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Cost of Living in the Philippines and Finding a
House
Here is the cost of living data submitted by
the members of the Living, Retiring,
Traveling and Doing Business in the Philippines
for various moderate lifestyles in several
cities:
Click on each link to see the survey:
Finding a
house
in most
price ranges is very easy.
Most
landlords would rather rent to foreigners than
locals. They feel they can charge a bit more (but
still a bargain) and have more of a chance of
getting their rent paid on time. Most of these
expats are in Manila, where most international
companies have their Philippine headquarters.
This goes
for all cities below, Cebu, Angeles, Davao,
Olongapo or Subic City. The one for Olongapo is
with generator, not really needed any more (now
the power is good) and air-conditioning, a
expensive necessity for some. The $200 house would
probably be a three bedroom two bath house in a
safe and upscale neighborhood. There is one for
Davao, Mindanao. These people are living moderate
lifestyles, which would cost much more in a
"developed" country. Ex-pats on "Ex-pat" packages
may spent five or even ten times as much, living
lavish lifestyles, at edaciously low cost to their
companies who pay their living costs. But when
the job is over, they often have to go home, while
the retirees on pensions, stay.
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Living in Manila
The
Cebu neighborhood where I live is mostly
professional, upper middle class. This
neighborhood is a "compound" (I guess it is
called that because it has a fence around
it) with about twenty-five houses. There are
some rich folks here, I guess, at least by
local standards. Everyone seems to have a
new car or two. And the houses are so big I
still get lost in mine. It is 40 years old,
well built with great character inside and
out. The yard is full of foliage and
blooming flowers.
Cebu
City is near Mactan Island, with its many
tourist beach resorts for every budget.
Yearly memberships for resort residents are
very low, but food prices can be high for
here. They will let you bring your own
food and drinks though there is a big
sign at some that prohibits it. If
tourism ever picks up, that may change. |
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native
boat and nipa houses |
I prefer the friendliness of Cebu. When I moved to
my new house there, my new next-door neighbor came
by and asked why I had rented a truck to move
instead of borrowing his.
In a smaller city, you can live in fine style on
much less than I am spending. One of the "Living
in the Philippines" members rents what may be
the nicest house in General Santos City,
Mindanao, for about $200 a month.
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Questions and answers, Odds and Ends
Questions:
1. Are Visa, MasterCard AND Discover CREDIT
cards widely accepted outside of Manila
and Cebu - especially pertaining to the more
rural areas?
2. Are US styled, short sleeve, good, Tee shirts
and shorts ACCEPTED (not "tolerated") in
the PI - Manila, Cebu, "Country"?
3. When doing business in governmental offices,
banks, lawyers, etc. does the PI culture
expect one to be appropriately dressed in at
least a long sleeve shirt and clean pants,
socks, shoes? (Here in Panama, one may not
enter a government building in shorts =
Respect!)
4. Are US brand name cigs easily available...and
what's the normal price? (yeah - I've had
cancer, so please, no lecture from non- smokers!
LOL?!!)
5. As to new home construction: Has anyone heard
of "M2", or "Covitec" being used in the
PI? (It's a huge, up and coming, lower
cost construction method found to be excellent
for hot, humid Panama.)
6. Banking: I have funds in the states, of
course, accessible by ATM cards, etc. I
also currently have funds in HSBC, however they
have no branches where I will have my
"base"..San Fernando, La Union.
ANY "recommendations" for other banks that do
have a branch in SF?
7. Are chicken fights allowed, or practiced, in
the PI? If so, is your g/f or wife allowed
to attend with you...or might that be a
"problem"? (Women are not allowed to attend them
here).
8. Are there bull fights - rodeos?
Answers to your questions:
1. Visa and MasterCard: In smaller cities like
Iloilo and Bacolod usingplastic is not a
problem. Once you step out of the city limits,
you need cash.
2./3. Dress Code: Bermuda style shorts, T-shirts
and Sandals are my uniform of the day here. If
I'm going to a nice restaurant for
lunch/dinner,
I dress appropriately. (Long pants, short
sleeved shirt with a collar and shoes.
Same goes for trips to Immigration or any
government office. All the government
offices here require you dress in appropriate
attire.
4. Cigs : I smoke Marlboro lights. Other U.S.
brand names are available for P24-P30 a
pack here.
5. Building Materials. I'm building a house here
now and nope, never heard of it.
6. ATM's with the Cirrus and Plus and Star
systems work in most places.
7. Cockfights: Every festival they are held
locally. There are a couple cockfighting
areas in Bacolod where they are held every
weekend. People there tend to get drunk and
fistfights are not uncommon. I've seen a
few women there, But I wouldn't bring my wife
there.
8. Rodeo's : I haven't seen or heard of a
regular rodeo like we are used to in the
states. I have been to the Fiesta in San
Joaquin in January where they have Caribo,
Bull and horse fights. More of an oddity than
anything else. Besides with no refreshments
other than bottled water, popcorn and Ice
milk stuck and no smoking, I didn't consider it
very entertains after the first hour.
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