Moving to Philippines

"Don't move in now unless you have a good contract stating details about deteriorating security. Move into Alabang since there is a brand new hospital. Prepare to pay for everything while in hospital. American style. No pay, no treatment," explained one expat living in Manila, Philippines.

"I was lucky because my wife is from the Philippines so as far as learning the customs and so on that part was easy. Even so I made several trips of three to four weeks each over a three year period before I made the decision to move and retire here. Your US Dollars go very far here. My advice is to do your home work on any place you may want to move. There is much to learn. Visas for long term stay is most important. I am married to a local citizen so I only need to leave the country every 12 months for an overnight stay if I wanted and this visa is free. There permanent visas with a fee. There is top notch health care available here at a fraction on USA cost. As I stated before do your home work and you will have much happier results," said one expat in Isabel.

"One of the best ways to find a place to live in the Philippines is to use an online rental marketplace such as looloo.com, housing.com.ph, or property24.com. These sites allow you to search for available rental properties according to your individual needs, such as location, size, budget, and amenities. Additionally, you may want to consider using the services of a real estate agent who is familiar with the property market in the area you are interested in residing. A real estate agent can provide valuable advice and can make your search for a suitable residence easier. You can also find listings for rentals in newspapers as well as online classifieds such as OLX or Airbnb. Finally, you can also network with friends and families to see if anyone has a vacant apartment or house for rent," said one expat in Philippines.

"Near the school of my son due to traffic. If International school, stay in alabang of Forbes If Brent-south campus stay in Alabang If Brent Ortigas, choose another school. Use one agent, and let her search. DOnt worry about watersupply. Worry about neighbors and semifurnished. This excludes aircon," remarked one expat who made the move to Manila.

"I have three property experiences in the Philippines. I'll start with the rental townhouse in Cebu City. It was a great size with a large kitchen area and living room and dining area, two 15'x12' bedrooms... but sadly became flooded every time there was heavy rain. We were at a low point of the neighborhood. Next was the townhouse in Naga City. It belongs to my ex-wife's family. I renovated it for my wife and daughter to live in while she attended nursing school. After throwing $12,000 at it, and with the help of my very talented and trustworthy brother in law, it came out beautifully. Third is my current fiancée's family's home in Negros. I retire next year, so I haven't spent any time in the house, but another 12-15,000 US later and wala! Another masterpiece. I transformed what was only a boxed in frame of a house into two bedroom, beautiful bathroom, and added kitchen WITH a dirty kitchen as well," said one expat in Philippines.

"Expat homes and apartments in the Philippines tend to be modern and comfortable. Most commonly, they are single-storey Western-style homes with air-conditioning and a well-equipped kitchen. Most expat apartments are spacious and come with excellent facilities, including swimming pools and gyms. There is typically a range of apartment sizes and styles available, from studio apartments to large, multi-bedroom units. Expat homes and apartments are often comfortable, secure and in premium locations, such as near beaches, parks, or in residential areas," remarked one expat who made the move to Philippines.

"I live in Cagayan De Oro City, Gusa. I have a 4 bedroom 2.5 bath house that I can park 4 SUV's in the driveway. It is a gated and armed guarded complex. I pay 300 usd plus electricity and water. I buy cooking gas every 3 months," commented one expat who made the move to Philippines.

"The cost to build or purchase a home here in the Philippines overlooking the South China Sea is a small fraction of what the cost would have been in the San Diego area where we used to live. The lot is one half acre and we paid $1,800 USD. The same size lot on the ocean in San Diego, California would cost over one million USD," remarked one expat in Isabel, Philippines.

