Income, cost of living, safety etc in Manila

Hello hornbill.

Welcome to Expat.com!

Browsing the other threads on the Manila forum may help.

Thank you,
Aurélie

Thanks. I had a quick look but could not find the relevant info to my queries, hence i submitted my post in the general section.

Any idea how i can move the post to a more relevant sub-sections?

Sorry, i just realised that the post is already shifted to the 'cost of living' section. Will start to look around at other threads for more info...

Man-o-man, so many questions... Do you really expect for somebody to write a book of life in the Phils for ya? Alright, I'll try to fix it, my friend.

You mentioned 'There is a job opportunity in Manila...', so we assume you've got an employer already who might come up with answers to many of your tax-labour-legal-related questions over interview, wouldn't they? As for rest of them:

Typical salary for IT boss... US$1.5-2k max. before taxes, check it out on jobstreet.com.ph, jobsDB.com, monster.com.ph, glassdoor.com – this particular one strips them down in a jig

Average cost of living in Makati area... depends on your living habits. US$700 min. and up altogether with rent, bills, food for family of 3. For rent prices thumb through sulit.com.ph and such.

What should I negotiate with the employer as total package... it solely depends on employer's capabilities (again, glassdoor.com). Globally known approaches apply, I'm quite sure you are aware of them.

Where is a good, decent, and safe suburb to live... haven't you just mentioned Makati yourself? It's awesome, man! Also Fort Bonifacio or other modern marvels areas. The closer to your work the better, naturally. Avoid slums, though.

And international school for my son... out of my league yet, I zip my mouth here. Anyone?

Blending in... you are pretty right here, they don't particularly like us 'thanking and sorrying' around. Learn 'salamat', 'ty!' and 'bukas nalang' at least. You got my point, don't you?

Internet seem to suggest that it's hard for an expat to secure a job there... very much TRUE.

What sort of work visas are typically given to expats... Visa 13A. Forget it. Your spouse must be a local lassie. Unless your employer sponsors you – you are doomed over this one.

My tip Numero Uno for ya mate:
Find a job first with generous and kind employer (rare case) so they would lead you thru.

Although some facts might sound fretting to you, but I'm being realistic. My own optimistic nature keeps me over here. Just mark this: from foreigner's standpoint the Philippines so far is the pensioners and money burners paradise. However, things are improving with Asian Tiger rising.

I'll answer the one about international schools.  There are plenty here.  They are mostly concentrated in the Fort area and some in Quezon City.  They range from US$5,000 to US$18,000 per school year.

protogama wrote:

Man-o-man, so many questions... Do you really expect for somebody to write a book of life in the Phils for ya? Alright, I'll try to fix it, my friend.

You mentioned 'There is a job opportunity in Manila...', so we assume you've got an employer already who might come up with answers to many of your tax-labour-legal-related questions over interview, wouldn't they? As for rest of them:

Typical salary for IT boss... US$1.5-2k max. before taxes, check it out on jobstreet.com.ph, jobsDB.com, monster.com.ph, glassdoor.com – this particular one strips them down in a jig

Average cost of living in Makati area... depends on your living habits. US$700 min. and up altogether with rent, bills, food for family of 3. For rent prices thumb through sulit.com.ph and such.

What should I negotiate with the employer as total package... it solely depends on employer's capabilities (again, glassdoor.com). Globally known approaches apply, I'm quite sure you are aware of them.

Where is a good, decent, and safe suburb to live... haven't you just mentioned Makati yourself? It's awesome, man! Also Fort Bonifacio or other modern marvels areas. The closer to your work the better, naturally. Avoid slums, though.

And international school for my son... out of my league yet, I zip my mouth here. Anyone?

Blending in... you are pretty right here, they don't particularly like us 'thanking and sorrying' around. Learn 'salamat', 'ty!' and 'bukas nalang' at least. You got my point, don't you?

Internet seem to suggest that it's hard for an expat to secure a job there... very much TRUE.

What sort of work visas are typically given to expats... Visa 13A. Forget it. Your spouse must be a local lassie. Unless your employer sponsors you – you are doomed over this one.

My tip Numero Uno for ya mate:
Find a job first with generous and kind employer (rare case) so they would lead you thru.

Although some facts might sound fretting to you, but I'm being realistic. My own optimistic nature keeps me over here. Just mark this: from foreigner's standpoint the Philippines so far is the pensioners and money burners paradise. However, things are improving with Asian Tiger rising.

quite true...but not generally. You can have a visit so you'll know.

@ Lucky Rivera. It's very irresponsible to allure with "come over and see yourself". I learn it on my own skin loosing nearly everything because of local wide spread ignorance.

protogama wrote:

@ Lucky Rivera. It's very irresponsible to allure with "come over and see yourself". I learn it on my own skin loosing nearly everything because of local wide spread ignorance.

I agree with Lucky Rivera. I think it is very advisable to check a place out first,before moving your whole family over. Why would you encourage someone to move somewhere with no prior knowledge?

I'll try to answer as many of your questions as I can.

As someone who lives in the Philippines and works in Bonifacio Global City (Fort Bonifacio), I would really recommend that you stay here instead of Makati.

Bonifacio Global City is quickly becoming the next major central business district because it's in the middle of almost everything. It can take less than 5 minutes to get to Makati. But, unlike Makati, Fort Bonifacio was master planned from the start so you can expect it not to get as hectic.

BGC is also safer than Makati. It's more difficult to get to the area as compared to other areas if you don't have a car or take a cab. Other sorts of public transport are chosen and have strict requirements implemented by the area's administration.

If you plan staying for a long time, I can also help you find a place to invest in so you don't have to keep paying for rent. There's a place being developed which is in the middle of one of the best hospitals in the country and is walking distance from many international schools. However, some of these might be expensive.