Municipal rates and tsismis.

         Steve, sorry to hear you are paying such a high rate of real estate taxes.  Here in suburban Baguio we are paying 123 pesos on a P  3.5k house, less than half the rate you are paying.  I could see our taxes getting all the way up to your rate, would still be a great deal.  Built a rental property for $14,000 in Manueva, pay tax of 40 pesos a year.  Looks strange on our income tax return when I report $1 in tax expense on the rental property..

@mugtech

No idea why you bring real-estate taxes into the equation, not sure what you mean, I'm simply relating my council/municipal rates, It's cheap. Here at out rates? Australia my rates were 35 to 40 times the price and got similar services,,,,,,, not much.

Our home here is around P 40M if we listed it according to the R/E agents that keep telling us they have buyers (sorry not for sale) as they all want beach front in a quiet area close to services,,,,,,, golly that's why we purchased here 8 years ago when the price was cheaper. Call me Billy not silly.

Honestly? For AU 120 bucks a Year? What do you want for 2 bob? A gold watch?

Aside I'm glad you are enjoying Baguio and the cooler weather, all your books, for us nice to visit but not to live, too manic especially in town.

Cheers, Steve.

Big Pearl - So the Municipal rates are the same as Council Tax in the UK -money paid towards essential services like street lighting, refuse collection, recycling, road repairs, libraries, upkeep of parks etc and for the emergency services and how much you pay depends on the worth of your property or which band it falls into and your personal circumstances.

Interesting to know the Philippines has similar to here in the UK although like you said above and like in Australia, it costs much more here.

`

We own land and buildings in the Philippines, and in Australia, and of course we pay annual government rates on our properties in both countries..

For our 9.2 hectares of land, with our new farmhouse and various farm buildings, in a less developed hilly area of Palawan (few neighbors within several kilometers) we pay 3,000 peso in rates annually.

Also, for our 1,000 sq meter land and house in suburban Roxas, Palawan we pay 1,000 peso annually. We also own various remote, smaller blocks of land for which we have yet to pay any rates yet. Haha!

Then, In Australia, we also have our 2,000 sq meter (half acre) block of land with a normal fired-brick and tile four bedroom suburban house. For this we pay the equivalent of 30,000 peso in local council rates annually.

In terms of services for our rates, really in the Philippines we get nothing much directly, although the local Barangay did initially grade our 2klm long driveway basically for free. And in Australia we get, or have quite readily available, just about everything your local councils in Australia currently can and do usually provide. No charge.

So basically one may say, and it seems the usual story .. for the most part, you gets what you pay for.

--

Yes P1.

Council rates are expensive in Oz but so is everything else, all relative.

I have no Qualms paying P 4,400 a year or AU 120 bucks a year, 4 kilometers from town and all made concrete and bitumen roads, good services and a very quiet location, our farm in Oz was 50 acres on a 3 Km dirt road that sometimes flooded at 2 creek crossings for days and the kids couldn't go to school nor us to shop in a town 20 Km away that was smaller than what we have here. the dirt road would deteriorate with corrugations and wash outs and the council would only grade it every 18 months after plenty of complaints,,,,,,,, your rates at work. There were some 30 properties on that road all paying rates but no road maintenance nor services aside from the recycle and rubbish collection, we got nada there for 25 years.

I am not a snow bird and live here full time aside from holidays. We dumped all our properties in Australia and shoved the money into superannuation and investments, not been back for over 5 years and no intentions of even visiting, family and friends are video calls and works for all. We actually make more money in retirement than when we were both working.

As you said municipal rates here are cheap as are the living costs and a chilled life.

Cheers, Steve.

`

You certainly have some clues regards retiring in the Philippines Steve. Good man.

Here's some of Bing's finds on this topic. Seems about right, would you & folks agree?

https://www.bing.com/search?q=retiring+in+the+philippines

"Cost: According to World Remit, the cost of retirement in the Philippines is US $800-$1,000 per month"

https://wheretoretirecheaply.com/retire-to-the-philippines-the-real-pros-and-cons/

Here’s a step by step breakdown of the living cost for The Philippines: (except for groceries x 4?)

