Why do expats love Dumaguete?

I've noticed that most of the old goats here are white. I also notice that they tend to get themselves all wound up and then cry about it all day.

 

If that's the case then why do some many publications, people, forums, etc say the opposite?

That said I tend to agree with you for the most part. The primary reason that comes to my mind is that to live cheaper you have to live like the Filipinos. If I need my Frosted Flakes, milk, Tostitos, steak and Fat Tire, then it could actually be more expensive. The big things that are lower are rent, medical care and drugs (if you don't have insurance), college education (if you have kids) and labor. The labor part is only big if require a driver, security guard and maid. That said if you want an American style house, american style food and american style amenities, it seems like you is pretty much a wash with the things that are less expensive balancing out those that are more expensive. Of course, this varies widely depending if one lives in southern Iowa or southern California. I use to think it was cheaper because of what I read. When I've been there it was more as a tourist, so I expected things to be more expensive, but over time it seems like a lot of the staples I'm use to cost the same or more in the Philippines. I'm thinking it's more the lifestyle change then the change in Geography that saves you money. Is that accurate?

 

A lot of things for sale here are cheaper, but there is some simple reasons. First the main market, the Filipinos, can not afford the higher priced more quality products that last a long time. Many brands here have a short life I found after setting up house here. There are better brands available but you have to learn what they are. I was amazed how thin the metal products are here, for some purposes the thin one work, other they do not work. Simple things like pan cover handles can easily be bought here. I have replaced a few here, but never on in the US, none ever broke.
Food is another whole issue. I learned from a nice Filipino lady to look at through the rice plastic bags in one of the local markets, because you can see the rot or insect investigation in the nicely branded bags of rice, and you need to check before you buy. Cockroaches in the kitchen of the restaurants... as long as they are not still moving in the plate or bowl of food you have been served seem almost acceptable here. I have not heard of a restaurant being closed for not having running hot and cold water in the Philippines, but saw the weekly published lists in the US for that infraction. I will say just like the thin rice cooker, I am not sure how much this affects my life here. I still am alive and really can not remember being beridden for something I ate. Once I was bedridden for someone I ate, but I chose to stay in bed with her.
I am not sure these are lifestyle changes, in accepting that a military grade rice cooker is not part of the required lifestyle or not, but important merchandise here that is cheaper... is cheap... does not last like things do in the US. Guarantees are longer else where than here, where the guarantee is over when you are done counting your change... Are these the lifestyle changes you are talking about? I certainly agree that if you do not adjust, the cost of living here is not reduced except for housing, and that is only partially. As paraphrased in an earlier post, a cheaper live style here is cheaper, but without all the balls and whistles we are used to.

 

Europe is very expencive

lol, Brits usually say Bells and whistles, but I like your sense of humour

 

Coming from Europe I think gasoline is actually *very* cheap here

That aside, the cheap labor is a big plus imho, you just have to get used to it and actually let people work for you. A full time maid for a 3 person household is way above what I could or would want to afford back home, but here it is ridiculously cheap. And that adds a lot in terms of quality of life, even if everything else would cost the same (which at least from a Western European point of view isn't the case).

And for each thing I might miss, there's also something here that I couldn't have in Germany - coral reefs a 20minute ride away, never having to think about bringing a jacket or what shoes to wear, all these little 'priceless' things.

 

I agree with this comment. Having stayed in Dumaguete on two separate occasions from the UK, I intend to return in 2017 - hopefully sometime during the first half. Yes, there are some foreigners, with whom I would not willingly pass the time of day. However, I am sure that most of us just want to settle down in peace and quiet, and enjoy the life as guests (mostly retired) of the Philippines, and in particular, the city of Dumaguete. I love the description of it as the city of gentle people. We from outside need to respect those with whom we come into contact. We are after all only guests, however long we have lived here.

 

Duma is not the same place it was 4 years ago. The thing is, the writers are stealing from other writers because they are too lazy or have no budget to research it themselves. If you read a couple articles about Duma from 2007-2009 and read an article written this year, you most likely will notice they are using the same catch phrases.

Actually the lately negative reveiws of Duma seem sincere to me. They are from people who just show up (probably having read the articles) and probably don't know anybody local. They have to discover things and work things out for themselves and While Duma might not be too bad for goods and services after living there for 6 months, if you are by yourself, it will be months before you figure out where to find the goods and services that you need regularly.

 

Several times I've attempted to have a maid clean my home. It never was worth the headache. I would never recommend anyone having a maid. Even family members didn't work out. Didn't even matter if I paid for the maid's schooling, plus maid wages at 5,000p per month with private bedroom and bathroom.

 

Rule number #1 in this country don't ever pay a maid 5000 a month.... Don't ever hire family period. Live at least 5 islands away from your wife's family. If she doesn't like it you don't have a wife, you have a Gold Digger.