"I haven't done a study to find the average. But for anecdotal evidence: My wife and I looked for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartment. (3 bedrooms so we'd have one for us, one for the housekeeper, and a guest room. 2 baths so if someone is taking a shower and you have to go, you're not left hopping on one foot until they get out.) Prices we found for such a place were around 20k to 50k pesos per month. Obviously depending on how nice it is, location, etc. We settle on a place for P23k with AC in every room, fully furnished, in a gated community with 24 hour guards. I think that was a good deal, but not a jump up and down and shout great deal. If you're a single person looking for 1 bedroom, or if you'll take a place that isn't furnished, you can pay less. If you want something big and fancy with a pool and a private garden, expect to pay more. Places farther from city center are cheaper -- my wife wanted someplace close to malls etc, so we're in the middle of Mactan. I've heard of expats getting 1 BR apartments for under P10k -- I think that's doable. Housing prices in the Philippines seem to vary widely. Two very similar places could have very different prices. I see much more range in price here than I saw in the US. So it can make a huge difference if you take time to shop around. Two things to consider: 1. Filipino apartments are often very small. If you're looking at on-line listings, pay attention to the size of the apartment. One bedroom apartments are often like 25 sq meters. 100 sq meters is a big place by local standards. 2. Landlords often ask for 2 months rent for a security deposit and 2 months rent in advance. So you have to put down 4 months rent to move in. I come from the US where it's common for apartments to have "move in specials" where the first month is free and there's 1 month security deposit, so this was a real surprise to me. Make sure you have the cash to move in. Also, this is often negotiable. I suspect the high move in cost is more of an initial negotiating position than they really expect to get that, but I don't have enough experience to know. I came here from Michigan, which has a fairly low housing cost. A 2 BR apartment in my area was around $1000 - $1500 per month. If you're coming from New York City or Los Angeles, $3000 a month would probably sound like there must be something wrong with it that they're giving it away so cheap! Rents here are WAY lower than in the US," said one expat in Cebu.

"Lower than Sydney by miles! Condos can be had for 20k/mo and up, all the way to 70k/mo if you are getting a good allowance or feeling rich. Furnished adds far more than the cost of buying stuff, so if you are staying more than a year consider going unfurnished," remarked one expat who made the move to Manila.

"I am renting with an eye on building something on leased land. It is made difficult, mostly by cheap available rents," said one expat in Cebu City.

"Whether to buy or rent a home in the Philippines is a decision that should be made based on one's individual circumstances. Buying a home allows for more stability, as monthly payments remain the same and may even decrease as a result of amortization. On the other hand, renting a home can be more convenient, as one can switch properties more easily and have less responsibility with maintenance and repair costs. Both options have their merits, and the decision should be based on factors such as lifestyle, budget and expected length of stay in the country," said one expat who made the move to Philippines.

"I wish I had brought more of my personal, carpenter and automotive type tools — and a second iPad. As far as items that we did not bring, there are really not any. We only brought our personal clothing, important papers and my wife's China sets. We found for us that it would be wiser to get all new household items when we arrived," replied a member in Isabel.

"When moving to the Philippines, it is important to pack light but be prepared for all kinds of weather. Clothes and other items such as beachwear and raincoats should be included, as temperatures can vary widely throughout the year. Additionally, due to the tropical climate of the Philippines, it is important to pack insect repellent and mosquito nets. Be sure to bring basic toiletries, sunscreen, and any medications that may be necessary while living in the Philippines. Electrical adaptors and converters will also be needed to use any electronic items brought with you, such as laptops or phones. Finally, basic kitchen supplies and cooking equipment will help ensure a smooth transition once the move is complete," commented one expat who made the move to Philippines.

"I have totally different advice on what to bring than I've seen from others. Will you need light weight clothing? Yes. Do you need to buy such clothes in America and bring them here with you? No. You can buy any clothes you need here. Ditto most of TBE things people advise you to bring. If you need it here, you can buy it here. I suggest: 1. Bring anything of sentimental value to you. If you have some cherished item that can't be replaced, bring it. But mostly 2. Bring things that are cheaper in the west than here, like electronics. Bring your laptop if you have one. That sort of thing," remarked one expat in Cebu, Philippines.

