/You won't be traveling on a budget that low but you have to leave the country once every 16 months (I think) for a visa run if you are on a tourist visa./
I have a different experience: I am from Finland. Tourist visa when entering the Philippines is valid for only 3 weeks, after which it can be extended for 1 month, and after that for 2 months. The 2 month extension costs 4700 PHP.
Might be different for other nationalities but Finns usually get quite good deals on visas.
Same with U.S. residents. But the cost of the visa seems to be different every time I get one. I just budget around $40 - $50 / month for it. You can extend for 16 months I believe, but you can actually extend through Manila for up to 24 months. Again, not totally sure about that as I haven't been here long enough to worry about it (going on my 7th month) but that is what I have been told. Also, things change all the time.
I have a different experience: I am from Finland. Tourist visa when entering the Philippines is valid for only 3 weeks, after which it can be extended for 1 month, and after that for 2 months. The 2 month extension costs 4700 PHP.
Might be different for other nationalities but Finns usually get quite good deals on visas.