Living in the Philippines

[D Cups]

Sorry guys this came from a excel table and didn't paste well.

Item Cost Time Annual.

Thank you for this, KG. I have been reading many of your posts and find them insightful. I will probably retire in Dumaguete area in 2022-3. Cheers.

[Albert9989]

The lost deposit was 18,000 divided by 12 for a monthly cost of 1,500 then added back into the monthly rent total. I simply spreed the lost deposit out over the 12 months...

I agree, fantastic info here.

If those who have experience in other countries could try to share their views compared to this one. A dream.

Yes, yes, I know, you will tell me go on the ground and try by your own.

May be you will be right.

[BaddHabbit]

Fantastic info, thanks very much!

The lost deposit was 18,000 divided by 12 for a monthly cost of 1,500 then added back into the monthly rent total. I simply spreed the lost deposit out over the 12 months.

You can expect to pay about 2,000 to 3,000 more for a shorter than a one year lease. The unit I am in would have been 2,000 more a month for 6 to 12 month term. (It is not one of the examples I gave but looks like that inside.) Leases less than 6 months are more difficult to find as these are on Airbnb. On Airbnb you can get a month to month rent but that will cost even more per month but gives you the option to change places and would eliminate the lost deposit. For 3 months I'd recommend that you take a look at that option especially if you have not spent a lot of time here. Takes places in different areas of the city and explorer a little more. Start off in Makati, consider Jazz residence as it is only about a 10 minute walk from Burgos Street and near Greenbelt and Glorietta. Then move out to QC and you can be near some good massage places and you could try around Robinson's Manila which is adjacent to one of the red light districts. Also think about near MoA which is by ESDA red light area.

As I also mentioned, my costs are always getting a little lower as I gain experience here and find some local places to shop. For a short times this will be difficult for you. I bought a slow cooker and bake meals in advance, this will not be cost effective for you so you will be eating restaurant foods more often etc. My pussy costs are also getting better as I gain a stable of more or less regulars and am more than willing to walk away from any girl with GPS (Golden Pussy Syndrome). I am also getting more reliable pussy and no where as many no shows as I had when I first landed.

[Kabul Guy]

Hey mate, fantastic info, thanks! (I am thinking about the idea of spending 3-6 months there in the next year or two, then a few months in Thailand, then Latin America, etc, etc.) One thing I noticed though is that you have included the 1 month lost rent deposit as a monthly cost when it is of course a one-off cost. That will save you 18,000 php. Yes, I know I would pay a bit more on many things, but especially rent, with a shorter period.

The lost deposit was 18,000 divided by 12 for a monthly cost of 1,500 then added back into the monthly rent total. I simply spreed the lost deposit out over the 12 months.

You can expect to pay about 2,000 to 3,000 more for a shorter than a one year lease. The unit I am in would have been 2,000 more a month for 6 to 12 month term. (It is not one of the examples I gave but looks like that inside.) Leases less than 6 months are more difficult to find as these are on Airbnb. On Airbnb you can get a month to month rent but that will cost even more per month but gives you the option to change places and would eliminate the lost deposit. For 3 months I'd recommend that you take a look at that option especially if you have not spent a lot of time here. Takes places in different areas of the city and explorer a little more. Start off in Makati, consider Jazz residence as it is only about a 10 minute walk from Burgos Street and near Greenbelt and Glorietta. Then move out to QC and you can be near some good massage places and you could try around Robinson's Manila which is adjacent to one of the red light districts. Also think about near MoA which is by ESDA red light area.

As I also mentioned, my costs are always getting a little lower as I gain experience here and find some local places to shop. For a short times this will be difficult for you. I bought a slow cooker and bake meals in advance, this will not be cost effective for you so you will be eating restaurant foods more often etc. My pussy costs are also getting better as I gain a stable of more or less regulars and am more than willing to walk away from any girl with GPS (Golden Pussy Syndrome). I am also getting more reliable pussy and no where as many no shows as I had when I first landed.

