Top 10 places to retire on $2000 a month (Cebu one of them)

[lbounds 16]

I read this article and noticed that Cebu was one of the top 10 places. You can read below but I noticed that they mention the price of "heat" maybe they meant air con ? I really doubt anyone in Cebu at any day of the year needs a heater.

One of the things often missing from articles like this is the cost of healthcare there. Anyone planning to retire in Cebu ? Actually having visited there it would be one of my choices.

I felt safer there than in Mindanao (not seeing security with machine guns or car bomb checks entering hotels that is)

I wonder how nice a $270 a month apartment is in Cebu.

Philippines

Given that learning English is mandatory in schools, this can be a relatively easy place for Americans to retire. On top of that, the tropical nation lets Americans with a monthly retirement income of at least $800 obtain residency easily, notes International Living.

Cebu, a large coastal city, is one of the most affordable places to retire well, allowing some expats to live comfortably for $1,250 a month or less, according to Live and Invest Overseas. The median price for a one-bedroom city apartment is about $270 a month, according to Numbeo, with heat, electricity, hot water and garbage collection totaling about $79, and Internet service going for about $34. Expats also report that health care is good in major cities.

The downside of living here is that the country's infrastructure is lacking in some places, meaning roads can be poor and Internet connections spotty.

http://money.msn.com/retirement/10-places-to-live-on-dollar2000-a-month

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

$270 a month sounds like a pretty good house to me. I have seen some decent 3 bdrm apts going for $100 a month outside a large city. Haven't been to Cebu yet, but it's far enough north that I think it would be safe from MILF or other extremists. Of course, I'd vote for a beach home vs. an interior one, regardless of the island you're on.

[lbounds 16]

I like the beach views as well though not sure about typhoon season. One went through Mindanao this year and in one place that once looked like a beach paradise it looked like a bomb hit it with hardly a tree or anything left standing.

[pete_falcone 7]

Cebu sounds good. I have relatives who vouch for it, but I've never been there. How would it compare to places like Clark or Subic, small cities with a large international presence?

Personally, I have my house in Pampanga and the misses has hers as well right across the street, so we're set to retire in Central Luzon regardless.

[Juliet and Steve 93]

$270 a month sounds like a pretty good house to me. I have seen some decent 3 bdrm apts going for $100 a month outside a large city. Haven't been to Cebu yet, but it's far enough north that I think it would be safe from MILF or other extremists. Of course, I'd vote for a beach home vs. an interior one, regardless of the island you're on.

*LMAO* RP has 25,549 miles of coastline--and in my humble opinion based up on what I have seen--one mile of real beach.

Look at our icon photo--there's your typical RP beach--a mangrove swamp.

Now there are some beach, meaning sandy areas that would be nice to put up an umbrella and go wading--but they are rare and unGodly expensive.

Maybe a dozen of us could buy a half kilometer of good beach someplace? At $10,000US that would give us $125,000 but I don't think that would be enough.

Another problem with Cebu--never talked about is the boombox problem. You see, nobody can afford much of anything and there's this machismo attitude towards boombox--personally I think that owners of said obscene 108dB boomboxes equate big boombox = big p***s. I mean--you cannot imagine. Thank God that Juliet's neighbors don't have one--but one that is perhaps 70 meters away does and even with a house in-between items in her house vibrate.

Medical? I kept saying: "Juliet--you need glasses," she kept saying: "no my eyes are fine." Well, glasses and an eye exam were insanely expensive--insanely (considering that I can buy prescription glasses shipped to me from Hong Kong for ~$18US. But I did persevere and find at ophthalmologist who agree to see her, do an eye exam and provide one pair of glasses for what I thought was reasonable--but it took a lot of effort.

In reality one huge problem with going expat--is medical. And though I'm not familiar with RP's insureres, I am with Thailand and in a sentence it goes like this: You are covered for everything--until you have a problem. Get high blood pressure and *voila* you are no longer covered for heart attack, coronary artery disease or strokes. My suggestion: Keep a property in the US so if you ever really need something major (cancer, etc.) you can return).

[Niblet 22]

yep medical is useless in the RP,,,,i wouldnt let them touch me with a 10 foot pole,,,I would like to retire,,but will

"get on a plane,,when in pain"

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

I wouldn't say useless... some things are good. Like braces. Amazing to me how cheap dental services are here, and also how many people have terrible or very few teeth in their head. I can use the VA hospital in MNL if needed, but I can't see that as a HUGE bonus, just a handy stop-off to maybe replace a visit to the US.

But I hear ya on the beach thing. Boracay & Bohol are nice, haven't been to Palawan yet, but want to visit.

[Niblet 22]

Well you get what you pay for,,,if you want to trust your body to a bunch of thirld world quacks just to save a few bucks,,,,thats your choice,,,

I will pay the $$ and get top rate care here in the US

Edited October 3, 2013 by Niblet

[Niblet 22]

just love them Philippine beaches,,,,all the sewage and rubbish on the beaches,,all the wild dogs and animals runnin around,,yeah!! cant wait to move there

[cjmc 10]

I wouldn't say useless... some things are good. Like braces. Amazing to me how cheap dental services are here, and also how many people have terrible or very few teeth in their head. I can use the VA hospital in MNL if needed, but I can't see that as a HUGE bonus, just a handy stop-off to maybe replace a visit to the US.

But I hear ya on the beach thing. Boracay & Bohol are nice, haven't been to Palawan yet, but want to visit.

Dave...did you make it to PI ok ???

cjmc

[Niblet 22]

He's in ROK now,,aint ya dave?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

You will not lead a western lifestyle on 2K per month

You want some real advice from the grunts living it everyday

They will tell you it ain't for everyone

Go over here if you want to talk to some real ex-pats

Be nice and follow rules -they don't put up with crazy over there

http://www.livingincebuforums.com/ipb/page/portal.html

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Well you get what you pay for,,,if you want to trust your body to a bunch of thirld world quacks just to save a few bucks,,,,thats your choice,,,

I will pay the $$ and get top rate care here in the US

I just read a FB post where a guy who makes between $45-55K, on a tier-2 silver plan, has monthly premiums of $497 with an annual deductible of $13,988. And if he neglects to sign up, he gets a fine of over $4k. And if he stays uncovered for 24 months, the IRS can go after his home.

Yeah, the health care may be good, but the price is going up, my friend.

Naw, I was only in ROK for a day, now in Pampanga. Going Bora in a few days to celebrate my 27th birthday (again).

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I wouldn't say useless... some things are good. Like braces. Amazing to me how cheap dental services are here, and also how many people have terrible or very few teeth in their head. I can use the VA hospital in MNL if needed, but I can't see that as a HUGE bonus, just a handy stop-off to maybe replace a visit to the US.

But I hear ya on the beach thing. Boracay & Bohol are nice, haven't been to Palawan yet, but want to visit.

Just a tidbit...You have to be service connected at least 0% to be seen in Manila

You probably already knew that

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Just a tidbit...You have to be service connected at least 0% to be seen in Manila

You probably already knew that

0%? As in retired? If so, yes, I knew that.