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@arthow1847

First of all Panama I found highly over rated and can be very expensive especially for a  for rentals in Pamana City.The place is very hot&humid,congested,loud and noisy, and what i found a lack of a actual culture.

This will come as a shock to you but the Philippines is hot & humid, congested, loud (probably louder than Panama City) & noisy although my guess is (having never been to Panama)  you do not have the scourge of the roosters.

As regards costings $1,600 is doable (just) but the IT park in Cebu is not cheap. Given the weakening US dollar (can't think why🤔) your greenbacks are starting to lose their purchasing power. Culture? The smart cafés, restaurants food and bars found in Boston I'm afraid are lacking in the Philippines. Last time I was in Manila I could not find one decent bar. The one decent jazz bar in Cebu city (Jazz 'n' Blues) was demolished during covid. Thats progress.

A couple of more temperate locations you might wish to try before putting roots down and tied to a rental are Baguio and Tagaytay - the former is rainy and heavily polluted the latter touristy and prone to volcanic eruptions.

Well said Lotus and true at most levels. Money yes, for a reasonable life US 1.6K will be tight especially living in an upmarket area and renting, moving out of the trendy areas will be more affordable. We own everything including home and vehicles and still manage to blow AU 3K + every month but we do have a good life here in our province and want for nothing.

Yes the closer you get to the equator the humidity and temp goes up and a fact of life. Suppose it depends on the lifestyle you need.

As for roosters and noise, pollution etc. Not here so do pick your area wisely. Baguio and Tagaytay are nice  but can be expensive to live/rent, great to visit for a day or 2.

Like always my suggestion is for newcomers to get boots on the ground, taste the culture and flavours, the wonderful people and all that the Philippines offers. One needs to move around and try different areas and facilities and transport offered and if suitable. Hospitals, shopping, noise/pollution and affordability, that takes a lot of exploration and time.

To the OP I spent 8 years knocking around the Philippines before I/we moved back here permanently 6 years ago. Near 4 years to find the perfect retirement property that we purchased 8 years ago.

Lots of traveling and looking before a final decision and not looked back.

Also consider your needs here in relation to things like hospital, banking, power of attorney and wills, the life you leave behind into a brave new world etc. Moving to another country as you well know is not like a 2 month holiday. The Philippines is not to everyone's liking and definitely an acquired taste. Some love it and others go elsewhere. The Philippines was once cheap but not so much these days but depending on your needs. Enough for now and good luck with your move.

As for property contacts most here use FB market place or you could try Air B & B for shorter stays.

Cheers, Steve.

Usual as expected always the negative inputs ready to pounce here. 🙄

@arthow1847

Sometimes reality and opinions hurt. Offered are options/thoughts only and make of them what you will, hear or simply ignore. Why ask?

Come and rent a condo in IT park Cebu and see how it pans out. I'm sure all here wish you all the best and you love living here.

Have you actually looked at the rental costs in IT park? 20 to 50K PHP per month,,,,, there goes a large chunk of your budget for a little box of 20 to 30M2.

Rent short term or air B&B until you find your feet. Honestly moving here a little green might come back and bite, aside doing it myself understand the brave decision and the Philippines you love it or hate it, the old required taste.

Enjoy.

Cheers, Steve.

arthow1847 asks . . . . My current total budget would be just over $1600 U.S. there.However, I have no actualy current debts presently either.Thanks to all for your attention, regards Arthur Howard.

**

Well Arthur, $1600 a month is not enough to live an American life style unless you live on Lucky Me Noodles, Spam & a boatload of Rice. Many of your American grocery favorites are not available even at Member's only shopping clubs.

Also language barriers, you heard they speak English, maybe dealing with professionals, speaking English to the others is a task.

You give the political climate as another reason, well you can join: Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O'Donnell, Courtney Love and Sharon Stone.

You say your a fit 78 well your past the longevity of an American male. The hour glass reads empty after 77. Your Medicare is not accepted here.

Even though you have no debts you will incur them setting up a household.

It might be wise to have an exit fund, to get yourself home if it doesn't work out here.

There is a guy on You Tube called Chris Stevens (channel name is Carefree Cris), I remember he did a cost of living video a year or so back on his monthly expenses and he was in or near the IT District in Cebu. I would suggest that you take a look at that. That video gave the costs for his monthly expenses but he is now with a Filipina so his monthly budget  will have gone up and he may have moved.

