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The one thing that I was most
concerned about when moving to the Philippines (Cebu City specifically)
was what my monthly cost of living would be. Living on a fixed pension
one needs to ensure there is adequate funds available so I ask a variety
of people and read everything I could
about the region before relocating to the PI..
After 9 months in Cebu City this is what my monthly averages are. Keep
in mind I am single with live-in girl friend and live-in domestic helper
so there are three people consuming in the house hold. At the time I am
writing this the peso is at 56.3 per dollar. I have also
included
furniture, electronics, and grocery costs.
LINP3
COST OF LIVING SURVEY: DON HERRINGTON
|
NAME: |
Don Herrington
[my wife, her two sisters and four helper live with us |
|
Location: |
Cebu City
(Guadalupe.) |
|
Type of residence: |
Detached House |
|
Size of house: |
6 BR, 4 Bath, wooden frame house built 1950 |
| Own or
Rent: |
Rent |
|
Cost of Rent: |
P16,000 (includes security guard) [Similar
houses rent today for $400. My landlady has raised my rent only
once in five years, and that was only P1,000. I paid on month
deposit, three months advance rent. I pay in cash and a day or
two before my rent it due. |
|
Electricity: |
P4,000 |
| Water:
|
P2,000 |
|
Gas: |
P350 (LPG) |
|
Phone: |
P1,400 (2) |
|
Cable: |
P625
|
|
DSL: |
P2,500 |
| Power
Outages: |
Seldom, average once every 3
months for one hour |
|
Water Outages: |
Occasionally, average once a month for 3 days (12 hours each day) |
|
DSL: |
Available - reliable with PLDT, downtime is seldom |
|
Cable TV: |
Available - very good rarely down |
|
Air Quality: |
Fair |
|
Noise: |
Located in back of small compound, near the
guards housing, very quiet. |
|
Traffic: |
Bad during rush hour times and moderate there
after |
|
Public Trans: |
Very good. - Taxi’s, Jeepney’s, Tricycles, and
buses. Wait time is minimal |
|
Stores: |
P60 by taxi to Ayala Mall or Robinson's Mall,
many stores in walking distance. |
|
|
LINP3
COST OF LIVING SURVEY: NEAL ADAMS
|
NAME: |
Neal
Adams |
|
Location: |
Cebu City (Banilad) |
|
Type of residence: |
Town House |
|
Size of house: |
4 BR, 2 CR, carport, shared swimming pool |
| Own or
Rent: |
Rent |
|
Cost of Rent: |
P22,000 (includes security guard and pool boy) |
|
Electricity: |
P3,500 |
| Water:
|
P450 |
|
Gas: |
P150 |
|
Phone: |
P700 |
|
Cable: |
P625 |
|
DSL: |
P2,500 (but going to 999 soon) |
| Power
Outages: |
Seldom, average once every 3
months for one hour |
|
Water Outages: |
Occasionally, average once a month for 3 days (12 hours each
day) |
|
DSL: |
Available - reliable with PLDT, downtime is
seldom |
|
Cable TV: |
Available - very good rarely down |
|
Air Quality: |
Good |
|
Noise: |
2 – occasional dogs barking, and moderate road
noise |
|
Traffic: |
Bad during rush hour times and moderate there
after |
|
Public Trans: |
Very good. - Taxi’s, Jeepney’s, Tricycles, and
buses. Wait time is minimal |
|
Stores: |
Wide and varied selection, no problem |
|
|
LINP3
COST OF LIVING SURVEY: Budd Lucus
|
NAME: |
Budd Lucus |
|
Location: |
Cebu City (Happy Valley Subdivision,
Guadalupe) |
|
Type of residence: |
Two storey Town House. New when I moved in 2004 |
|
Size of house: |
4 BR, 3 CR, carport |
| Own or
Rent: |
Rent |
|
Cost of Rent: |
P18,000 |
|
Electricity: |
P2,000 |
| Water:
|
400 |
|
Gas: |
P200 (Bottled) |
|
Phone: |
P700 |
|
Cable: |
P650 |
|
DSL: |
P999 |
| Power
Outages: |
Very, very seldom, with short
durations |
|
Water Outages: |
Very, very seldom, with short durations |
|
DSL: |
Available - reliable with PLDT |
|
Cable TV: |
Available - very good and rarely down |
|
Air Quality: |
Good to average |
|
Noise: |
2 - Occasional dog barking |
|
Traffic: |
Very light |
|
Public Trans: |
A short walk to get a taxi, minimal wait
time |
|
Stores: |
Five minute drive/ride to Robinsons Place &
Fuente Osmena area
|
|
| LINP3
COST OF LIVING SURVEY: Pete
|
NAME: |
Pete |
|
Location: |
Cebu City (Guadalupe) |
|
Type of residence: |
Two story apartment |
|
Size of house: |
2 BR, 1 and 1/2 bath, carport,
balcony at master bedroom, dirty kitchen in the back |
| Own or
Rent: |
Rent |
|
Cost of Rent: |
P9,000 |
|
Electricity: |
P2,800 |
| Water:
|
P400 |
|
Gas: |
P200 |
|
Phone: |
n/a |
|
Cable: |
P625 |
|
DSL: |
P988 (Smart Wi/Fi) |
| Power
Outages: |
Very seldom, always very short
in duration, less than 30 min. |
|
Water Outages: |
Never |
|
DSL: |
Available - Smart Wi/Fi NOT
recommended |
