Do You Really Want to Move to The Philippines?
A reader asked me to write on this subject, I’m not sure what that reader was looking for but I’ll do what I can. This is going to be a series of articles. How many, I’m not so sure. I’m going to cover the great things about the Philippines first.
Reasons You Should Move To The Philippines
I’ll first cover why you should move to the Philippines or retire in the Philippines. I’ll write a follow up article on why you should possibly not move here.
I’ve known people, married to two actually, that would plan forever. Making list, taking notes, collecting data and doing research but some people uses that as a means to putting things off. They both really believed they were making progress but they could never move from the planning stage to doing stage.
I think some people planning to move to the Philippines are doing the same thing. Others are either emotionally ready or intellectually ready but not both. Some just need more time. I think I was in the need more time category for a little while. 
On the other hand, if I had good information on why to move, I might have sped things up a lot.
For me, medical care was an issue. I didn’t know how the system worked. If I had known that I could get most of my medications without a prescription, I would have been here sooner. I also would have saved about $200 as I shipped some medication ahead of my arrival via UPS and that cost me $200.00
Even after I got here, I kept shipping medication to myself which cost me around $50.00 in shipping each month. I wouldn’t have done that if I had known I didn’t need a prescription. A doctor visit here will cost you about $12.00 and that’s for a hospital at a private hospital. At a public hospital the cost would be closer to $8.00.
If I had known how to get my things here, that would have helped me come sooner and save a lot of money. I spent a lot of money moving things to another city in the US. If I had that to do over again, I would have sold what I could and shipped the rest to the Philippines.
If I had known I could get a really nice home in the Philippines for $300 a month and a furnished apartment for a bit more. If I had gone for a smaller unfurnished place, I could get a place for less than $200. Depending on how large, it could be as cheap as $100 a month.
If I had understood that I could stay here long term without any thing more than my passport, I might have come sooner. You can enter with a US passport (and many other western and Asian countries) and stay for up to two years by getting extensions every two months. Though you’ll need to get your first extension within a few weeks. I don’t recall the exact time on that.
If I had known how the women of the Philippines would be crazy about me, I might have come sooner. It really helps though if you can meet and become close to someone before you get here. However, that often goes very badly once the foreigner arrives.
Tagged with: Features • Moving To The Philippines • Retire in The Philippines
Filed under: Living In The Philippines
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Hey Rusty, Good info my friend. I am from Tennessee so I guess we used to be neighbors. My wife is from Davao where Bob is from. By the way, I really loved the coolness of Tagatay when we visited there. One of the big things keeping me from living in the Phils full time is the lack of seasons. Who knows, maybe one day I will long for the heat- haha. See ya
Sorry I didn’t have my blog up sooner Rusty.
Those are all good points. I am trying to address a lot of the things you just talked about. The information on that stuff is out there it just isn’t easy to find.
They do have four seasons in the Philippines. They are, hot and wet, hot and dry, typhoon, and mild and dry.
Wow Jody, thanks for the tip on that location. I wonder why it is so much cooler than Cebu. Maybe I need to reconsider Luzon, perhaps Subic Bay or is there something about Tagatay that keeps it cooler. I’m very serious about looking into that.
The heat here is significantly higher than 22 to 25C, our highs are usually around 30 but up to 33. The heat here is a problem for me.
I first thought I might disappear into the wilderness of Alaska but after doing some research and seeing that even Holiday Inn closes for most of the year, I decided that might be harsher than I first realized and the cost of living is too high. I prefer the cold to the heat.
I miss fall a bit but I don’t miss winter and summer.
I especially don’t miss those repressive Memphis or Jackson, Ms. summers. Its not that hot here. At least not during my first year.
I was in the Memphis area so we were at least in the same state.
Tagaytay is in a mountainous area, and that keeps it cooler. You can get cooler temps also in Baguio or down south in Bukidnon. Often when we go to Bukidnon, a jacket is needed, it is so cool! It often gets quite foggy up there too! Pretty much anything at or near sea level will be hot and humid!
Tom, I don’t know why your post keep going into moderation. Maybe if you login it will stop doing that. As for your article, there’s no reason you can’t still do it dude. I had no idea what you planned on writing about. Someone asked me for the article: http://rustyferguson.com/life/holiday/christmas/my-christmas-in-the-philippines/
I thought it was a good idea. He got the idea from an article on Bob’s site. He wanted my thoughts, seemed like a good idea to write about it too, nothing prevents you from doing the same.
Oh no, you said that word, south. LOL I’m only kidding. The word you said was mountains. I really really want to explore those areas but it sounds like it is not a good idea for a westerner to do that. Let me know more on that, north south or any place. Heat is hard on someone with lupus and/or Scleroderma.
Hi Rusty – The mountains of Bukidnon are not dangerous at all. You were talking before about mountains in Zamboanga. Lots of foreigners that I know live up in the mountains of Bukidnon, and have for years and years. There is no insurgency in Bukidnon. I spend a lot of time up there myself. Bukidnon is a Cowboy Province, and you can have a nice ranch up there.
There is not much heat in the mountains in Bukidnon. Daytime temps average in the mid 70′s F, nighttime temps are cool. Did you know that there is record of ice on the roads up there?!?
