Category and Itemized Expense

Amount

For House

Notes

Amount for a 2 Bedroom Apartment

Notes

House Rental

P10,000

P25,000 upwards

3 or 4 bedroom house, low end would be in a non-secure housing area, with the high end being in a gated, guarded secure housing area.

P8,000 to P25,000

depending on the area, security, and furnished or unfurnished.

Electric

P5,000 to 15,000

Of course the time of the year will make this vary, especially during April to June in the hot months when air cons run more. 1 refrigerator, 1 computer, 2 tv. Electricity is more expensive in Angeles City than Manila.

P5,000 to P10,000

Depends a lot on air conditioner usage. P5,000 would be an apartment with 1 aircon running 12 hours a day. 1 computer, 1 tv.

Cable TV

P890

Charged additionally for each TV connection

P890

Internet

Connection

P999

Smart Bro Connection

P999

This is the cheapest connection currently available.

Subdivision Fees

P500

Trash collection, security, street lights

Water

P400

Maybe higher if you are washing cars, doing laundry at home.

May be included

Phone

P500

1 phone, landline, may be higher with cell phone usage.

P500

1 phone, landline, may be higher with cell phone usage.

Grass Cutter/yard boy

P800

Grass cut twice a month

Probably not required

Transportation

P3,000

If you are living here, having your own transportation is a must, to avoid having your pockets picked, or being ripped off by trike drivers. You can buy about any vehicle you like from a $600 Chinese Scooter that you wont be able to get repair parts for or a BMW for $50,000 plus. I drive a year 2000 Honda CRV. Car insurance and registration runs about P12,000 for the CRV, a year if you have a Chinese scooter the registration and insurance will cost around P1,500 a year, but don't expect to put in a claim and get reimbursed immediately, or sometimes ever.

P3,000

P3,000 is a low end for taking 2 each P50 trike rides a day. Yours will vary.

Gas

?

Gas is currently P42 a liter or about close to $3.50 a gallon, but climbing everyday with the cost of world fuel.

Live in House Keeper

P3,000

Gets one day off a week

P500 once a week (P2,000 monthly)

Cleaning once a week, you can do it yourself and save here.

Family/Self Entertainment

?

This includes weekend trips to the mall, toy stores, calling in Pizza to the house, videos, dvd’s, newspaper, etc

?

Food

P10,000 monthly groceries

Eating out 2 meals a day only at P150 per meal, P9,000 a month

Price is based on one person and an occasional guest. This is one like housing you can't escape, About 2 grocery shopping trips a month to restock. This also includes cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, a small fortune in shampoo and conditioner which every Filipina must have readily available, toothpaste, etc. These are low end costs.

P10,000 monthly groceries

Eating out 2 meals a day only at P150 per meal, P9,000 a month

If you take the eating out route you will still need to shop for household cleaning and hygiene items. Note frozen dinners are not available here. These are low end costs.

Medical

  ?

One of the important things you need to concern yourself about before moving here is medical coverage. For normal illnesses we use Dr Duguzman who is just up the street, very knowledgeable about the normal virus's here and well worth the average price of about P1,000 for an office call and medication.

?

Insurance

?

Repairs

Miscellaneous

Haircut

P200

Usually twice a month.

RAO

P100

U.S. mail for retirees

Postage

P200

I ain't a big fan of letter writing, just to pay the end of the month bills.

Credit Card Payment

?

Many of you will not have to worry about this, but you'll need U.S. (or your home country) credit cards if you want to purchase something on line for Mom or family members on Christmas and holidays.

Bar Hopping

?

This is the one most of you were waiting for, your mileage will vary:} This is all inclusive of my drinks, ladies drinks and all the trimmings. When you first get here you'll spend more I promise you, as you have been here a while it will get cheaper as you won't need/want to go out so much.

Visa Extention

P2,000

This will be one of your monthly expenses as a single man.

P2,000

Total Amount

34,089

 Without medical, haircuts, barhopping, housekeeper, bottom end with 3,4  bedroom, non secure area $757.53

P30,389

Low end 2 bedroom furnished apartment in non-secure area, no medical, insurance, no frills, no barhopping, no housekeeper $675.31