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This page focuses on one of the most common questions asked prior to someone moving to Cebu to retire, "What does it cost to live in Cebu?"

Note: The current exchange rate is about Php 47 to $1.00 USD. Here is a link that will give you the current USD / Php exchange rate: Yahoo Finance: USD to PHP conversion

Depending on who you ask (of those who have been on the ground here for some time), the responses will vary widely. I mean, you will probably get a range of replies anywhere from around Php 30,000 (~ $638 USD) to Php 120,000 (~ $2,553 USD), or more.

Personally, I think anyone who lives here on anything over about $1,500 to $2,000 USD per month is wasting money. If they don't know how to get better deals than they do, or if they have high maintenance Filipinas living with them, perhaps they need to enroll in Living In Cebu 101. Then, they may learn that, "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto."

People do not realize that living among Filipinos is much different than living in the west. Furthermore, living with, or being married to a Filipina, is certainly quite a bit different from being with a western woman.

Anyway, my personal budget was about $1,200 USD, in January 2003. After losing my income from the states (July of 2003), I ended on a budget of about $500 USD / month, primarily from helping others who needed help and information regarding the Philippines. The exchange rate of the day was around Php 55 to $1.00 USD.

In November of 2006, my gross monthly budget went up considerably. But, I have since averaged it out to about Php 40,000, or $851 USD, at current rates. This has proven to be a good monthly average for me, but your requirements may vary. Personally, I could live on considerably less than this, as I have before. I lived in a bed spacer room for more than a year. I could easily do it again, with little thought needed to make the decision. However, most foreigners (westerners, certainly other Americans, could not.

Okay, back to getting the answers that you need regarding how much it will cost you to live in Cebu.

The answer to this question for you, depends on a few things that you will need to determine first:

1. What standard of living do I wish to appreciate after moving to the Philippines?

Often, foreigners do not realize how far (although a bit less these days) their currency will go after they retire to the Philippines. What I mean is, typically, you can rent a much nicer home than you can in the US, for example, for the same money. Provincial and city homes will fetch much different prices, so I will give you two examples of the differences.

The home I currently rent, and have for almost a year, cost Php 12,000 per month, or about $300 USD (at the current exchange rate), unfurnished. This is a provincial home located north of Cebu City about two and one-half hours ride. It is a split-level home offering four bedrooms, two baths, a day sitting area, a large living room, and spacious dining and kitchen areas. The living, dining and kitchen floors are finished in beautiful marble, as well as the kitchen counters and walls up to the counters.

This home offers a three (full-sized) car carport, something that isn't common in the Philippines. Out back, the home has a dirty kitchen, which has been converted into a generator house by me, which

has proven to be a good choice, as it offers excellent ventilation for the generator while running. I can even keep the door closed and secured with the generator operating, thus keeping the engine noise down a bit more.

Okay, so now you have an idea as to what you can rent for $300 USD per month, in the province. In the city, this same home would be more, probably about 25-30%, depending on the area. Who knows? You may even find a deal better than I have. I do not claim to be the best shopper, when it comes locating housing.

When I lived in Cebu City, I rented an unfurnished apartment for Php 10,000 per month, located in a private compound. This was a two bedroom, one bath unit, with small living, dining and kitchen areas. But, it did have a spacious rear outside washing area. However, that apartment would fit three or four times inside the home I currently rent, for only Php 2,000 more per month. This brings me to question number 2.

2. What amenities do I wish to have available?

Are you a city or country person? Do you feel the need for active nightlife, movie theatres, malls, 24 hour restaurants, as well as other conveniences available to you on a regular basis? Or, do you not mind the streets rolling up at 8PM, with the main store being a single mega mall, a local hardware store, and a few local eateries?

Another very important part of this to consider is medical care. What sort of physical shape are you in? Do you need to be near a major medical facility? Or, would having one several hours away be okay with you? If you need any sort of immediate medical attention on short notice, you already know the answer to these questions. Of course, there are also other things to be considered, concerning your monthly budget. This is addressed in question number 3.

3. What is the total monthly budget I have allotted for my expenses including housing, utilities (electric, cable vision & water), food, health (doctor's visits, prescriptions, etc.), clothing, internet (ADSL), miscellaneous expenditures and entertainment?

I have a fairly complete list of expenditures for the average home of a foreigner who wishes to reside in the Philippines. Of course, specifics will vary depending on personal needs. To give you an idea of what costs you will incur, I have a breakdown that I have kept track of since moving to this home. Click on the following link to be taken to my personal monthly budget, listed on the Living In Cebu Forums:

>>>> Paul's May, 2007 through April, 2008 cost of living in Bogo, Cebu <<<<

After reviewing that budget post, if you have any questions, please feel free to join the forums and post your questions, or Contact me directly. I will be happy to answer any questions you have. Another thing, one that is of the utmost importance to the new retiree in the Philippines, is whether or not to rent furnished or unfurnished, right after arriving here. This will be addressed next, in question number 4.

4. What do I plan to purchase initially for my home? Do I plan to furnish an entire home, or will I consider renting a furnished home for a while, say six months to one year?

I consider this question to be very, very important. You are new in the country, possibly having never even been here before in your life. So, you have yet to determine if the Philippines is "right" for you, or not. My primary concern for you is, hopefully you not have sold (liquidated) your entire life in your home country, in case it doesn't work out as you had planned here.

You see, I love the Philippines. I knew I loved it and wanted to live here when I first landed on the tarmac on Mactan Island, back in 1992. But, just because I love living here, doesn't mean everyone will. Hell, you may land here and find out in a couple months that you simply hate it, finding it quite difficult to adjust to the culture and ways here. So, you may wish to consider renting a furnished place for a while, until you know you have acclimated yourself to the culture and the country.

After you have established that you like it here and wish to stay, then I would suggest considering buying your own appliances, furnishings, etc. If you decide to go this (rent furnished, for starters) route, you will have much less invested in the country should you decide to leave. I would hate to see someone spend, quite literally, thousands of dollars (USD, most likely) to furnish a place, only to sell it all later at a great loss to them.