[BaddHabbit]

Opps, missed including my visa costs. I am here on an SRRV so pay $US360 a year or about 18,000 p for that.

Brings my total to 2,129,000 a year.

Adding in some one of costs (slow cooker 4000p Extra set up costs for my apartment like coffee maker, some shelves and better dishes was around 15,000) All in some miscellany and contingencies and I am thinking a budget somewhere in the 2,300,000 to 2,500,000 for my lifestyle. It is not excessive nor overly extravagant but I am comfortable and enjoy myself. I don't want to count every peso and worry about having enough to do what I want.

I could get a longer term lease in a house in a province with a live in GF and let her do all the cooking, cleaning and shopping and most likely knock a million p off that total and live very nicely. No pussy costs, entertainment would be the beach much less transportation costs. Shopping and eating like a local, paying local prices and two can eat for less than I pay for myself in Manila. Rent would be much lower and not nearly as much in country travel.

Hey mate, fantastic info, thanks! (I am thinking about the idea of spending 3-6 months there in the next year or two, then a few months in Thailand, then Latin America, etc, etc.) One thing I noticed though is that you have included the 1 month lost rent deposit as a monthly cost when it is of course a one-off cost. That will save you 18,000 php. Yes, I know I would pay a bit more on many things, but especially rent, with a shorter period.

[Kabul Guy]

Opps, missed including my visa costs. I am here on an SRRV so pay $US360 a year or about 18,000 p for that.

Brings my total to 2,129,000 a year.

Adding in some one of costs (slow cooker 4000p Extra set up costs for my apartment like coffee maker, some shelves and better dishes was around 15,000) All in some miscellany and contingencies and I am thinking a budget somewhere in the 2,300,000 to 2,500,000 for my lifestyle. It is not excessive nor overly extravagant but I am comfortable and enjoy myself. I don't want to count every peso and worry about having enough to do what I want.

I could get a longer term lease in a house in a province with a live in GF and let her do all the cooking, cleaning and shopping and most likely knock a million p off that total and live very nicely. No pussy costs, entertainment would be the beach much less transportation costs. Shopping and eating like a local, paying local prices and two can eat for less than I pay for myself in Manila. Rent would be much lower and not nearly as much in country travel.

[Kabul Guy]

Sorry guys this came from a excel table and didn't paste well.

Item Cost Time Annual.

Rent 25,000 monthly 300,000.
Food 3,000 weekly 156,000.
Transportation 2,000 monthly 24,000.
Cell Phone 1,000 monthly 12,000.
Walking around 1,000 weekly 52,000.
Medical Insurance 100,000 Annual 100,000.
Non insured medical 1,000 3 times a year 3,000.
Clothes 10,000 Annual 10,000.

Sub total 657,000.

Individual choices
Pussy 10,000 weekly 520,000
Pussy Entertainment 2,000 weekly 104,000
Non pussy entertainment 5,000 monthly 60,000
In Country Travel 25,000 monthly 300,000
Medical 110,000 Annual 110,000
Home costs 300,000 Annual 300,000


Sub Total 1,394,000


Total 2,051,000


Total 2,111,000.

I have tracked my total spending since I got here and prorating to a full year my expenses so far are just a little under this but I have not included my annual flight home yet. I expect I'll be a little over this amount but I didn't include in the budget for nearly as much as I actually spent on extra medical costs since it was a once of and should not be repeated for several years.

The biggest amount is as we can see in the individual options. You could life here and just sit in your apartment all the time on about 600 k a year. To go out and have more fun in the Philippines can easily cost you twice that amount.

Remember this budget is based on living in Manila. If you go to Cebu or Davao costs could easily drop 10 to 20 %. (see the cost of living indexes on Numbero). Go to a province and live a more local lifestyle and I am sure that you could live much less than this indicates.

I have also found that as I stay here my costs drop slightly. I found a local market and while I'm not brave enough yet to buy meat or seafood there, fruits and veggies are much less than at the Hypermart. I also bought a slow cooker and a bunch of plastic freezer containers and I will make a big pot of stew or something and freeze several meals to eat later.

