Today we're going to be covering a full guide exploring life as an expat living in Davo City. Today's video will be broken down into four distinct sections. First we'll be looking at what is Davo like for foreigners. Secondly, the cost of living in Davo. Thirdly, the advantages of living in this area and lastly, retiring in Davo as a foreigner. Davo is a more relaxed way of life compared to other cities in the Philippines. Nonetheless, some everyday hustle and bustle of city life such as heavy traffic does remain. Many expats living in Davo City report that the city's quietness is both a benefit and a disadvantage. For example, some cities can lead to being too quiet and in some cases this can lead to boredom. The food in Davo is fantastic and Filipinos are amazing at cooking different types of foods and spices and herbs. In my own opinion, speaking to retirees, expats and those who are living in the Philippines, it seems that Davo City has become a slight hotspot for foreigners who are looking for love in the Philippines. For those of you who are interested in the history of Davo, it has to be said that a city has experienced a transformation stretching over several years. The current president of the Philippines was initially the mayor of Davo City. The city itself has won countless awards for safety and is well documented as a safe city to live in. Despite this, there has been some controversial topics regarding the transformation of Davo City. The majority of Davo City locals highly respect the current president. Still, the US Department of State received several ports of questioning certain vigilante groups such as the DDS. The Ombulismom closed this case in 2009 however stating they found no evidence that this alleged group existed. The island of Davo is extremely large, therefore the safety inside and outside of the city is slightly different. For example, there are tons of security and police that you will witness inside the city and not so much outside of the city. Thus, I recommend visiting your local embassy or travel authorities for the latest information and safety regarding the Philippines and Davo itself. The next category is the cost of living in Davo. The minimum cost you will need as a foreigner living in Davo City is $900. This is around $44,000 Filipino pesos, but a more realistic budget is around $1,400 to $16,000, which is $69,000 to $78,000 Filipino pesos. This latter amount will include enough to live comfortably in Davo as a foreigner, including some additional cash, handy for extensions, emergencies and insurances. One of the highest costs living in Davo is rental accommodation. A standard studio can be rented for around $18,000 pesos, which is approximately $365, but a more luxurious unit, for example, at one bedroom apartment can be rented between $23,000 to $30,000 Filipino pesos. The overall food cost is relatively low, especially if you're deciding to eat street food, but one cost consideration is the electricity and the internet. The internet is relatively standard across the Philippines, and a connection can cost around $1,500 pesos on average. This is approximately $30, however, there are some cheaper and more expensive options available. Electricity on the other hand is a slightly interesting topic, as the electricity prices are quite high in the Philippines statistically speaking compared to other electricity prices in other neighboring countries. So it's best to budget anywhere between $30 to $80 a month for your electricity depending on your type of accommodation. Next we have the advantages of living in Davo, and as you can see there's quite a few different advantages. The ultimate question for any retirees out there is, is Davo a good place to retire? Many retirees living in Davo confirm that retirement in this area was a fantastic decision. This is because some retirees prefer the beautiful scenery that you get from a city such as Davo, but also enjoy the beaches, which is possible thanks to nearby islands such as Somal Island. But retiring in Davo as a foreigner is not for everybody, especially if you are the sort of person who loves the modern hustle and bustle of a big city such as Minila. As you may find living in Davo to be too slow-paced, but on the other hand if you are looking for a much quieter way of life and to see some beautiful scenery then Davo may be perfect for your retirement.