"You can buy great generators, water heaters, and mattresses here, but surprisingly, they cost as much as in the USA. Leave winter garments, unless you're planning vacations to Europe or such. Transformers? Not where I live, which is basically Laguna. Nor should you need them in the National Capital Region. Your favorite toiletries? They have them where I live. I can even buy Vicks 44 and Robitaussin here. Some construction materials, car repairs, and kitchen equipment are cheaper, but not necessarily furniture. Cars cost the same as in the USA and are the poster child for horribly unfair wages vs prices. Once you hit the provinces on other islands, much of this goes out the window. Want to know why there are so many jeepneys and motorbikes? It's what people can afford. Sorry, getting carried away. In short, there is nothing in the USA you can't get here, whether in-store or online. One warning; traveling anywhere in the PI, bring paper or tissues. Also, even in some of the nice places, there are no toilet seats," said one expat in Philippines.

"1. I had my "what the crap am I doing in this country?!" moment in the middle of a small mall in a rural province, including full-on sobs. That was an interesting moment of my life. *ahem* 2. I have gotten in trouble over food before. I *hate* fish and seafood, and in a country where the people both eat a lot of those foods AND like to feed other people, I know I have caused offense by refusing to try certain dishes. At this point, I claim it's an allergy and people aren't offended when I say no. If you do try something, never, NEVER insult it or insinuate that you don't like it. Even if it is cake with cheese on top. 3. Once, I got so out-of-my-mind frustrated with an employee in a store that I started yelling at him. I very, very rarely ever get to the point of yelling. It's happened maybe twice before this story. But it was a very frustrating situation, and getting that point would have been understood in the US. Here, if you get to that point, you can instantly see that the person you are yelling at has lost all respect for you. You are acting like a child and you've given them permission to completely ignore you at that point. The more frustrated you are, the more polite you need to get if you expect to get anything done. 4. All of that said, the most embarrassing series of events I ever witnessed was when we went away with 3 other American couples for a weekend. Two of the other ladies decided they didn't like the music playing in the seaside restaurant where we were having dinner, so they went over and plugged in an ipod to the sound system and just took it over. The staff didn't know what to do, so they just let them do it, but the quality of the service we received from that moment forth was awful. Later, we went on a boat ride over the ocean and up a river a little ways to see the stars and some fireflies and the whole time, these people were filling the beautiful night with loud insults about the Philippines and jokes about poop like they were 12 year-olds. I don't know what they were thinking. If your behavior would brand you as a self-centered moron in your home country, then the fact that you act that way in a foreign country and think it's ok because you are paying the people around you or you assume they can't understand what you are saying makes you a complete and total ingrate. Don't do those things," commented one expat who made the move to Alabang.

"There was this mentally ill woman that staked me out as her "territory". She threatened to hurt my wife and I started yelling at her in the street. Told her she was nuts and to stay away. She listened and continues to to stay away," remarked one expat in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines.

"It is important to respect local customs and culture when visiting the Philippines. As such, avoid making any negative comments about the culture, customs, or religious beliefs of the Filipino people. Additionally, be mindful when shaking hands when meeting someone, as the handshake may be accompanied by a light bow, a sign of respect. It is also critical to dress is a respectful manner, particularly when visiting religious sites; cover your shoulders and legs, and refrain from wearing any clothing with offensive slogans or images. Furthermore, use your right hand when giving or receiving items from local people; using your left hand is considered impolite. Finally, avoid discussing sensitive political topics with strangers, as such conversations can lead to misunderstandings," said one expat in Philippines.

"One thing never ever mentioned is the Mal de Ojo supersition that YOU, as a stranger or a visitor, unsuspectingly placed a hex or evil eye to mainly a child or even an adult. As having been raised in tbe West, it is so easy to praise or coochie coo a child you meet, but do not automatically touch/pat the head/hug/even pay too much attention, etc unless the accompanying person offers the child or self for you to do so. If not, if that child or adult get sick soon after, it will be attributed to the evil eye placed on the subject, albeit unknowingly. I've had people calling me to stop by and put my saliva on the tummy or forehead of the afflicted person. I don't come across this from Westernized Filipinos but I've heard from others it may even be a superstition that can be heard from affluent people from MetroManila," remarked one expat who made the move to Philippines.