|
Cable TV: |
Available - very good through
Sky Cable, never experienced an outage. |
|
Air Quality: |
Good |
|
Noise: |
Squatter area in the back, very
noisy at times, roosters, karaoke etc., especially during
weekends. |
|
Traffic: |
Not bad but occassional traffic
jams during rush hours. |
|
Public Trans: |
Good, but a ten minute walk to
the main road, unless using tricycle. |
|
Stores: |
Large new supermarket within
walking distance. Several small stores, bakeries etc. even
closer. |
Rent: P22, 000
Like anywhere rent varies greatly. You can get a fine house
for between 15-20T. I am renting a 4BR, 2 CR tri level house with
swimming pool, security guard and pool boy in a good neighborhood. |
Utilities: P 8, 000
I have DSL which is 2500 a month more expensive that I paid in USA
and not a necessity for most in the Philippines. |
Transportation: 3,300.00
I do not have my own vehicle I use taxis everyday. You can save
money here by using Jeepneys. |
Groceries: 10. 500
I eat a lot of American food which is more expensive. Stick to a
Filipino diet and save here as well. |
Dine Out: 7,000
This should be a smaller amount for most. I eat out often at least
every other day. |
Entertainment: 4, 750
This is not bars, but rather tennis, bowling, badminton, movies,
etc. |
DR/Medical/ Dental: 3,
600.00
Doctors are very cheap here, but medicine is almost as
expensive as in USA. |
Visa Extension: 1,250
One year for a tourist Visa is just over 14,000 so I take the
average. |
Miscellaneous :16, 000
This is primarily for my girl friend's school, road trips,
household items, etc. I believe everyone should budget 10-15^
above what they think they will spend for misc. expenses you just
never know and better safe than sorry. |
Cost of my furniture and electronics
Living Room couch and 2 big chairs: P22,000
Coffee Table: P4,000
Master Bedroom set (king-size Bed-all wood, mattress-8", two night
stands)
P40,000
Entertainment center table for TV and DVD: P4,000
29" Samsung color TV (regular screen not flat): P20,000
Samsung DVD player: P6,500
Computer setup (computer, monitor, printer, scanner, keyboard, mouse,
software loaded, good quality) - P37,000
|
A Sample Budget (Cost
of Living) for Cebu City
|
JAN 2003 (XR: $1 = PHP 53.70) |
BUDGET |
|
53.00 |
|
|
House Rent |
PHP 12,000 |
|
Electricity |
PHP 3,000 |
|
Bottled Gas |
PHP 250 |
|
Telephone |
PHP 1,500 |
|
Cell Phone |
PHP 150 |
|
Internet (DSL) |
PHP 2,500 |
|
Cable TV (Sky Cable) |
PHP 505 |
|
Maid |
PHP 2,000 |
|
Visa Extension |
PHP 1,260 |
|
Mail Service |
PHP 350 |
|
Medical Treatment |
PHP 1,000 |
|
Dental Treatment |
PHP 1,000 |
|
Medicine |
PHP 1,000 |
|
Food (Groceries) |
PHP 10,000 |
|
Food (Restaurant) |
PHP 2,500 |
|
Distilled Water |
PHP 450 |
|
Household |
PHP 3,000 |
|
Personal Care |
PHP 1,000 |
|
Clothing |
PHP 1,500 |
|
Entertainment (Bar Hopping & etc) |
PHP 20,000 |
|
Computer (Hardware/Software Purchases) |
PHP 1,000 |
|
Home Liquor Cabinet / Beer |
PHP 2,500 |
|
Miscellaneous, Taxis & etc. |
PHP 4,000 |
|
PESO TOTAL |
PHP 72,465 |
|
Peso Totals in USD |
$1,367 |
|
|
|
U.S. Mail Box (USABox.com) |
$20 |
|
Insurance (Health & Dental for children) |
$140 |
|
Postage |
$0 |
|
Credit Card # 1 |
$0 |
|
Savings |
$473 |
|
Miscellaneous |
$0 |
|
DOLLAR TOTAL |
$633 |
|
Budget Total In USD |
$2,000
|
|
| |
Wrapping up Cost of Living in Cebu AND
the People!
$1.25 HAIRCUT
My barber will come on his day off, just to give me a haircut!
and I do have his cell number for appointments, Never failed or
waited in the last 2 years! $4.00 One Hour Legit Thai Body
Massage
$35.00 Salary for a live in MAID!
$50.00 Monthly Electric Bill (aircon in room on all
night /every night
$1.15 Car wash
Foreign residents can check how much they pay or costs in their
foreign cities.
Don has brought up the BEST reason to live here, The Filipino's'
Most always have a smile on their face and they DO care about
you. I have the cell number of my Cardiologist and other Dr's
and my babies Pediatrician. They are just a call away. (Can you
call your Dr's in your country at 3AM for an emergency? Or
contact / call his Secretary tomorrow at 10AM, If its NOT Busy!
Why? Because the care about you, their patients and people in
general. They DO have a heart.
Most that find love here are very happy! Most I meet do not
believe my wife and I have been married for 5 years!
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Click on each link to see the survey:
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