[Kabul Guy]

Individual choices.

Here is where we will really get the variations. These will vary significantly with the individual and his choices so there is really no right or wrong here.

Pussy: Normal costs are 1500 to 2000 for a girl from a dating site. I use these with a nice massage with a HJ once in a while. To get a daily pop, I'll budget 10,000 a week since that includes some sleepovers and I get the morning wood taken care of and am good until the next day. If you go the bar girl route this can be significantly more. If you have a live in GF who doesn't take money for her family it can be a lot less. If you want two pops a day or two a week, or you have a regular GF vs. Different ones every night your costs can be significantly different. This is just my experience.

Pussy entertainment: You need to take her to an occasional movie or really nice meal. I'll allow 2,000 a week. This amount will give you a meal at a casual restaurant plus movie tickets for two.

Non Pussy entertainment: This is stuff you would do yourself or a night out with the guys. I like to read and I'm a news junkie so have a few subscriptions. I have local guy friends from working with them when they were OFW's and we get together about every 6 weeks and have some beers and tell lies about what happened in Afghanistan. I'm allowing 5,000 a month for this.

In country travel. No use being here and not seeing a beach occasionally. Even Puerto Galera is going to be 2,000 a night, additional for meals, about 1,500 each in extra transport. A car rental for a week can be 15,000 or more. A different island will be even more. Take a girl and you can easily spend 25,000 on a short get away so I'll budget that monthly.

Extra Medical: I have a cholesterol issue and take daily medicine for that. It is 53 p a day or about 20,000 a year. I also use Cialis. I buy the real stuff from a Drug Store at just over 200 a pop or 70,000 a year.

I have replaced my glasses at just over 30,000 and had some serious dental work at over 150,000. Now this will not be an annual cost but I'll include 20,000 a year for this sort of thing.

Total extra medical is 110,000 a year.

Home costs: I have adult kids and one grandchild back home. I send cash at Christmas and birthdays for about 100,000 p a year plus want to go home every year. A trip home will be about 150000 in airfare plus hotels etc for about 300,000 a year.

[Kabul Guy]

Splitting this one up due to length.

To build a budget we first need to agree on what lifestyle we are talking about. I suggest as our generic base budget we take a expat lifestyle with a small apartment, aircon, gym, pool included, with cable, internet and utilities. For food we assume mostly cook meals in with only a few restaurant, more of the fast food variety.

As the biggest variable for expats here will be entertainment be it golf, pussy or nights out, we can leave that off for now.

Accomidation: Assume a typical SM type of apartment, you can get lots of SM developments with a one bedroom, furnished, balcony for between 17,000 and 25,000 depending on inclusions, location and duration.

Let's pick outside of Makati on a one year lease.

https://rentpad.com.ph/listing/f9b1ad681&cl=1

https://rentpad.com.ph/listing/c31dffcd83&cl=1

https://rentpad.com.ph/listing/768211bd7&cl=1

There are three units and rent on a one year lease is between 16,000 and 19,000 a month. They all have a 2 month security deposit and I always consider security deposits as gone but for this exercise will consider one month deposit as not refundable. Landlords will always come up with an excuse not to pay it all back.

Let's pick 18,000 per month plus another 1500 for the lost security deposit for '19,500 a month.

Internet will be 1300 to 1800 depending on plan so let's pick 1500. There will be a one time hook up of 2500 or 4500 depending on the modem you get if you want to not be locked in for 2 years. (These are Globe prices, I just connected at my new place.).

Water will be about 400 or 500 a month. I haven't had a bill yet so cannot say for sure. Electricity will vary depending on how much you run the aircon but let's say 2500. Don't have cable so don't know the cost but let's pick 500 a month for a basic package.

Cleaner, I do most of my own cleaning but call in someone every couple weeks for a heavy clean at 500 a time, so 1,000 a month. I have in unit laundry so no additional costs for that.

