Living in the philippines

How much is it now to rent or buy a condo in makati? I've not been back there in 20 years and I'm thinking of staying for maybe a year, considering internet access is good. what is the cost of living.

makati or angels city

???? more thoughts plz

im still curious about moving to phl.

Take a trip, check it out.

There are a lot of forums you can get on and ask questions.

I know Cebu, but know its not for everyone. I did not like all the traffic in makati, but still got my Hard Rock Cafe shirt

I enjoy Cebu cause you can get away, i dont always like the city life.

If you want any questions answered from my prospective as American living there pm me. [dont live there now]

makati is the place to be!

if you want good advices and make friends easily in the Phil. read this website. hxxp://www.expatinterviews.com/Michael-Turner.html

if you want good advices and make friends easily in the Phil. read this website. hxxp://www.expatinterviews.com/Michael-Turner.html

I'm a city boy and I guess I should chime in to correct everyone here.

thoughts:

If you want city living. great nightlife. good food. almost american culture (can get almost anything you want) go and live in makati, yes traffic is usually bad IF you are going into makati. Something like going to downtown new york. when you're there it isn't as bad.

As per cost of living in makati. $1000 for a condo is great already. $1500 should get you a nice place, check rockwell, the residences or anything made by ayala should be good.

If you're serious and you need help pm me and i'll refer you.

Total cost of high living: probably around $2500-3000 a month due to rent being $1500. driver $150-250 maid: $100-150 (highclass) food etc: $400 is already a good amount another $300 for going out etc. this can vary depending on your taste. I basically live off around $400 a month and save almost all my IM money haha.

The figure above is already luxurious living. just so you know.

Also consider moving to taguig city or to the southern part of manila where I stay which is a perfect mix of suburban and city living

Cebu:

Cleaner area, been there once. perfect if you're looking for a mix of a relaxed city and places that are near the beach. nightlife is so so but has improved the past few years.

Pampanga/clark:

Where the foreigners are. good if you're looking for bar girls. other than that there are beaches etc but nothing really special. YES I AM BIASED Also good if you're looking for those.


Just my 2 cents. Man staying here and earning IM money plus building your own team is the perfect setup, smart, hardworking and english speaking staff is worth it. take it from me

Plus the beer here is around $.70-$2.00 (high end bars) which is cheap just like most 3rd world countries. perfect for IM people.

Traffic is baaad in Makati or Cebu and too overcrowded. Go to Davao.

Rent $1500? You can live like a king with a $500 rent here in a condo.

If you're a city kind of guy/gal then Makati is the place to be. Easy access to everything and condo is very nice. If you're laid back and prefer a much more serene environment, less crowded, etc then any provinces, like Batangas, Laguna or Davao, those are all good places, nice people. How do I know? I've been to all those places.

My favorite, Makati, Greenbelt Area, Mall of Asia.

I have lived in Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, Bagiou, Bacolod and now Angeles City. Don't, I repeat don't go to Makati first. I don't care what others say here. Go to Angeles City first. Think of Angeles City as a hostel where you meet all kinds of travelers and learn from them. You will be isolated in Makati. You can't go anywhere there without taking a taxi.

I am currently living at the America Hotel in Angeles City. I pay approx $250 US. I enjoy big swimming pool here and the people who run this place. I have girls coming and going and they say nothing. One guy here has two girls who service him lol. I would recommend Angeles to anyone coming to the Philippines the first time.

In terms of being black and popular get over it. Get over the idea that you are going to run around in the Philippines and have a women running after you because you are "special." Regardless of being black, white or whatever. Pretend you have ATM stamped on your forehead. All you have for most here is "Peso nality." Yep most of these gals are after your money. Now that is not a bad thing because these LBFM treat their men like Kings for only few pesos. And many help pay for their little sister and brother's education and medicine etc.

In terms of rent. Let me point out something about 3rd world countries. Start flashing your money around and you may get robbed or worse. I will be moving into a 2 bedroom duplex...apartment..two floors. All floors are marble and the place is very nice. My cost is approx $250 US a month.

Low class girls? I don't know about that. Many of the girls here work in bars. Some only have "sexual" dates with men perhaps once a month. They send most of their money back home to support their family. I would never classify them as "low class."

Franco....lostgringo

Good advice.

Taking my first trip to the Philis very soon. In and around Manila to find an office to let.
Planning to leave my Rolex at home and come dressed like a poor-man tourist with a laptop-bag. I guess the key is to keep it low PROFILE when you're entering a whole new place.

I heard guns are legal and people carry....Wouldn't be too hard to rob someone, eh?

im getting a condo there soon. so i can spam more..

I believe it is illegal to carry guns as a foreigner.

some do it anyway, get a travel wallet you wear around your neck under your shirt, dont flash lots of money. and you will be ok, basically same rules as any big city. pull out a wad of cash in NYC and you will be a target.

good to see you posting lostgringos

Suggest you hook up with someone in country, to show you the "ropes" it will save you a lot of money. especially if they have a Philippino to negociate rent for you.

get software and learn Tagalog also, prices drop when they know you are not tourist.

DrJekyll said:

get software and learn Tagalog also, prices drop when they know you are not tourist.

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That's funny. I'm also an American (born and raised), who happens to be brown (I have Filipino folks), representing the home of the Steelers wuzz up? haha. I moved to the islands a couple years back because of work.

I'm not fluent enough to converse properly in Tagalog so I just point at stuff and stay brown whenever I buy stuff in the downtown area. Works everytime =p

I like living in the Alabang area, I've been to Cebu and I can barely understand anyone. Nice and friendly folks there though.

-
BTW, I see that there are a few of us from the Metro area. May be we should meet up and brainstorm or somethin

I am just going through the process of renting a condo here in Angeles City. Fully furnished for around $700. 3 bedrooms. One room is huge loft with amazing cupboard space. Custom hardwood floors throughout. In the back of the condo is 25 meter lap pool. Girls well I can't quote prices here as i don't want to get banned etc. Think of it this way...I had a date last night with "2" sweethearts! They visited me in my hotel for 4 hours. We drank a few beers and swam and so on. Same cost as two people going to a show in the US.

Rent a condo next to me and setup an office in Clark Freeport Zone...no taxes...lots of call centers there....Let do some Black hat together..i am getting a team together right now!

hi all.

i can vouch for the philippines as a great and inexpensive location. english is widely spoken.

heed the advice of lostgringos.

I'm currently in a small village called Sabang, on the island of Mindoro. This destination is tailored for scuba divers. Small, safe with reasonable nightlife.

I've been here for 6 months but getting bored and thinking about migrating to AC. Despite this, there are many expats living here and is easy to make foreign friends.

The internet connection is acceptable at around 256k speed.

danchoksy said:

well im used to ultra luxury.. i have a maid down here, driver, 3 bedroom penthouse condo.. etc..

I basically want the best of the best I can get, i dont wanna be in the middle of nowhere however..

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A decent house costs $1000's equivalent in India a month, and $1500 is ultra luxury in Panama? Thats odd. Very odd. No wonder he got banned