Relocating to the Philippines from America

Anywhere BUT Manila or Cebu would be best.

@airforvet

Manila is a big city if you like that kind of life. I was a long haul trucker for 32 years, so I prefer Cebu City.

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Robert Williams

I am a Veteran and plan on moving to the Philippines in January. I am single and trying to decide if Manilla or Cebu would be best. I am looking to live in a modern high rise building. Can someone lend some insight? Is there a particular high rise that you can recommend? Can someone also provide the pros and cons of living in the Philippines? - @airforvet

Thank you for your service.  Now, where to live has many factors.  How much income will you have is the key factor. Lifestyle, apartment is available throughout the Phillipines, , but very different surroundings.  Manila is very city, traffic congestion is chronic.  Cebu offers more beach life, but maybe a little less traffic and fewer typhoons. Caygayan de Oro, again very city, traffic like all big cities.  Davao, the bottom of the Phillipines, big city, lots of traffic,  but it's considered one of the more safer of the cities.  Me,  I have 4 acres with my wife,  little higher in elevation, it's cooler, but rarely see expats, I've heard of a few in the neighboring villages, but we moved here because it's beautiful.  I wouldn't invest in a condo until I've visited many areas.

A former USAF.

Regards

Keith

@RetiredTrucker13, I sold my truck 30 days before moving here too.

I'm outside of the city, about 2.5 hours south of Cebu City. Some caveats, I was already with a woman here who owned her own home on a 700+ Sqm plot out in the province. She was raised in this area with lots of family (not always a plus lol) and people she grew up with here. We're not youngins, so partying or raising kids is not in our field of interests. A quiet more relaxed lifestyle is.

I personally hate Manila. Now don't get me wrong, I'm actually a city boy, in that I grew up in San Francisco Bay Area and lived in The City much of my life until it got too expensive and I moved to Las Vegas. But the traffic in Manila drives me crazy. Along with the smog. And as a trucker used to driving in LA, Seattle, Bay Area type traffic, that's saying something. lol But the smog from the traffic is in your face too. Are there fantastic amenities in Manila compared to Cebu City? Absolutely, with abundance. But they come with a cost too. If you like a totally modern, upper scale lifestyle and condo type living then BGC in Manila is the area for you. If you like the night life and bar girls, another mark for Manila. if you want a better selection of imported (American beef, etc) food stuffs, Manila gets the nod because it's the main import landing spot in the country.

Cebu, I love Cebu. Less of everything above, but it's still all there. And province life is really not so far away. Province life is generally speaking, in a real house rather than apartment/condo. Rent costs are lower. but the infrastructure is a bit lower quality too. Mind you the gov is expanding and re-doing the southern highway (not a highway in the sense we may be used to in the US lol) so it's quickly improving. Along with cable internet, I actually have great internet and get to watch NFL games, Netflix, MLB games etc. I go to Cebu City once a month for an overnighter "boys night out" and load up on shopping the next morning. For western lifestyles there's two membership stores basically like Costco. S&R and Landers. Both carry western products. If you want real paper towels like Bounty or real toilet paper, S&R is the place to go. They both import US and Brazil, some Canadian and even Japanese Wagyu meats. But also carry local meats (Phils beef sucks) like pork and chicken. However, one needs to really eyeball the imported meat for quality in my humble opinion. Much of it is not graded USDA choice, and Prime grade is unheard of in these two stores for the most part. However, it is available from time to time. For better quality, I have two main meat connections that are small meat shops that carry choice and prime beef, as well as Australian Wagyu, occasionally American Wagyu, and even Japanese A5 grade Wagyu. All of it is frozen, and they will cut to size ribeye, porterhouse, t-bone, NY strip, then wrap or vacuum seal frozen. I buy whole US choice and Austrailian Wagyu briskets for my smoker from them. But keep in mind, the prices of these meats are double US prices. Even my 13 pound frozen Butterball turkey is double at $43 USD for comparison sake.

But if you're the restaurant type, and not going to TGIF or Roadhouse type chains, food is inexpensive for sure. And the local wet-market is cheap. I mean you are buying pork that was walking the very same morning and it's not refrigerated, but they usually have fans blowing air to keep the flies away. (couldn't resist)

Province life is closer to beaches, diving, fishing, surfing, etc if that tickles your fancy. But Cebu City life is attractive to many also. I would highly suggest coming out for no less than 60 days before deciding if you're unsure. Spend 30 days in each, Manila and Cebu. Travel 2-3 hrs from each and look around at the areas between. Then make up your mind.

Best move I ever made. Good luck.

Larry