I think you don’t have a good picture of what Mindanao is Rusty. Bukidnon is not a dangerous place to go.
Someone said camping in the mountains any place in the Philippines was dangerous. That doesn’t make it true.
These places may be perfect for me. Jessie may freeze though. Anything below 25C is difficult for her. She has been to Baguio and said I would love it but it is cold for her. They are on my list of places to visit.
Wow, ice in the Philippines! I just wrote in an article some place that the rate at which I continue to learn only indicates how much more I have to learn.
I have to check out these options. A ranch, it sounds awesome to me.
Couple of more questions…
Dengue and Malaria worse above certain elevations? I know it is not common to contract malaria but its not rare either, at least that is the way Jessie sees it. But she says it depends on where you live. I forgot where she told me not to live.
I like the smallness off Bogo but it would be nice too be a day away from Manila but the travel to Manila can be dangerous per Wikipedia, beautiful but dangerous.
I found pictures of that southern area too, awesome!
My getting out of this heat could extend my life span or at least improve the quality of it.
Hi Rusty – Firstly, I didn’t ever say anything about camping… I am talking about a place to live. No, I would not go camping in the mountains, I just don’t think it is a wise thing to do. Living there is entirely different, though.
Dengue and Malaria are more warm-weather conditions. There aren’t many mosquitoes up in the cool areas in the mountains, so dengue is not really a problem as much up there.
Joe,
Great site & keep up the good work.
Found Cebu 10 times better than Manila & will definately go back.
Met a few Yanks over there who where ex service men & they where complaining about the cost of living going up.
I know it all depends on lifestyle, but what do you think is a comfortable amount each month?
Love the articles & enjoy the opinions.
Michael
A lot depends on your lifestyle and what you feel is comfortable. Anywhere between $1200 and $2000 and you could live pretty well. Some do it on much less. Some do it on much more. The more Western Amenities you want the higher the cost will be because or import duties.
Cost of living is next to nothing compared to the US. Expats like to get together and complain about the Philippines. If they lived in a marsh, they’d find something to complain about there too. Its human nature unless one fights to curb it. Even I loose the battle sometimes and I’m next to prefect. LOL
I can’t tell you what it will cost you to live here. I know a guy that lives out of a boat at times, he has no income but manages to hustle his way through, making a buck or too here and there. His girl makes some money too by conning guys on the net. Hopefully they are just paying for the thrill of the moment though, then it woudln’t be a con.
Where you live means every. If you live in Manila or Makita you’re goiong to be paying top dollar. If you live in the province of Cebu or Mindanao you’ll live very cheaply.
I have a four bedroom home with marble and wood floors that is a half mile from the wharf and its less than $250 a month!
If you go to http://cebuexperience.com and click on the forums link I have a budget there that will help some. Its a year old but will help some.
Also, my medications ran over $1000 a month in the US. Here they are $300. If you can’t make it on your income here, you’re in massive trouble in the States.
Number one reason for coming here is a toss up between cost of living and Filipina!
Hi Rusty……….I want to move from Canada. I have a small monthly pension and plan to buy a home in Batangas. I’m in my early 60′s, and in Canada we have a great health care system, not perfect, but very good. Canadaians don’t ever need to sell their homes to raise cash for a medical procedure like some Americans. And, I know some personally tht had to do just that. What health care company do ex-pats use when living in P.I.? I know it’s all relative to cost, but for the average middle income guy, can someone recommend a health insurance company in PI?
PhilAm covers very little, but better then nothing, but I would feel better having some type of coverage like we have in Canada.
Anyone out there……………….please help, TUVM
Don’t you have travel insurance you can buy from Canada? I know someone that came down and bought it first. It was very expensive though.
There are ads all over the net promoting expat insurance. Have you tried a search using those terms. “expat insurance Philippines” would be a good one to search for I think?
My blue cross does cover me here.
Medical cost here are much lower, MUCH lower. Doctor visit at a private hospital is about $10USD. Semi private hospital would be nearly half that. Day in private hospital for nice room is less than $50 a day.
Still if something major happens, the cost goes up a lot. Philippines appears to have awesome health care in Manila, pretty good in Cebu but nothing like you are going to find in Toronto or Memphis or Houston.
Jerry, my brothers use Philhealth,,,i do not know how good is this…i hope there are other more but that is all I know except the medicare the companies provide their employees …
Goodluck!!!!
Blue Cross Blue Shield is also in the Philippines.
Hello
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I do have travel insurance, and I buy it in Canada for every trip I make to RP. What I was asking about was permanent health insurance as a RP resident. I will join Philhealth as that is a start, an is only 100P per month, my wife to be is already a member. For something with better coverage I have looked at the Blue Cross website and will enquire with them.
As a back up for maybe a year, I will continue with my Canadian health care, but I need to go back to Canada every 6 months to keep it active.
But, Blue Cross for the RP looks like maybe a good choice.
Thanks everyone
Hey, that’s what I meant, just keep your travel insurance if possible. The return every six months would make it expensive! I’d likely keep it for the first six months.
That will give you time to get more information while you’re already here!