MONTHLY EXPENSES    COST

Rent for a 3 Bedroom House                    $356 USD / ₱18,043

Rent for a 1 Bedroom Flat                            $171 USD / ₱8,667

Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Rates)                    $79 USD / ₱4,004

Internet                                                        $44 USD / ₱2,230

Groceries                                                    $15 USD / ₱760

Dining Out (2 people) For 4 times                $24 USD / ₱1,216

Fitness or Social Club Membership            $37 USD / ₱1,875

TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES (1 bed)        $370 USD / ₱18,752

TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES (3 bed)        $555 USD / ₱28,128

--

`
You certainly have some clues regards retiring in the Philippines Steve. Good man.

Here's some of Bing's finds on this topic. Seems about right, would you & folks agree?

https://www.bing.com/search?q=retiring+in+the+philippines

"Cost: According to World Remit, the cost of retirement in the Philippines is US $800-$1,000 per month"

https://wheretoretirecheaply.com/retire-to-the-philippines-the-real-pros-and-cons/

Here’s a step by step breakdown of the living cost for The Philippines: (except for groceries x 4?)

MONTHLY EXPENSES  COST

Rent for a 3 Bedroom House          $356 USD / ₱18,043
Rent for a 1 Bedroom Flat              $171 USD / ₱8,667
Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Rates)          $79 USD / ₱4,004
Internet                            $44 USD / ₱2,230
Groceries                          $15 USD / ₱760
Dining Out (2 people) For 4 times        $24 USD / ₱1,216
Fitness or Social Club Membership      $37 USD / ₱1,875

TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES (1 bed)    $370 USD / ₱18,752
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES (3 bed)    $555 USD / ₱28,128

-- - @PalawOne

Interesting expenses,  our 2 bedroom apartment in Baguio was 25,000 pesos a month, included electricity, wifi. And tv.  Had hot water shower.   Groceries @ 760 pesos a month is very low, as is 2 people eating out 4 times for 1216 pesos.  Must be all Jollibee meals.

Sorry P1 but I disagree in your posted costs big time. We own the home, car and bikes and our minimum spend per month is 100 to 110K pesos or US 2K per month,,,,,, no rent and no electricity bills as we are stand alone for power.

Your P 760 per month for food? Cough, we spend at least P 25K per month on food for us and 2 dogs.

Dining out costs? You must be eating in the local cafeterias.

Your figures don't take into account the realities here like insurance and registration or travel on public transport if you rely on that. Phone cost, replacements of whitegoods/items.

Don't rose coloured glasses the Philippines as a cheap place to live, maybe 40 years ago but not now and while still half the cost of Australia there are plenty of cheaper countries to live.

Not sure where you got your figures from P1 but certainly not realistic.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

`

Yes chaps I agree that these cost seem low, but if you have a look at the references given, eg ..

https://wheretoretirecheaply.com  we see that this is .. retiring on a budget.

And the World Remit numbers would be influenced by the number of folk relying on remittances

But i do agree the grocery figures are way off. that's why I put "x4" as in (except for groceries x 4?)

But, the whiteys I see & know in Puerto Princesa aren't well-of retirees. 

One central point about retiring in the Philippines is that it's cheap.

And so, I'd say these figures are somewhere around normal

for many whitey expats, lots of whom are on budgets.

And living the simple life .. gently and quietly

Not like we richer old farts hanging here.

And a main attraction for many expats

is just such low-cost & simpler lives.

Such lives maybe indeed pleasant

:-D

I dont think the Phillipines is cheap at all. It areas it is cheap, in some cases of point it is cheap, but it is not cheap for Filapinos.

I trough the KCC Super market and find prices are almost at times similar to Australia.

Of course not everything is the costing pricing of Australia, but not far off it.

I have a Bungalow in Ubud Indo and the super markets there are on par with Australia for almost everything.