Monthly cost will be 18,000 rent+1500 lost deposit+1500 internet+2500 electricity+500 cable + 1,000 cleaning =25,000 a month. That gives a roof over our heads, lights, water, aircon and cable and internet.

Food: Let's assume mostly cook in with only a couple quick meals out a week. (Nice dining we will cover under entertainment later since this can really vary with personal preferences.).

My experience is that I am spending between 750 and 1000 every day or every other day at the local market. This buys me a mostly western diet, not a lot of rice but also not a lot of beef. Meat is mostly chicken and pork some seafood with fresh veggies and fruits. I don't drink much but there is a beer or two a week included in that too. Let's call it 3,000 a week for food, that allows a meal or two at a fast food type of place, a Shaky's or a Dominino's pizza. Type of place.

Transportation: I use MRT a lot or when off the MRT routes or in rush hours I'll use Grab. Just based on my Grab usage I have been running about 2,000 a month, so let's use that.

Cell phone: I like to be always connected so I but the Supersurf plan which is unlimited surfing for 1000 a month. (4 G capped about 800 meg a day but I only go over that a couple times a month.) By putting 1000 on at a time I get a couple hundred text messages a month so never have to pay for text. I seldom make voice calls out so will just use 1000 a month for cell phone.

Walking around money: Just the small stuff let's say 1000 a week. That would be a basic coffee or a snack at a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf every couple of days, change for beggers etc and not much more.

Anjual and one time costs.

There will be a number of non reoccurring costs every year.

Internet hook up I paid 4500.

Health insurance. This will really vary depending on age, health and what you get. I'm over 60 with a basic coverage plan. I have a high deductible and co pay but a high top end payout. It will only kick in with a serious medical issue but at least if I get really sick or injured, I'll not be bankrupted over it. The small stuff I just self-insure. My premium is just under $US 3,000 a year but let's pick $2000 or 100,000 p a year for a plan.

Non insured health costs. This is the small stuff that you are self-insuring for. I have been to a doctor here twice and with tests, medicine costs were about 1,000 each time. Let's include 3 visits a year.

Clothes: We will need to replace worn out or stained items of clothing. You can get a basic tee shirt for 100 or 200 p a polo shirt for 400 to 700 p Jeans will be 1500 to 2000. I bought a pair of sandals not flip flops) for 1500 and a pair of Nike trainers for 3500. I am pretty brutal when item of clothing starts to wear or fray so I most likely go through more than an average guy might. I'm allowing 10,000 a year for replacements.

[Chocha Monger]

I met an English guy there, 70's, who want to rescue (his word) a woman. He does not like older women and he has already been married to a Thai lady who go the house from him and the baby they made. Like many of the others who stayed where I stayed, he cooked his own food and many of them had a live in hooker to do that. On a side note, is there something wrong with the hyena laugh so many of these woman have?

No. The hyena laugh is a common trait among the exotic fuck hobbits of the Philippine shire. Natives call the high-pitched hyena laughter 'tawag boto' or cock calling. It is a way to attract attention when the tarts feel 'malibug' (horny) and 'malandi' (flirtacious). The natives consider such behavior inappropriate for women among the upper class. The hyena laugh tells everyone the social status of the English fella's fallen woman, and notifies other mongers rooming nearby that she is open for business when her savior is out at the pool hall and drunk as a skunk. The Englishman is the one in need of rescue; he just does not know it yet. LOL!

Let's cut to the chase. A room was about 20-30,000 PHP a month, with primitive shared cooking and other facilities available. Such a room would suit some folk but not me, with TVs blaring, hyena laugh hookers floating about and so on. Others are happy with that, walking around Angeles with a pool cue under your oxter and a paid hole with you.

You just described Heaven on Earth for expat mongers in the Philippines. It does not get better than that as far as they are concerned. It is not as if they have anything better to look forward to back in their homelands. For a 70-year-old, a paid hole in Angeles City is better than no hole at home. LOL!

