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Cheap

LOL mugtech and I agree for us is under half the cost compared to Australia and we live just as well if not better.

To Cheryl, the OP and thanks for the annual update.

Renting or purchasing depends on where you want to land and of course budget, how long is a piece of string? We own so never think about those costs but when we lived in Manila and rented a 3 bed condo it was cheap, like AU 600 per month, that was 13/4 years ago so not relative.

Food costs the same, depends on your budget and desires. Public transport is cheap as chips, what country can you jump on an A/C bus and travel for 7 hours for under P700 or US 12 bucks?

Saying all this we still manage to spend P 100/120K per month, no power bill, own everything, we do drink and smoke like burning tyres but over all less than half the cost compared to Australia.

We retired here so the better half was closer to family and works well for us.

Municipal rates/property tax here is about P 4.4K or AU 120 per year for absolute beachfront while Australia? Perish the thought would be at least AU 10K per year for a similar property. Phone, internet, Netflix and gas around P 3.5K per month. A 6 day a week livein caretaker that does everything from digging, painting, mopping floors, washing and folding, cooking on occasion, cleaning up all the dog droppings,,,,,,, the list goes on and a self starter and motivated, P 9.6K per month, we pay his PhilHealth, food and personal needs so maybe P 11/12K per month for a machine that doesn't stop for say AU 320 per month. We pay him well and he looks after us.

No Kids but 2 large Labradors that like us eat very well and with vet fees I would allow P 8K per month,,,,,, bit like kids I suppose,,,,,, until university.

Car and 2 bikes maybe P 700 per month, car insurance around P 1.5 K per month, Fuel for all maybe P 2K per month.

Leasure activities? We have the beach, 2 dogs and peripherals, no real cost.

We only have PhilHealth, For me P 17K per year, our caretaker and Ben P 6K per year each, all else self funded, I have posted on these cost before in other threads.

Groceries again depends on individual needs but for 3 of us and 2 large dogs I suppose we spend P 40K per month at the supermarkets, wet market, vegetable vendors and sari stores per month, Chuck on top of that alcohol and cigarettes but we won't go there.

As mugtech suggests, cheap especially compared to western countries.

Cheers, Steve.