Kuala Lumpur seems to be cheaper than anywhere in SEA at the moment.

Of course this could very well be a blip as the AUD is not far off becoming the Somali Sheckle, but every time I go home to Pinas, almost no prices remain the same during the course of the year.

I buy boxes of tinned Ham & Bullie beef and send it through a Balikbayan box and I save 70% on pricing as apposed to buying 1 tin at a time, my wife is hell bent on it, god knows why.....

It seems everywhere you go anywhere in the world it's all the same, but Pinas for some reason is rising faster than anywhere else for costings of almost everything.

It all adds up for those Expats that wish to escape the madness of the so called first world insanity searching for ones peace of mind.

@WHITE ASIAN

I dont think the Phillipines is cheap at all. It areas it is cheap, in some cases of point it is cheap, but it is not cheap for Filapinos.

I trough the KCC Super market and find prices are almost at times similar to Australia.

I was starting to think the same thing relative to USA prices until we went there for a few months last August.

All in all, unless you are buying western goods it is definitely a lot less expensive here than in the US, especially after 4 years of Biden demolishing what was once a great US economy under Trump.

Well, now there is hope for USA inflation in the future but when I think of the US today,  I think (equiv) 1000 pesos for a 3 piece chicken dinner at Bojangles or 800 pesos for a big mac.

@WHITE ASIAN

compared to the US the Philippines is cheap in most areas. Exceptions would be gas, electricity and imports.

I was amazed at prices in the US. Well, Hawaii anyway, dunno if you call Hilo the US, but my mate sends me prices from pictures of going into super markets there from pics he sends me, considering the hourly rate for an adult there is the same as a 14 year old working in McDonalds in Australia as a comparison.

For the life of me I dont know how Americans live or get by. It's incredibly sad.

Love everything about Trump, he deals with snakes and a very broken system over there. And let's not talk about its debt. My friend is very worried as he has 2 houses there & a pension that is his life line of income in New York, the de-dollorisation, Brics and god forbid if there is an actual default because of debt governance and the USD which will fall, actually goes into free fall then of what of his 45 years of working capital of investments will produce what and how much in income going forward.*?*

I have told him to cash in and buy long term TBills or Swiss Hybrids.

Americans by & large are concerned, very very concerned. Trump seems to be the only one thus far that is prepared to make very tough decisions and within a year, will seem devastating for some & yet maybe very well could save America from itself.

I was amazed at prices in the US. Well, Hawaii anyway, dunno if you call Hilo the US, but my mate sends me prices from pictures of going into super markets there from pics he sends me, considering the hourly rate for an adult there is the same as a 14 year old working in McDonalds in Australia as a comparison.
For the life of me I dont know how Americans live or get by. It's incredibly sad.
Love everything about Trump, he deals with snakes and a very broken system over there. And let's not talk about its debt. My friend is very worried as he has 2 houses there & a pension that is his life line of income in New York, the de-dollorisation, Brics and god forbid if there is an actual default because of debt governance and the USD which will fall, actually goes into free fall then of what of his 45 years of working capital of investments will produce what and how much in income going forward.*?*
I have told him to cash in and buy long term TBills or Swiss Hybrids.
Americans by & large are concerned, very very concerned. Trump seems to be the only one thus far that is prepared to make very tough decisions and within a year, will seem devastating for some & yet maybe very well could save America from itself. - @WHITE ASIAN

Prices for food in continental USA are nothing like the prices in Hawaii.  Went to a Jollibee in Honolulu in October of 2023 and they were celebrating their 25th anniversary, selling 10 pieces of chicken for $25.  In Manila a week later Jollibee was selling 8 pieces of chicken for 550 pesos, $10.  Hawaii imports almost everything, even pineapples.  In PA the prices are higher than in the Philippines if of the same quality.  PA imports mangoes from Mexico and South America and they are cheaper than the mangoes in the Philippines, but not nearly as good.