Leaving aside the non stop rain, the terrible footpaths and so, assuming you are not trying to save a bar girl (fool's errand), you are looking at a cheap retirement option where you have to join a pool playing set or whatever.

There are quite a few retired US and Australian army veterans there and most of them have a lifestyle that suits them. The best deal seems to be to get a middle aged woman with good blow job and cooking skills, have a baby with them to do the school run with, don't get caught two timing on her, don't try to save any provider and count on $1,000 minimum to stop yourself going nuts..

Yes. Trying to save 'fallen angels' is the first step on a journey to tragedy. However, grandpas love a challenge and each one hopes to become the first to reform a paid hole into a respectable homemaker and win the Nobel Prize. After a life of violence spent in austere environments, the retired old soldiers are happy to live out their rest of their years having their cocks sucked, eating hot meals, and yelling at their little crumb snatcher after stumbling home from happy hour. Living the Philippine dream! Oh yeah!

[D Cups]

Thanks, Huts. Only 5000 P for "other"? (pussy? <wink ). In any case no Manila or Luzon (or golf or squash) for me. South Cebu or Dumaguete area. Valencia west of Duma is nice (lots of expats) or maybe Sibulan. I will also likely travel to Indo, Cambo, Thailand and maybe other SEA areas once in awhile. My retirement income should be around 3 K USD so I should be ok in PI. But way too low to stay in California to live in comfort. Target: 2022. Cheers, mate.

[Hutsori]

That would be very low end living. That is roughly 60 k p a month.

A 23 to 25 sq m apartment in Makati would run you 25 to 30 kp a month all in.

I think we ought to differentiate between low-end Filipino and low-end expat.

Back in 2013 I posted my monthly expenses when the FX rate was about p45:$1. Now it's a more favourable rate, but for simplicity let's consider it p50. That $1500 DCups mentioned is p75,000.

Rent: p25,000 (this includes association fee, cable, and Internet. It's a 32sqm one-bedroom condo with common swimming pool, gym, etc.)

Electricity: p5000 (I run the A/C a lot)

Water: p400.

Load for phone: p250 (Smart's mega250 plan for 30-day unlimited SMS and 180 minutes of voice)

Drinking water: p1000 (I'm very stupid here, buying the 1l bottle rather than the 5-gallon jug)

Laundry: p1000 (I have a machine in my unit so I do my own, but I detest ironing)

Grocery: p14,000 (there's a bit of imported food here)

Films: p2500.

Dining out: p12,000 (ex. two pulled pork BBQ sandwiches and 2 orders of Buffalo wings was p1000 the other night)

Weekend drinking out: p12,000 (Most often I buy bottles of imported spirits, and it runs from p650 to p3000 depending on the venue)

Drinking at home: p5000 (wine, beer, etc.)

Transportation: p2500 (During the day and early evening I use jeep, bus, and rail. A taxi fare at night averages p100)

Coffee shop: p2000 (I'm a tea drinker but once or twice a week I find myself in a coffee shop)

Visa: p2000 (this is a monthly average, obviously I'm not paying for a visa every month)

Golf: p25,000.

Squash: p2000

Misc.: p5000

Total, using p50:$1 is p116,650 ($2,330), of which p27,000 are completely unnecessary, so 89,650 ($1793), and much of that can be economised.

My rent is higher now because I moved to a larger condo. The electricity is more. Most of my other expenses are roughly the same. None of this is low-end living, though I suppose I do low-end drinking from time to time, and certainly is better than middle-class Filipino standard, but compared to a foreigner on an expat package or a wealthy retiree w / a 3 BR condo and all the perks I look down market.

You'll notice one missing cost: poosy. Go to Burgos every night and it'll add up quickly. Use the dating sites, find girls who aren't pay for play, and your costs drop. Obviously one's ability to do well or not on the dating sites varies.

Could I get by on p75,000 per month? Yes, but I wouldn't want too. For Manila, I think a minimum of p100,000 ($2000) per month, which allows some flexibility, is required, but anyone looking at my budget surely can find ways to cut it significantly. And others will think: "There's no way I could enjoy my life on that budget."

