Evan Lorezca | Savvy Expat

Oliver Buchannon

Evan Lorezca

Chicago-born expat who moved to the Philippines in 2019 and never looked back. With 5+ years of boots-on-the-ground experience and 50,000 YouTube subscribers, Evan helps Western expats and retirees relocate to the Philippines without the guesswork, overpaying, or wasted time.

Why He Chose BGC Over Charlotte, NC — And Has Zero Regrets

May 27, 2026

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2 min read

Why He Chose BGC Over Charlotte, NC — And Has Zero Regrets

The comparison that made staying in America feel like a mistake

What Full-Time Personal Staff Costs in the Philippines

May 25, 2026

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2 min read

What Full-Time Personal Staff Costs in the Philippines

A private driver. A live-in maid. A personal chef. An assistant. Here is the full breakdown.

American Veterans Are Getting Philippine Permanent Residency for $1,500. Here's How.

May 22, 2026

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2 min read

American Veterans Are Getting Philippine Permanent Residency for $1,500. Here's How.

The visa benefit most military retirees have never heard of

He Came to BGC for 3 Weeks With His Son. Neither of Them Wanted to Leave.

May 20, 2026

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2 min read

He Came to BGC for 3 Weeks With His Son. Neither of Them Wanted to Leave.

What happens when a divorced dad from Seattle stops being invisible

America Made Him Feel Invisible. The Philippines Made Him Feel Alive

May 18, 2026

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2 min read

America Made Him Feel Invisible. The Philippines Made Him Feel Alive

What nobody in the expat world is honest enough to say out loud

The Top 3 Places to Retire in the Philippines

May 15, 2026

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2 min read

The Top 3 Places to Retire in the Philippines

Not all cities are created equal. Here's where smart expats actually end up.

He Spent 7 Years Thinking About the Philippines. Here's What Finally Made Him Go

May 13, 2026

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2 min read

He Spent 7 Years Thinking About the Philippines. Here's What Finally Made Him Go

The story every fence-sitter needs to read

The BGC Condo You Found Online Is a Scam

May 11, 2026

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2 min read

The BGC Condo You Found Online Is a Scam

Why the listing price is never the real price — and what it costs you when nobody tells you that

The Philippine Hospital Bill That Made a 30-Year American Nurse Stop and Stare

May 8, 2026

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2 min read

The Philippine Hospital Bill That Made a 30-Year American Nurse Stop and Stare

What expats find out about Philippine hospitals after their first bill

The BGC Retiree Who Cut His Golf Membership Cost by 95%

May 6, 2026

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2 min read

The BGC Retiree Who Cut His Golf Membership Cost by 95%

What a retired life actually looks like when your dollar goes four times further

BGC: The City That Made a 20-Year IT Career Feel Like a Scam

May 4, 2026

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2 min read

BGC: The City That Made a 20-Year IT Career Feel Like a Scam

The retirement test most Americans are too afraid to run

He Spent $8,000 a Month in New York. He Now Spends $4,500 in the Philippines

May 1, 2026

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2 min read

He Spent $8,000 a Month in New York. He Now Spends $4,500 in the Philippines

A US military veteran's honest take on why he made the move and never looked back.

BGC vs. Makati: Which City Is Actually Better for Expats in 2026?

Apr 29, 2026

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2 min read

BGC vs. Makati: Which City Is Actually Better for Expats in 2026?

Two world-class cities. One budget. Here's the honest breakdown.

The Philippines Scam Nobody Talks About (And It's Not What You Think)

Apr 27, 2026

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2 min read

The Philippines Scam Nobody Talks About (And It's Not What You Think)

It's not a street vendor. It's not a fake landlord. It's something far more expensive — and most expats never see it coming.

The 5 Biggest Mistakes Americans Make in Their First 90 Days in the Philippines

Apr 24, 2026

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2 min read

The 5 Biggest Mistakes Americans Make in Their First 90 Days in the Philippines

Avoid these and your move will be smoother than 90% of expats who came before you

Why Your U.S. Dollar Is Worth 3x More in the Philippines Right Now

Apr 20, 2026

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1 min read

Why Your U.S. Dollar Is Worth 3x More in the Philippines Right Now

Your $3,000/month goes further in Manila than $8,000 does in California

How This Expat Saved $4,800 On His BGC Condo (And How You Can Too)

Apr 14, 2026

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3 min read

How This Expat Saved $4,800 On His BGC Condo (And How You Can Too)

One negotiation. One year lease. $4,800 back in his pocket.

From Cold Wisconsin to a 30th Floor Condo in BGC for $1,000 a Month

Apr 10, 2026

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6 min read

From Cold Wisconsin to a 30th Floor Condo in BGC for $1,000 a Month

How a nurse from small-town America retired early in the Philippines and never looked back

The Philippines Just Launched a Digital Nomad Visa. Here Is Everything You Need to Know.

Apr 10, 2026

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4 min read

The Philippines Just Launched a Digital Nomad Visa. Here Is Everything You Need to Know.

Stay up to two years, skip the border runs, and pay zero local income tax on your foreign earnings

He Came to the Philippines for Peace. He Lost $7,000 Instead

Apr 10, 2026

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4 min read

He Came to the Philippines for Peace. He Lost $7,000 Instead

The mistake most expats don't know they're making until it's too late

Earn in Dollars, Spend in Pesos

Apr 10, 2026

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5 min read

Earn in Dollars, Spend in Pesos

The retirement strategy most people in the US never hear about

The Real Cost of Living in the Philippines (No Sugarcoating)

Apr 10, 2026

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5 min read

The Real Cost of Living in the Philippines (No Sugarcoating)

What $2,000, $3,000, and $5,000 per month actually gets you in Manila

How a US Veteran From Philadelphia Found Peace in the Philippines

Apr 10, 2026

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5 min read

How a US Veteran From Philadelphia Found Peace in the Philippines

What happens when you stop waiting and finally make the move

What $1,000/Month Actually Gets You in BGC

Apr 10, 2026

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4 min read

What $1,000/Month Actually Gets You in BGC

A real on-the-ground look at the rental market in Bonifacio Global City right now

I Just Had a Baby in the Philippines. Here's What It Cost.

Apr 10, 2026

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4 min read

I Just Had a Baby in the Philippines. Here's What It Cost.

A real breakdown of what a premium hospital birth looks like in Manila, from the birthing room to the final bill