@WHITE ASIAN
compared to the US the Philippines is cheap in most areas. Exceptions would be gas, electricity and imports. - @Morgacj200424

But that is only half of the equation. When comparing living costs you must weigh in the percentage of total budget that is spent on the more expensive items like gas, electricity and imports. Single expats here seem to live fairly well on $1.5k per month. In the US, that is barely livable without special assistance and is close to the US poverty level of 15K per year. It's not just the Philippines; poorer expats also end up in places like Mexico, Colombia, Thailand, Cambodia etc. and one unfortunate soul from this forum, Indonesia.

@WHITE ASIAN
compared to the US the Philippines is cheap in most areas. Exceptions would be gas, electricity and imports.  - @Morgacj200424
But that is only half of the equation. When comparing living costs you must weigh in the percentage of total budget that is spent on the more expensive items like gas, electricity and imports. Single expats here seem to live fairly well on $1.5k per month. In the US, that is barely livable without special assistance and is close to the US poverty level of 15K per year. It's not just the Philippines; poorer expats also end up in places like Mexico, Colombia, Thailand, Cambodia etc. and one unfortunate soul from this forum, Indonesia.
- @danfinn

            Electricity is actually a lot cheaper in Baguio than in Manueva or the US.  Of course we do not have heating or a cooling system in Baguio, but still paying less than $30/month.  Manueva is under $60/month.  The gasoline is much more expensive in the Philippines, but the cheaper public transportation helps.  My wife and I get to ride the bus for free since age 65 in PA, making a tank of gas last 6 weeks sometimes.  We pay 10 times as much for cable and wifi in the US as we do in Baguio.  Another great advantage of the Philippines is not having to learn another language.  I know some people who were frustrated with the cheaper living in South America, returned to the USA to live in poverty closer to home.

That made me chuckle Dan.

Aside I consider we spend a half or less than we would when living in Oz. We have a full time caretaker/worker that lives with us and does everything, garden, brush cutting, vacuum and mop floors, clean up all the dog droppings, dishes. cooking, laundry, painting and house maintenance etc. We could never afford such a luxury in Oz and here? Cheap. Municipal rates are chicken sh1t as is car and bike registrations, where can you buy a kilo of unshucked oysters for a 100 to 150? Fresh foods are cheap.

Fuel about the same price as Oz. Alcohol and cigarettes a quarter to a fifth of the price compared to Oz, my visa around P 22/23K per year. No power bills as stand alone but yes they see you coming with their 40 odd charges as well as the regular power outages.

Health care self funded aside from P 17K a year for PhilHealth, much cheaper than my tax contributions to Medicare in Oz.

I well know that the Philippines is far cheaper than Oz and the bonus? A very happy partner living back in PH. 6 years for him in Oz was a handful even though we visited here twice a year. No stress country.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

@bigpearl

I well know that the Philippines is far cheaper than Oz

Yes and of course, to assert that it is not true when we all know it is true is to simply be contrarian for its own sake. I think in this case the commenter is just pointing out a reality in pricing. Fair enough. But many, not all, expats moved here to be able to live on a meager amount. That said,  many who have moved here for other reasons have found better things to do with the money they save by spending meager funds living here.

If I would like to live my past lifestyle in the Philippines it's not cheaper for me. Also many things are not available regardless of the price. So 100% of past lifestyle is a memory.

I should add, since most of us moved to the Philippines later in life, your lifestyle becomes more restrictive with aging.

BP, of course I should have been possibly a bit more explanatory.

I was referring to Super Market pricing ratios. Electricity and water we are off grid. If we were not off grid I understand it is a lot cheaper than western worlds and so called first worlds which is questionable calling them that. It's fair to assume first worlds are fast becoming third worlds for some if not most.

The Phillipines is cheaper by many metrics, apart from what I see from the Super markets.

SaveMore, P40 & P80 for localised bread or specialised bread.

For localised bread in Woolworths it's $1.40. Multigrain bread $1.35 in Aldi for an example.

The AUD is problematic at its current cycle and is becoming worse by the day.

