moving to the phils

[fred]

Heres a guy that really has developed a passion to live over here...Its been very slow going and fraught with difficulty and sacrifice but looks like he is finally getting there..
Its a shame he`s not a member here..Perhaps we should invite him!! Tons of good info on his blogs as he travels to and from the UK to realise his dream of the good life in P.I without a UK pension..(A bit like me!)
http://cebuexpat.com/

[mattwilkie]

Heres a guy that really has developed a passion to live over here...Its been very slow going and fraught with difficulty and sacrifice but looks like he is finally getting there..
Its a shame he`s not a member here..Perhaps we should invite him!! Tons of good info on his blogs as he travels to and from the UK to realise his dream of the good life in P.I without a UK pension..(A bit like me!)
http://cebuexpat.com/

Thanks for the introduction Fred .. I actually joined in 2008 but noticed the site is generally the opposite way I am working (people inbound to UK not going to RP).

As regards costs of living it all depends on your budget and what your looking to do. My cost of living currently for :-
6 adults (including one yaya)
2 children
1 internet cafe
Sari-Sari store
1 scooter + 1 motorcycle
1 Jeepy
Apartment and 2 houses is currently around P35,000 - P40,000 per month.

Main issues on a monthly basis can be food though as the novelty of chicken and rice wears off rather quickly. So can say without a doubt your food budget will no doubt grow over time as you will want some of those imported goods that are often overpriced.

Rentals in Cebu - I rent one house for P3,000 per month and I know of 3 newly constructed for P11k a month not sub division although the area is safe (i live here) there is also a French national and a Japanese American in the same area.

Online prices are way over the top and advise if looking for property is rent first prices always go up when someone asks a price better for them to offer it. Currently I have a block of apartments I am interested in which currently they are thinking P1.5m+ and I value at P600k (they are in a sad state of repair) his wife is sick and no doubt will lower the price next year (nope not feeding off poverty the guy is a compulsive gambler and has spent 10 years building these apartments from the bits and pieces of cash he has left over as an OFW).

Rentals are cheap and it may pay to way up the cost of investing the same money you would buy a property for into something else and just rent it out long term. That way you keep the cash and get free rent from the interest.