Would be Philippine retirees often ask if they can live in the Philippines for $600 per month or $800 or $1000 per month. The answer to all these is yes. If you are healthy, can be happy living in a rural area, riding public transport, shopping in the public markets, avoid imported foods and can get along without air conditioning and maybe Internet access (if you’re reading this maybe you can’t), you can live on very little.
Our budget in the Philippines. The main cost of living questions you need to adjust for are:
- Prescription drugs and medical care. A $1,700 per month budget may cover routine medical and dental care for a reasonably healthy couple. Someone requiring expensive prescription drugs or expensive medical care needs to adjust the budget accordingly. A reserve account to cover emergency medical expenses is a must.
- Support you provide to your spouse’s Philippine family — routine and special such as medical emergencies.
- Family size.
- Dining out, entertainment
- Expenses in one’s home country.
- Immigration fees.
- Overseas travel.
- Any installment payments such as for a motor vehicle.
Here’s our expenses for 2012 (in U.S. Dollars)
(Note that there is no rent included as we own our own home)
Auto 659.52
Bank Charge 15.12
Books, Magazines, Music 488.46
Charity 380.22
Clothing 305.41
Computer 1,518.78
Dining 831.62
Entertainment 85.38
Help to our families 3,951.93
Gifts 112.50
Groceries 4,886.07
House Furnishings 512.59
House Landscaping-Garden 327.00
House, Maintenance 236.33
Household 679.03
Insurance 29.27
Interest Exp 19.00
Labor 483.32
Medical 2,651.42
Misc. 204.10
Photography 33.91
Postage, Shipping 324.18
Tax 102.62
Transportation 181.72
Travel 2,358.52
Utilities 2,169.16
TOTAL EXPENSES $23,547.18 or $1,962 per month on average.
Here’s our expenses for 2008 (in U.S. Dollars)
Auto – fuel and maintenance 449.94
Bank Charges 103.96
Books, Mags, Music, News 229.41
Charity 143.10
Clothing 182.33
Computer Expense 282.27
Dining Out 758.56
Entertainment 10.15
Help to our Families (US and RP) 3,107.81
Gifts 43.17
Groceries 2,886.83
Household 1,100.89
Insurance: 32.49
Investment Exp 48.85
Legal & Immigration 19.47
Total Medical & Dental 1,187.70
Misc 490.78
Photography 597.31
Postage-Shipping 226.37
Recreation 10.81
Rent 6,000.00
Subscriptions 138.00
Taxes: 524.98
Real property Expense 192.72
Transportation 53.75
Travel 359.67
Utilities:
Bottled Water 56.52
Electric 744.39
Propane 28.96
Telephone & DSL 518.11
Utilities – Other 1.59
Total Utilities 1,349.57
House Help 581.87
Expenses – Other 0.25
Total Expenses $21,113.01