Bananas of course in Queensland are depending on season double of Gensan but about the same pricing on Siargao Island.

In Bali you are lucky to find a Banana because most are used as offerings then fed to animals or the unassuming tourist at a bloated ridiculous price.

I could go on & on but pricing in Super markets are about the same for most items that I have found.

Not all of course. But when I shop in a Super market in Pinas, I try and look for anything without sugar, so I guess im paying a premium as EVERYTHING IN PINAS SEEMS TO HAVE SUGAR IN IT.

On Siargao Island it's sometimes more expensive than anywhere I have found in Mindanao, depends on boats, availability, weather, so on and so forth.

Siargao Island I have found is more expensive than Bora. The Whiteman keeps coming and to date some 5,000 call the Island home and with USD they are buying land for what ever the local asks for, so, hence the pricing of land is now becoming ridiculous.

It seems a lot of you boys are in cheaper areas of Phillipines, im wondering if it because of marriage or simply by design...meaning...where the stork dropped you so to speak.

danfinn, I hesitated to call Hawaii US...some people get very upset about the subject. Never been to mainland US, I surf, so Hawaii was always the pit stop. Makes sense Hawaii being Island is more expensive. Same on my island in Pinas, its becoming out of control.

Pure Gold, the only large Super market on the Island is a monopoly. There is another being built which will sell Bulk Items and everybody is whispering to go there to force down pricing at Pure Gold. Who knows how that will turn out. Most Whiteman moving to Siargao Island to live splash out for land, then have a nightmare on the build. They are either cashed up Grey Nomads or young escapees surfing genre. The young surfer never has money at the best of times.

So it is from one extreme to the other. One has cash to burn, the other on a very very strict budget and creating communities with permaculture food farms, hemp clothing and surfing gear, yoga centres and everything Bali was once upon a time. It all seems to work and both worlds of man somehow understand that where they have come from and are going too...is all for the same reason... The Island meshes well...it's a beautiful environment.

@WHITE ASIAN

danfinn, I hesitated to call Hawaii US...some people get very upset about the subject. Never been to mainland US, I surf, so Hawaii was always the pit stop.

Danfinn? I am not sure what that is all about, sir white guy. I have no opinion about Hawaii that would come close to makng me upset. I have only been there once and it was about what I expected.  Hawaii is an expensive, liberal extension of the state of California that could not exist without massive government support from the mainland. If I were asked for my opinion, I might mention that Greenland, Canada or the Panama Canal Zone would each make better US states than Hawaii in that those places would at least pay their way...well, Canada might take a little work. 😆 😆 😆

@WHITE ASIAN

It's all relative and whether dropped by stork into the unknown or plenty of research and planning that becomes your lot in a new country. We planned for years but we knew the area we wanted in La Union Luzon, the better half's family and 5,000 relatives live in San Fernando City, my deal with Ben was a larger lot absolute beachfront and half an hour from the family by car, we looked extensively in San Juan and surrounds, all the lots and homes were small as well as over priced for the privilege of saying you live there. Being a country boy I wanted some space, we found where we purchased 8 years ago after looking for 3 years and a lot was based on services and infrastructure, 10 minutes further north than San Juan and a super quiet area. 6 years we have live here now and it's a winner.

If you want boutique coffee shops, cafes and restaurants then live in a tourist area and yes everything is expensive in those areas.

We have 3 supermarkets here and the new SM is opening in a month or 2. Most supermarkets  here I consider cheaper than Australia but not by a lot but the winners are the local wet market and the street vendors selling veggies. As said I consider living here much cheaper than Australia overall.

As I sit here and type looking out my office window there are 4 or 5 out there catching some rollers but we only see them every couple of weeks. The one thing I do miss is a decent steak let alone a lamb chop for the BBQ, no great loss as there is plenty of choice here.

Cheers. Steve.

I should mention I lived in Henderson, NV. Quality of life would be hard to beat. With my mailbox full of offers from Casinos 2/1 buffets. My wife & I ate more Prime Rib in a month than most in a lifetime.

