Cost of living in Cebu, Philippines?
FR

Translated into English.

Original post
LO
Hi everyone,

I’ve got a job offer in Cebu and I’m currently negotiating the financial terms...

For those of you who are experienced or expats there, could someone help me evaluate the cost of living so I can get an idea of my monthly budget?

- Rent for an apartment or small house (2 people) - Miscellaneous expenses: utilities, electricity, phone, internet, insurance - Local taxes or fees?

Thanks for your help, tips, and experiences!
lodasie@gmail.com
BO Boholano Veteran ·
To live like a European, let's say 1000 €–1500 for a two-bedroom house, plus outings and mixed food (local/Western) for two.

After that, less than 1000 € if you watch your budget and limit spending to essentials.

But hey, I might be wrong—I personally spend a lot more, but there are four of us with two grown kids.

Best from Bohol,

yannick
HO Hoost Regular ·
You can find a detailed budget here: http://voyageforum.com/...post=3298003#3298003 But it’s not for Cebu, and the cost of living varies a lot in the Philippines. It’ll also depend a lot on the level of comfort you’re looking for—Western-style comfort can be pretty expensive, sometimes even more than in France. If it’s a foreign company, remember to negotiate social protection (CFE + supplemental insurance), otherwise you’ll go without like many people here.
YO YouTalaga Regular ·
Is it a local contract or an expat contract?

If it's the latter, the daily travel allowance is 8,770 Php. This allowance can be reduced by 65% if accommodation is provided (including breakfast and all utilities). And by 17.5% per meal provided. It’s also common to add an expat bonus (10 to 30% of the gross salary—for the Philippines, I’d personally go for the 30%).

If it’s a local contract, I wouldn’t venture a guess 😛
GE Getehem Globetrotter ·
I’m trying to do the same exercise for our family of 4 in Tagaytay.

Rent: 26,000 PHP (house with garden, 4 bedrooms, approx. 300 m²) Utilities: - Electricity: 2,500 PHP (2 fridges, 2 TVs, 2 PCs running 24/7, washing machine, etc.—no aircon in Tagaytay, not necessary) - Running water: 800 PHP - Propane bottles: 800 PHP (for cooking) - Phone and Internet: 4,500 PHP - Cable TV: 850 PHP - Phone cards: 500 PHP Groceries: - 35,000 to 40,000 PHP (including everyday household products) - Drinking water: 900 PHP (4 x 19-liter bottles per week) - Restaurants: 6,000 PHP (2 high-end meals per month) Nanny: 4,000 PHP (provided with meals and lodging, 5 days/week) (+ 13th month pay) Driver: 7,000 PHP/month (+ 13th month pay) Fuel: 4,000 PHP Car maintenance, repairs, insurance, and taxes: 4,000 PHP Public transport: 1,000 PHP (tricycle to take one child to school) Miscellaneous (outings, shopping): 10,000 PHP School fees: 5,000 PHP (1 child in private elementary school, 1 in private high school) Uh... my cigars: 7,000 PHP

That’s pretty much everything.

115,000 PHP, just under 2,000 €.
FR Fredphils ·
Hi there, The real issue in Manila is the rent hikes over the past few years. Getehem’s calculation—which I wholeheartedly agree with, by the way—is spot on. The sticking point is the price of apartments in Makati: for 26,000 pesos, you can find a studio or one-bedroom, but otherwise, you’ll need to budget at least 40,000 pesos for something decent. Apart from rent, the cost of everything else is more or less the same across the Philippines, except for fruit, which is cheaper in the south.
GE Getehem Globetrotter ·
I know that sometimes we’re stuck in an apartment in Makati for work reasons, but it’s really a shame in this country with its lush vegetation and such pleasant temperatures in slightly elevated spots like Tagaytay or Baguio... and so many others. Plus, the people outside Makati are even friendlier!
YO YouTalaga Regular ·
In Makati there’s also a proper school :/
GE Getehem Globetrotter ·
yes, that’s true, it’s another good reason to live there.

Besides, I’m afraid I might have to make the move for the same reason one day.
TI Ticafrine ·
From what I’ve read in all your posts, a 27-year-old woman could live quite comfortably on 30,000 pesos a month... Could you confirm or correct that for me?
GE Getehem Globetrotter ·
millions of Filipinos live with much less.....

It’s all about where you set the bar for “perfectly comfortable.”
BO Boholano Veteran ·
this amount won’t let you splurge on clothes, food, or travel quickly—you’ll live simply with a small rent and eat enough to get by, nothing more

best from Bohol

yannick and eva
HU HugoPH ·
Salut,

Pour Cebu ville, comptez grosso modo : - Logement : 350 à 600 €/mois pour un studio ou petit appart correct en centre (plus abordable en périphérie ou à Mandaue/Lapu-Lapu) ; - Nourriture : 200 à 300 €/mois si vous mangez local (carinderia, marchés) la plupart du temps, bien plus si restaurant occidental quotidien ; - Transport : 30 à 60 €/mois (Grab, jeepney, ferry vers les îles) ; - Loisirs/autre : 100 à 200 €.

Soit un budget réaliste autour de 700 à 1 100 €/mois pour un expat seul, moins si vous partagez le logement.

Le coût varie beaucoup selon le quartier et le style de vie, mais c'est une fourchette honnête pour démarrer.

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