If your plan is to find a good filipina when you are there (maybe not initially), I would suggest that you factor in the costs of dating also into your budget and also the costs for meeting up with Ex Pats if that is your thing. One coffee at Starbucks every day will probably set you back about $100 per month. Any hobbies you have like golf for instance should also be factored in along with Health Insurance. Unless you intend to live like a monk over there it is probably better to factor in a budget for you and your future filipina from day one. I do find that most of the cost of living videos on the net miss at least one or two things and therefore are not a true reflection of the true monthly costs. Travel is another thing you may want to budget for and also you will need an emergency fund for any expensive medical costs should they be needed if not covered by health insurance.

Also if you do find a good filipina to share your remaining years with, you may be asked to provide financial support for her family if you want her to quit her job if she works. That alone could set you back $200 to $300 but doing that is up to you. Love does not come cheap in the Philippines and while dating will be cheaper than back home the overall costs will not be much cheaper if you decide to help the family out.

Only advice from a simpleton but the best I can offer is to simply suck it and see. No expectations and on a limited budget there are plenty of cheaper countries to live in than the Philippines. Health care also needs to be considered as we get older, self funded or some health insurance company, I simply have PhilHealth and fund the balance if I land in hospital.

As others have mentioned if you want a western diet/life then it will cost big time. Running a car or Bike, both perhaps, public transport etc. costs, internet, phone and cable/Cignal tv, drinking water and power, gas and daily needs, fast food, restaurants, theatre  and if you rent a big chunk out of the budget.

Not trying to be a sad sack arthow 1847 but and but. The very old saying "try before you buy".

Don't get me wrong as I live here but see the realities especially with the cost of living and budgets.

Cheers, Steve.

One last thought on this - I am sure that most of us on this forum have at one time or another looked at our bank balance and thought - have I really spent that much, where did all the money go. Best to have more than needed I am thinking. I would hate to live in a beautiful country and have to count every peso I spend to make sure I was in budget.

I am not saying spend spend spend, just saying that from time to time you may go slightly over budget so some form of backup fund would be a good idea.

First of all 78 is the new 58 for some of us.However, i agree the older one gets the faster times can go.I am not planning on a venture there to find some younger filipina  as it seems the majority of older single  men do.I have lived alone most of my adult life and prefer it that way.As far as my health I have some respiratory issues for most of my life mostly due to smoking which i gave up over 25 years ago.I still live a very active life style not dwelling on my eventaul demise either.As i indicated this iisn't my first time at the rodeo as far as expat living. I have traveled a lot internationally in the past but only Viet Nam as far as Asia several years back.I much prefer tropical climes to the cold.Nothing is perfect but if nothing else I should be able to down size to a very nicely furnished studio rental or perhaps find a hidden gem of a place there also.I realize that being objective mostly different than negative however from reading some postings on these threads at times there are some negative comments to expect also, it is what it is.

@bigpearl

Thanks Steve, well taken.

@bigpearl

Well taken

Usual as expected always the negative inputs ready to pounce here. 🙄 - @arthow1847

What happened with your plans to retire in Cambodia?

It appeared, based on the positive replies you'd received to your questions, that you'd essentially decided Cambodia was for you. Looking at your post history, Cambodia appears to have ticked all the boxes, relative to your situation and concerns.

Why now the change of focus to the Philippines? Did you receive "negative inputs" regarding Cambodia retirement?

Genuinely curious.

@Aidan in HCMC

I considered my options and the Philippines seems to be a better fit that is all.I am free to pick and choose at this stage in my life also.Plus in the Philippines english is much more prominet and lots of beautifllu island beaches,ect.

True Cherry but that is relative to all countries, budgets. Not just the Philippines. My better half has a budget of P100 to 110K per month and we stay within the higher limit and live very well and no complaints. Big budget items like a new car or refrigerator, health needs come from a seperate budget and no matter country extra expenses have to be allowed for/considered,,,,,, add that to your monthly budget or you will come to grief in the end.

End of the day? Around half the price compared to if we were living back in Australia. Love the country and souls here as well as the perfect weather, the freedom and quiet and only 4 klicks from town/facilities.

Cheers, Steve.