What a choice, eat at McDonalds or a buffet for about the same price for my wife & myself.

Grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, Sam's Club or Walmart. Also I should include the many Mexican and Filipino supermarkets.

Ah, on Saturday/Sunday many Garage Sales.

My medicare advantage plan also included many Urgent Care Clinics. I would go online and check the wait time, choosing the one with the least amount of time. Walk in no appointment necessary.

Hell, S&R/Landers were both out of Hormel Chili with Beans and God Forbid "Spam".

Hmmm.....Mindanao seems to be a bit different to the north.

Ive never been to the north and only fly into Manila.

Been coming to the south for over 40 years, the only side of Pinas I know.

Wet markets and local markets is where we usually only ever go, KCC & Pure gold for bits & pieces and I bring olive oils in drums and all the filipino must haves in a can in a Balikbayan which lasts us 6 to 12 months easily. Then when we leave give what's left to the mouths awaiting in Putting Bato. Milo of course from the factories of northern NSW.

I dont miss my meats. Im actually healthier without it, but when im in Aussie it's Rib Eye fillets and lamb chops from time to time.

Gensan is the fish capital of Tuna and fish markets are incredibly cheap, go to the boats and it's ridiculous.

Thanks for the chat.

@WHITE ASIAN

You said it all and Manila is the north compared to Mindanao, Why land there if Mindanao is your home?

From the local supermarkets we buy Spanish or Italian olive oils and no different in cost to Oz and we only use that for salads and some cooking, all the other stuff is cheaper than Oz, as said for us half the price or less to live here. No complaints.

Cheers, Steve.

Singapore airlines only fly into Manila, every so often I will fly scoot plus and land in Davao from Internationals, but it is hit & miss as they pull routes.

I buy Olive oils off the olive farms, extra virgin olive oil off these farms is amazing.

Haven't bothered to look at large tins of olive oils at kcc or Pure Gold. Would hate to think.

From the sounds of it, everything is cheaper where you live. Oh the price you pay for ones peace of paradise. Siargao Island is remote and does have its ridiculousness of many a thing. Building being one of them...complete nightmare.

I should mention I lived in Henderson, NV. Quality of life would be hard to beat. With my mailbox full of offers from Casinos 2/1 buffets. My wife & I ate more Prime Rib in a month than most in a lifetime.
What a choice, eat at McDonalds or a buffet for about the same price for my wife & myself.

Grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, Sam's Club or Walmart. Also I should include the many Mexican and Filipino supermarkets.

Ah, on Saturday/Sunday many Garage Sales.

My medicare advantage plan also included many Urgent Care Clinics. I would go online and check the wait time, choosing the one with the least amount of time. Walk in no appointment necessary.

Hell, S&R/Landers were both out of Hormel Chili with Beans and God Forbid "Spam". - @Enzyte Bob

Bob - I think that a long time ago you mentioned the money you saved using the coupons to eat Prime Rib at the casinos and you also said that the result was a 30lb gain in weight so I pointed out to you that the net result of your savings would be (money saved on food less the amount you had to spend on a new clothes to accommodate your expanding frame.

As for spam - Do people actually eat that anymore? My Dad used to take me fishing when I was a kid and used it for bait to catch barbel and chub.

Somebody else pointed out the cost of food in supermarkets in the Philippines. Morrisons in the UK regularly have offers for berries, normally 3 for £5. This includes raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and grapes and I find this useful and cost effective and I know from checking before that frozen raspberries cost a small fortune in the Philippines.  One thing I do know is that living alone and buying food for one can be difficult and I regularly waste food because things like salad bowls, some vegetables and other items are packed with portions sizes for maybe 4 to 6. I have a slow cooker and use it a lot in winter to batch cook Stew, Hungarian Goulash, etc so that works for me.Of course you need a freezer for that to store in individual portions. Also the UK supermarkets have a section for discounted items that are near their best before date.