⌛ Cost of living

Hello all! I am new here and I know everyone spends different, but I would like to know the average cost of current prices I.E. western US middle income life style. Nice average safe home,food,transportation,going out to eat a an average restaurant,... I would greatly appreciate any advice.

 

An Expensive Beer here is P 50 (slightly over $1.00), generally P25 or above. Gas is probably about the same as in the US but maybe higher, restaurants, generally very cheap, house rents, depends on what you want, form $200.00 per month to $1000 per month (you have to come here to see them to understand)
Cable Tv between P 350 to P 750 per month. Cellphones, cheap compared to AT&T, public transportation, very cheap.

It also very much depends on where in the Philippines you live ..

 

If you just support yourself and lower your living standards, you will find you can live on 25% of the cost of the US. But by the time you add in supporting your wifes family, cousins, deadbeat brother and feeding the pig, it gets pretty expensive here!

 

Keeping in mind the required expenditures mentioned above and if you do not love rice and dried fish you may be ready to spend a lot of money to learn that there is no place like home. If you are really going to try to maintain that western middle income life style than your expenses can become unlimited.

Experience it first, who knows maybe you don't need the aircon and mattress boxspring afterall. If you don't have one already find a woman who knows how to cook, that will save you buckets of cash.

When I am in the PI I stay with family so my lodging expenses are pretty low. I prefer eating fresh duck or pork slaughtered and roasted in the back yard and I dont have to tip the servers either, well maybe I have to spring for the case of SM and Tanduay but so what. So if you are ready to embrace a different lifestyle it can be affordable, or maybe not.

What is a safe home? Average restaurant? I am still learning myself, sorry if I'm not much help.

 

food prices are going up..onions went up from 85 per kilo at the mall grocery to 100 piso a kilo and thats after a year or so of food inflation warnings in asia,,But still its very cheap..Non resident status foreigner has to factor in visa cost and for staying more than 4 to 6 months it averages 3000piso a month for me over 10 months... after that its like they said, you can do like locals living off of 2 to 3 hundred dollars a month to be above poverty or 7 to 8 hundred dollars a month to live very well by local standards and then over that amount when you start to buy imported stuff like car and food and eating out is 5 to 10 dollars to get nice food served at nice cafes or restuarants..Or a dollar at a market stall local style small portion for 200 pound guy like me...Oh i include in my cost my once a year round trip ticket back to USA which takes my cost monthly up another hundred dollars and not to forget the constant downing of the dollar cost me just a bit more these past few months but its still a good bargain here overall....

 

Cost of living

Thanks for the reply.But 1500-3000 is a great difference would 3000 cover a family of four in Cebu? I am also wondering cost of a GOOD education for kids ages 6 and 8?

 

Nearly every single thing you want for electronics and material goods can be bought cheaper in the states. That's the reason you see people shipping balikbayan boxes INTO the philippines and not OUT. Head to walmart and your 99 cent only stores and load up!

Gas in the states is $3.79 a gallon now and here it's 60.22P a liter which is $5.47.

Electricity is some of the highest rates per KW hour in the world. (when it's even on!) 8 months ago I did the comparison and rates were 60% more per KW hour here in Dumaguete than in Long Beach, California where I came from.

Internet is garbage speeds for high prices

Western style foods are VERY expensive. Pepperoni at Why not deli is $15 a pound, cheese is 6-8x the cost of the states, fresh milk is more for a liter than a gallon in america, good steaks are unheard of....unless you're will to pay $20 a pound! The list goes on and on.

So, don't come thinking everything is super cheap. Labor is one thing that's a complete steal. Competent labor is a rarity and most employees do more to damage a business than to build any customer base.

House rent can be cheap....just depends on if you have standards. Does a galvanized pipe sticking out of broken concrete with a faucet on off valve equal a kitchen sink to you? Do you wanna wash dishes in hot water? Don't mind living on a dirt alleyway that floods during rain? You enjoy living next to a videoke that goes till 3am? Can you sleep through your neighbors crowing chickens starting at 4am? Don't mind having 3-4 keys and locks and gates to get into your house? Bars on your windows normal to you? Remember, there's not any zoning laws here. Then the rent is cheap! If you want western standards, prepare to pay a price.

So why live here...it's really a matter of personal choice. While I enjoy it overall (somedays are a given challenge), it's not for everyone. Everyone I know that goes stateside for visits loads suitcases to the limit of things to bring back here to the philippines....

 

Thanks for the reply. Is 3000peso a month include your plane tick or not? Plus does that just include you or your family as well? Thanks again for the reply.

 

Timmy,
I guess I do all the wrong things, supporting Mother in Law and grand kids, educating "deserving niece", etc. I live in a big house but not western standard, no hot water, no air-con. After years of eating mostly local food I really like that so much western food is now available and I buy it even if it is expensive. I don't fly back to the States, can't figure why I'd want to. I ride a local 150cc motorcycle, not a car or big bike. It costs me over $3000 a month. Most people don't spend that much but some spend more.

 

i used to spend 350 usd every month in dgte. i had to sacrafice some things but was enuuff