Do you envy the life of luxury that people in developed countries want, wanting you to live such a life too, but it lacked $ 10,000 in monthly income needed for such a life? Well, I urge you to consider living in the Philippines either on a full or part-time basis. Retirement is not a matter of age; it is a matter of having sufficient regular income. With a monthly income of $ 2,000 (either by pension or annuity), you can certainly live a life of luxury. I imagine how this is done, and list the basic expenses of living in the Philippines as a foreigner.
# 1 DO NOT ALLOW YOUR RESIDENCE IN MANILE.
Manila is a bustling and exciting city, but full of congestion and expensive real estate, like any major city in the western world. The farther from Manila, the lower the cost of living. Of course, there is always a compromise with a more distant location, the less comfort and convenience in the western world you will find.
For this reason, I always advise people to consider the main secondary cities of Cebu or Davao, or the Subic Bay area, or resort or university communities, such as Baguio, Dumaguete, Tacloban and Cagayan de Oro. The cost of housing in these areas is essentially lower than Manila, but they have free access to the air in the community and outside it, and also because foreigners tend to prefer accommodation in these areas, there are more upscale living spaces to choose from.
The two cities with the most luxurious amenities for a Westerner, outside of Manila, are Cebu City and Davao City.
In these two cities you can expect to pay from $ 300 a month for a small apartment to $ 800 a month for a luxury house in a gated community with a pool. A similar rental in the United States will have from 3,000 to 4,000 dollars a month. Such a house in Manila will cost between $ 1,500 and $ 2,000 per month or more, depending on the location in Manila.
# 2 CHECK MAYS PAIRS AND TRANSFER THE DRIVER.
For a luxurious living you will need a pair of maids, one of whom is prone to cooking and shopping, and the other to washing and cleaning the house. They will do all the grocery shopping (at a lower price than you could get), wash and iron all your clothes and cook your favorite food for you at every meal. A true luxury that is completely unavailable in the Western world at a price of $ 2,000 per month. Two maidservants would have cost cheaper from about $ 100 to $ 120 a month.
Perhaps the driver will want you to decide to buy your car. Living in Cebu City a few years ago, I had a new car that I used, but I quickly discovered that, having hired a driver for $ 80 a month, the car was always kept in immaculate condition, and I had someone on car when I was in restaurants, shops or at business meetings. I never had to worry about where to park a car or petty theft or destroy a car. While living in Butuan, I try not to use my personal car as much, but I found that it is still worth having a driver.
No. 3 PURCHASE OF A GOOD INTERNATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
With an income of $ 2,000 a month, I would not choose local Philippine health insurance programs, but I would acquire international for foreigners living abroad. Depending on your age and any preconditions, a policy for which you pay $ 500 per month will cost you about $ 200 per month.
# 4 ALL OTHER ITEMS
With your accommodation, maid service, transportation, and medical care, you have about $ 1,200 per month, which leaves you $ 800 a month for everything else. Utilities (electricity, water, telephone, cell phone, high-speed Internet and cable TV) will be about $ 150 per month, resulting in a total amount of $ 1,350 per month.
That leaves $ 650 a month for food, entertainment, fuel for your car, travel, and personal hygiene items. Groceries will be about $ 250 per month, and products for the care of products and personal care products can be $ 50 per month, which is about $ 350 for meals in restaurants, entertainment and travel. Dinner a couple of times a week, and monthly entertainment will cost about $ 200 a month, so you will still have $ 150 of monthly surplus for savings.
CITY SEBA or DAVAO - WHAT TO CHOOSE?
Each of them differs from the other in different ways, and the cost of living in Davao City is lower than in Cebu City, so your lifestyle may be even greater.
In Cebu there are a large number of foreign retirees in relation to its population. Foreigners are attracted by the abundance of beaches and resorts. This is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains on the one hand and the ocean on the other. As in Manila, it also has high-end, modern shopping centers, a casino and great nightlife.
Those who like to live near the sea have interests in diving and other water sports, but, as the efficiency and convenience of a smaller modern city, then your choice will be Cebu City.
Davao City is the city of Mindanao, and by the square miles is the second largest city in the world. Its population is about 1.4 million people. Located in the south of Mindanao, it is the more rural of the two cities, and it has the lowest cost of living. So, if you like the lifestyle of a big city, and you need more money in your pocket at the end of the month, then Davao is the place for you.
Davao City does not receive a large number of foreign tourists, like Cebu City, but for those who seek adventure in nature, the options are abundant. Life in Davao is a kind of life in both urban and rural cities, since the city has modern shopping centers, high-class gated communities and hotels, but they live where you are deeply rooted on the ground outside the city.
An important thing in life in the Philippines is to do your research based on your desires, needs and desires, and connect someone who has passed before you and can provide you with wisdom by guiding you through many questions and anxieties.
