chronicle of a return foretold

A Spanish professional, fed up with the cost of living in Spain and the difficulty of finding a job that would let him live comfortably, made the decision in 2024: he moved to the Philippines. He had seen videos of "gurus" boasting about easy romantic relationships and a laughably low cost of living. But reality was very different. According to his own account, the main obstacle was the job market: while a hiring process in Spain can be wrapped up in a month, in the Philippines it drags on for months, and work visas even require holding on to your passport. He didn't find work in time and had to return. "I learned from the experience, went back to Spain, found a job and have long since recovered my finances," he said months later.

The Philippines versus its neighbours: numbers that matter

Tourism and expatriate figures paint a clear picture. The Philippines received 5.5 million tourists in 2019; Thailand, 28 million; Vietnam, 18 million. Infrastructure is dismal outside the Makati or BGC bubbles: outdated airports, third-world roads, real insecurity. Add a dark element: a significant share of Western male tourism seeks sensual exploitation, including of minors, an open secret that stains the country's fruta. Those who go looking for work run into lengthy processes and salaries that don't cover the real cost of a decent life.

More realistic alternatives for those who want to emigrate

After the Philippines' failure, the debate shifts to other destinations. Thailand, though more expensive and marred by mass tourism, offers reliable infrastructure and a more agile job market. Vietnam and Malaysia emerge as solid options: in Vietnam, a decent apartment costs between 200 and 500 euros a month; in Malaysia, between 400 and 1,000, with modern options in Kuala Lumpur. What's more, Malaysia's "My Second Home" visa is accessible. For those weighing early retirement on a pension of around 2,000 euros, Southeast Asia remains viable, but only with a careful choice: Singapore is prohibitive; the Philippines, a risk.

The sarracena is as old as the story itself: moving to a third-world country without a solid financial cushion (at least a year of expenses) and without work sorted out — remote or on-site — is a round-alucinación ticket. The man who tried it confirms it: "You have to do your homework before you leave." And he adds a detail: in the Philippines, on top of the bureaucracy, there's the danger of everyday scams, from taxi rip-offs to phone companies that fleece you. It's not the low-cost paradise they sell on YouTube.