"Foreigners mainly DO NOT move to Manila. It's crowded, dirty, crime is high, and more expensive than any other area to live in. Negros, and Cebu is the main areas now. They are building up, more and better services, great hospitals, great doctors, and lower prices on everything. Don't fall for Manila or country thing unless you are from the country," wrote one expat living in Philippines.

"The Philippines has become a popular destination for expats due to its tropical climate, friendly people and low cost of living. The country also offers amazing landscapes and tourist attractions, a diverse culture and welcoming environment to foreigners, with many expats choosing to stay long-term. Expats also appreciate the excellent healthcare, great infrastructure, and a high standard of living. The country also provides plenty of business opportunities and job prospects which attract expats interested in making a career move. Expats who move to the Philippines can also enjoy the relaxed and laidback atmosphere, good food, tropical beaches, and the unique mix of activities available for them to experience," commented one expat living in Philippines.

"Many expatriates in Angeles City are former military men hailing from the U.S., and most are married to local women. Other expats move there for the low cost of living," commented one expat who moved to Angeles City, Philippines.

"Personally I moved there because I like the ocean. The water is warm so no wet suit needed. Most people speak English, my native language. Most people there are nice and helpful. Older people are respected. I built 2 dwellings for less than $9.00 per foot," remarked one expat living in Philippines.

"Healthcare services in the Philippines are provided by both public and private institutions. The public healthcare system is funded by the government and is available to all citizens and legal residents. The quality of public healthcare varies depending on the region, but generally it is considered to be of a lower standard than private healthcare. Foreign residents are able to access the public healthcare system, but they may need to pay for some services. Expats in the Philippines typically use private healthcare services, as they are more reliable and of a higher quality. However, some expats may choose to use the public healthcare system if they are unable to afford private healthcare," wrote one expat living in Philippines.

"I live in a rural area of the Philippines, and I have found the provincial and municipal hospitals to be of excellent quality for all my ordinary health care needs," commented one expat who moved to Bontoc.

"It's very important to have cash ready, or to be on one of the many local medical insurances available. Without money, you are doomed," said one expat.

"If you can afford it, get health insurance, but the rates are higher the older you are, and if your over 60 they go through the roof, that's if they will insure you. Be aware that many doctors here, who will charge you in excess of the regular charge as a "skin tax" as we are perceived to be able to afford it. Also hospitals will add on extra's not necessary, ie, they always insist on a drip, but it only contains saline solution. Extras like artificial limbs are difficult to have maintained here, its only in Manila or Cebu where there are facilities to have these repaired or replaced, but the quality and expertise is poorer, usually using 2nd hand appliances from abroad. In Manila there is a private house where European standards are maintained, but it is the most expensive you will encounter," said one expat living in Philippines.

"I just spent 5 days in the Bacolod Riverside Hospital. I woke up in the middle of the night with an excruciating pain in my ankle, it felt like someone hit it with a hammer. The next morning it was double in size swollen up. I had previously seen this doctor in Bacolod an went to him to see what was up. He looked at it and immediately had me go to the ER and had me admitted. I spent days there to find out I had Peripheral Arterial Disease. I saw five specialist during my stay and was very impressed by them. The total cost was approximately $3,400.00 and they got my leg back to normal," offered one expat living in Philippines.

"The healthcare system in the Philippines is largely privatized, with a mix of public and private hospitals and clinics providing medical services. The quality of care varies depending on the facility, but generally, the medical services available in the Philippines are of a high standard. The country has a wide range of specialists and medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, who are able to provide a range of treatments and services. The cost of medical services in the Philippines is generally lower than in other countries, making it an attractive option for those seeking medical care," commented one expat living in Philippines.

"Competent doctors. Took an appointment a week in advance for an MRI that was needed immediately," commented one expat who moved to Cebu, Philippines.