Philippines Forum

Goodlooking
Joined 2016
Posts: 38

7 years ago

Living in in Cebu Philippines

7 years ago

24 months. 11th floor condo in aging but adequate hotel. Imperfect internet. 52 square meters for 30,000 Pesos/mo. ($635.00)
Electricity runs about 10,000 P($212.00). No hot water in kitchen. Potable water heater and cooler furnished. Fully furnished with small refrigerator. TV, Ph, and water included. (internet included too) Hotel rushes to bring fresh water at 90 pesos per 5 gallons. Malls and supermarket within walking distance. 24 hour armed guards. Ice is a real issue in this city. Stores run out. Ice maker is not a word in the Philippine language. Maintaining a ice chest is a must. Pretty and nice house girl is 200 pesos a day. A little over 4 dollars. I'm married to a Pinay and we go through $5,000.00 per month with no problem. And that's no eating out, bars, or travel.
Food suitable for "westerners" is expensive if found at all. Almost anything an American is accustomed to having is not available here. Fish is seriously out of the question. Ice ia an expensive word to the Philippine people. Taxi is dirt cheap. Better be on your toes. Many will rip you off. Jeepneys are not at all desirable. Cebu is the top place in the nation. For every reason but crime. But you have to be alert about your surroundings after dusk. The entire huge Island's residences resemble America's ghettos. Concrete walls prevent view for everyone. Steel gates.
A lot like the 5 prisons and jails I helped build in America. Banking is a real rip off. American banks require a tracking number. Philippines only have a 8 letter "swift code"
I just learned wells fargo in manila may have a transfer system. Major travel trip. But I pay fees on every withdrawal and every purchase here. (withdrawals at ATMs are limited to 10,000 P and wells fargo is limited to $300 per day. So there are so many fees during the year.
VA works with one hospital in the visalias. (central Philippine islands)
But not without first visiting their clinic at Manila. 100% disabled (service connected) veterans will lose almost all benefits here. Only specific items that created each part of the service connected rating. Like; dental, optical, hearing, heart, are dropped because you are not in America. Phil Health is dirt cheap and is a must. A ticket to get you into a hospital although you will pay the lions share.
Our dilemma is housing. I want single story, 2 or 3 BR, hot water, decent appearing location, reasonable access to shopping and medical. New Philippine homes are all multi-story to cut down on the cost of land. And without public transportation. Forget beaches. That means rocks covered with coastal water. Fishing means line looped in your hands. We looked at one beach front lot 3 hours south of the big city. Asking 4,000,000 P (almost $85,000.00) And you will vomit if you look in 3 directions standing on the property. Gonna look more at the leeward side of Cebu Island next. Hope it's cheaper than down town Los Angelos, California.

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Help others in Philippines by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Philippines.