Fred, what's included in the 'General weekly shopping' apart from food for 2 people?
Is it maintaining a western diet for breakfast, lunch and dinner ? or Filipina style or a mixed bag?
Well 3k for us covers just about everything we need for one week and we are a lot more than 2 people!! Really only includes food and household consumables though..
I make my own ham and bacon,bread,scones,Pizza bases,pickles,Chutney,pies etc so I can eat as western as I wish at a fraction of the cost on the international isle.. I can get stuff like Brazilian fillet steak for 600 per Kilo here for example which pushes up the expense just a little bit but who cares!!

OK.. Back to the list!!

1. Rent. Fully furnished one bed bungalow/studio or apartment.. 250.00 Quid a month.
2. Power and gas bills ....................................................... 50.00
3. General weekly shopping bill............................................ 200.00
4. Motorbike/scooter fuel bill ............................................. 15.00
5. Eating out say 3/4 times a week ...................................... 100.00
6. Mains water ( 10 Peso per cubic meter in our Barangay) 3.00
7. Drinking Water.. Local purified water 5 Gallon container
we pick up ourselves at 15 Pesos each..Consume 1 per
day but for 2 people it will last 3/4 days?.................................. 2.00.
Telephone (landline).. Not sure as we all use cell phones............... ???
Cell Phone.. We load as needed as do not like contracts here.. 12.00
TV Standard.. Plug and play.................................................... 0.00
TV Satellite Depends on package but for us.............................. 6.50
Internet (Smartbro dongle) .................................................. 16.00
Health insurance... Wife pays all that sort of thing so dont know!!
Medical costs - Doctor/check ups/Pharmacy/Dentist/ etc ?
(we have all stayed remarkably heathy so I`ll let someone more
knowledgeable answer that)
Visa Updating costs.. For me..................................................... 5.00 per year.
Personal care - Cosmetics, Hair care/Hairdresser,toiletries
Clothing Allowances... Take UK costs and call it about the same amount accept for
clothing and hairdresser which are cheaper.. Barber in Tag charges 50 Pesos for hair cut.