When it comes to people wanting to live in the Philippines, for the majority it seems to come down to prices. Yes, most things are quite inexpensive here. Some things are more expensive here, as I have pointed out on some posts in the past. But, I still get a lot of e-mails saying things like:
I am retiring, and will have an income from my pension of $xxxx per month. Is that enough to live there?
Other people e-mail me asking:
I don’t know if I have enough money to retire in the Philippines. Can you tell me how much Item X costs there?
Fill in the “X” with the name of any item you like, and you can bet that I’ve been asked!
So, today, I am going to ask you. What items do you want to know the prices of? Leave a comment below and just tell me what item you are interested in. I will send one of my employees out with a list of items to check prices on, and I’ll report back to you. Remember, prices vary. If you say “how much is a 3 bedroom house?” Well, I can find a 3 bedroom house for P1,000 per month or less, I can also find one for P60,000 or more. A nipa hut with 3 bedrooms would not rent for the same amount as the best 3 bedroom house in Forbes Park, right? So, keep your questions specific, so that we can give you the most accurate price possible!
washer, dryer, fridge, stove/oven like a typical American
hour of labor auto mechanic
hour of labor computer programmer
milk
orange juice
prescription medicine
My devious sister-in-law needs P15,000 to pay for a visit to a doctor for a "female problem." Wonder what the average price is for a motor scooter is? (Her's either isn't working and beyond repair, or else it's hocked at the pawn shop! 😆
Paul mentions pawn shops now there is atype of buissiness with a long future in the philippines. In all my travels around the world i have never seen so many pawn shops as what i have seen in phil.
Hi Bob I like ask you why many foreigners stay in subdivision
with security 24 hours on the day why is very dangerous in philippines the life. In vigan I no look something dangerorous
I look the philippino people is very friently. Only from manila airport
I am thinking If I take taxi. Your house have security or no.
Paul & Frank Fealy – I actually like looking into pawnshops (the jewelry section). It's amazing what you can find and I've had a few bargains too!
Zois, living in subdivisions are more common in cities and the 24-hour security is only a precaution. It doesn't mean that it is a dangerous place to live. Better safe than sorry. It's also for people who would like more privacy. In smaller towns, it's different – everyone looks out for one another. Your neighbours are your security guards. If caught, a robber or trespasser would be lucky to even get to the police station without a scratch, a blackeye or in one piece for that matter.
Bob – could you give some advice on buying a car and where to buy?
Hi Paul – P15,000 is a huge amount for a doctor fee here. That must have been some problem!
Hi Frank – you are right. There are probably more pawn shops than any other kind of business!
Hi Zois – We do not have security for our house. I don't feel there is a need. I think it's just a matter of personal choice – some people like it and others don't.
Hi Marilou – I'll write a post about buying a car next week, OK?
Hi Bob many thanks for your information I am thinking is better
no live in subdivision I no feel good.
Hi marilou many thanks for your advice real I don't know
about neighbours it is best security I am surprise I am thinking
about this but real I don't like live in subdivision with security
I don't feel free.
Hi Bob I write this list
1 kilo meat of lamp price?
1 liter olive oil
hi bob, we are thinking of opening a water refilling station, well 2 actually, one in rizal and one in laguna. however, i cant find anything on the web, can you help? also, i was wondering about gas (the lpg type…lol), we have been looking at a franchise for it, gasul i think you call it in the phils.
i think my wife is finally coming around to the idea of us selling up, and moving there, we will be renting a house and intend to just sit back, for a couple of months, to get a feel for the place, and people. seems strange (myrna is a filipina) but she has not lived there for 15 years, and she is absolutley terrified of being poor again, (apparently, someone has put a curse on her family), which seems stupid to me, but means a lot to her. she is also worried about her family, we already help to support her brother and his family, by letting them stay in our house in rizal. to give you an idea, last october, myrna's nanay died and she went home for the funeral. we knew it would cost a small fortune, for medical expenses etc, and at the time, we couldnt really afford for her to go back. when she was there, she told everyone not to expect any money, while at the funeral, and upset about the whole thing, a niece actually came to her and asked for php15,000 so that she could buy a new mobile phone, this girl is now out of favour with us, fancy doing that, at myrna's nanay's funeral!
