He Chose to Retire in the Philippines — Now He Refuses to Go Back to America

Description

He was paying $5,600 a month for an apartment in San Francisco — one of the most expensive cities in America. Now he lives in a modern condo in Bonifacio Global City, Manila, with skyline views, resort-style pools, and a gym… for a fraction of the cost. In this video, John Smulo breaks down his real monthly expenses in BGC, gives a full apartment tour, and explains why he left California after realizing the math simply didn't work anymore. He also shares how he legally owns and runs a 45-person company in the Philippines as a foreigner, what dating a Filipina for 6 years has taught him about Filipino culture, and the one thing about the Philippines he wishes Americans understood. ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 — "I paid $5,600/month in San Francisco" 0:52 — Full BGC condo apartment tour 3:15 — The view that changed his mind 4:30 — How he found this condo 5:10 — Would he buy property in the Philippines? 6:22 — Electricity costs: SF vs BGC 7:05 — Why the Philippines is his Southeast Asia base 8:20 — Philippines vs Thailand in 2026 9:15 — Living in the Philippines without speaking Tagalog 10:05 — Is the Philippines really a "third world country"? 11:50 — The #1 thing foreigners won't enjoy 12:30 — Condo amenities tour: pools, gym, tennis 14:48 — Walking distance to everything in BGC 15:00 — How safe is BGC really? 15:40 — The Filipino value he wishes America had 17:05 — Why he left San Francisco (the full story) 18:00 — SF vs Philippines: quality of life comparison 18:55 — The hardest adjustment 20:00 — Dating a Filipina for 6 years 21:15 — How they met 22:20 — Dating in the Philippines vs the USA 23:10 — Full cost breakdown: BGC vs San Francisco 24:30 — Restaurant prices for two in BGC 25:15 — Why BGC specifically? 26:30 — Is BGC safe for families? 28:55 — Filipino relationship culture 29:40 — Advice for foreigners dating Filipinas 31:05 — Would he ever go back to the USA? 31:55 — Retirement plans in the Philippines 32:10 — Advice for anyone thinking about moving 33:25 — Why foreigners skip Manila (and shouldn't) 35:00 — What