Anyway, for comparison sake post your average monthly budget, if you want.

[ForkTruck]

Depends on your nationality. If you're a citizen of one of many countries you will be granted visa on arrival for a period of 7 to 59 days - the great majority are granted 30 days. If your nationality is not on the list, then you need to visit a Philippine embassy or consulate and apply for a tourist visa.
http://thehaguepe.dfa.gov.ph/no-visa...-under-e-o-408

Hutsori,

Thanks for the information. I knew the real experts here would be helpful.

FT.

[PedroMorales]

I met an English guy there, 70's, who want to rescue (his word) a woman. He does not like older women and he has already been married to a Thai lady who go the house from him and the baby they made. Like many of the others who stayed where I stayed, he cooked his own food and many of them had a live in hooker to do that. On a side note, is there something wrong with the hyena laugh so many of these woman have?

Let's cut to the chase. A room was about 20-30,000 PHP a month, with primitive shared cooking and other facilities available. Such a room would suit some folk but not me, with TVs blaring, hyena laugh hookers floating about and so on. Others are happy with that, walking around Angeles with a pool cue under your oxter and a paid hole with you.

Leaving aside the non stop rain, the terrible footpaths and so, assuming you are not trying to save a bar girl (fool's errand), you are looking at a cheap retirement option where you have to join a pool playing set or whatever.

There are quite a few retired US and Australian army veterans there and most of them have a lifestyle that suits them. The best deal seems to be to get a middle aged woman with good blow job and cooking skills, have a baby with them to do the school run with, don't get caught two timing on her, don't try to save any provider and count on $1,000 minimum to stop yourself going nuts.

The big variables are routine and women. Hanging around Angeles drinking yourself to death makes no sense and women, bar girls perhaps in particular, won't buy the deal for grand the to save them.

Angeles is a cut price Disneyland for old folk. Bonk Goofy and Minnie Mouse if you like but don't fall in love with her if she craps across the floor. There is no doubt that living in the Phils works for many but the failures, the grand pas who want to save their ladies will slink off and not be heard of.

[Kabul Guy]

PinaLove,

So, it's probably more like 1500/ month USD on the low end, yes? I realize there are many variables.

That would be very low end living. That is roughly 60 k p a month.

A 23 to 25 sq m apartment in Makati would run you 25 to 30 kp a month all in. Outside of Makati that would be low 20's per month. This would be just about the minimum any western would feel comfortable living in. You can get a Philippine bed spacer for 4 to 6 k but that is shared CR, shared if existent kitchen, no aircon no privacy because it is a dorm like room with bunk beds. A quick look of the rental sites has places over 200 k p a month for luxury so there is a wide range.

https://rentpad.com.ph/places/metro-manila/31431d0898

Food will run a westerner at least 500 to 1000 a day. A local can eat for about 200 but that is a lot of rice and not much protein.

So at let's say 25 k p for a nice place plus another 20 k p for food and all you have left for everything else is 15 k p or about 500 p a day. Go to a movie and you have blown your spending for the day, take a date and that is 2 days gone, buy popcorn 3 days, 4 days if you have a soft drink with it.

Not mentioning clothes, transportation bar fines and all the other expenses. I just had a dental bridge replaced and it was over $US 3,000 all in. Replaced my glasses and it was $800. (progressive lenses, astigmatism, photo gray coated, ultra light weight and rimless frames, the basic top end specs out there).

I'd say in Manila you do need around the $US 3,000 a month to live a nice but not extravant lifestyle, have no significant cash worries plus have something in reserve for the extras like dental work, and buying your health insurance, trips home etc.

In Cebu or Davao it would be a little less but not much, In a province you could be much less but then your entertainment and lifestyle options are somewhat limited.

Yes lots of locals live on $500 a month but they are sharing beds (and not in a fun way either) eating poorly and not doing a lot other than surviving.