you really do have to be careful WHO you support, dont you?
the brother, who we try and help support, has a decent job, a wife and 3 children, and i have a lot of time for them all, he has improved the house, and we are very grateful for that, but the rest of the family, just fritter money away, anyway, im getting on my soapbox now…lol……the philippines is a great place, and the people are great too (mostly), and we cant wait, until we are there.
keep up the blogs bob, they are really really good.
i will write again to let you know how we are doing with the move, ok?
best regards to everyone
Ian
Hi Kevin K – It is not easy to find a US style Washer and Dryer. The last time I saw them was about a year and a half ago, and the washer and dryer were around P25,000 each. I have not seen them since that time, but the price would probably be a little more now. Sorry I can't be more specific, they just are not available in this area.
An hour of labor from a computer technician or an auto mechanic – it's not normally charged per hour, but I'd say P100 or so would be a safe guess.
Milk – 1 liter of milk is P58.
Orange Juice – 2 liters of imported orange juice is P200.
Prescription medicine – no way I can give a price for you on that! Every different type of pill is a different price. Tell me the exact item and I'll check the price for you.
Hi Zois – 1 liter of Olive Oil can range from P315 up to P500 depending on the grade.
Lamb is hard to find, but when we have seen it, it seems it was around P700 per kilo.
hi Bob, in your opinion could my wife and I live comfortably on about p6500 per week? We would be living in our own detatched room on the side of my inlaws place. We would of course pay for most of the groceries each week and contribute towards the power bill. I have lived on little money in the past. This would be temporary as we would be looking at starting up a business there, Cheers
Hi Jason – That would be about US$150 per week, or slightly less. Honesty, I know people who live on that amount or even a little less than that, but it is not a good life. In my opinion, I would recommend that you and your wife have a minimum of $250 per week if you want to live comfortably. Now… this has nothing to do with money, but in my opinion "living in a detached room at the inlaws place" and being "comfortable" do not belong in the same sentence. I feel that living near the in-laws is quite uncomfortable. 😉
ok thanks Bob, like I said this would be temporary only, in my opinion my wifes family would be no problem to live next too as they are easy going and money is not so much of a problem for them as her father has a well paid job(as far as the phils standard goes anyway). Thanks for the advice, cheers
Hi Bob….Bill Huff here……i need to decide whether to buy me a lap top computer here in the states and bring it with me….or to wait and buy one after i arrive in the phili this Sept.. I would like one that would be good on the internet, with a nice screen that would also play DVD's at the cheapest price point. …and what brand should i concider ? I do have a Desk-top system, but do not like the idea of bringing it to the airport or sending it to the Phili due to cost & other concerns..????what do you think..???………….the other thought would be a wedding ring..???…..Thank you Bob….
Hi Bill – Laptops are quite expensive here compared to prices in the USA. I strongly recommend that you buy it there and bring it with you when you come in September. Hand carry it on the plane with you, and you won't have to worry about customs. If you ship it here there will be high customs charges on it.
Hi Bob you can tell how mutch cost the furniture of one house
have 2 bedroom living room ( no for kitcen and bathroom )
Hi Zois – Well, I must say, that request is not very specific! There are so many different things you could choose to fill those rooms, different qualities, etc. Personally, I would say that the very minimum would be P20k per bedroom (that would get you a bed, a couple of dressers, etc.) and P20k for the sala too. So, 60k would be the bare minimum, in my opinion. But, if you want to go nice stuff, you could spend P100k on just a sofa, so there is no way to nail this one down.
hi gang ,Derek fron Ireland here does anybody know the best place to buy furniture around Baguio and allelectrical goods as i will have to purchase all when i move over plus a car so any advice would be greatly appreciated:roll:
Hi Derk – Unfortunately, I have not been to Baguio before, so I don't have specific answers for your questions. On the car, I will give a plug for Mitsubishi. I have owned a Mitsubishi Adventure for 7 years now and have been quite happy with it. Go to the Mitsubishi dealer in Baguio and give it a look.