Will I have enough for health insurance? What kind of budget will I have with that kind of income? Will I be able to travel all over the Philippines and visit lots of places? Is 2k USD per month living "like a king"?|||I am slowly planning a retirement in the Philippines. I have determined a budget of 40,000 pesos a month will set me up very comfortably just about anywhere (high speed internet, satellite TV, A/C, private health insurance, security etc). If you are like me, a single guy, that should be a good starting place for your plans. I really recommend you start chatting with expat groups. I already gave you the link on your other posted questions. I also recommend you coordinate with the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), a government agency that will help you retire there. I visited them in Makati in 2010- very legit. So far in my searches only Mexico and the Philippines have government bureaus actually helping attract retirees (many countries seem to discourage retirees). Here in Texas I found a PNB branch (Philippine National Bank) so I am just going to have my pension direct deposited into that, so I can draw on it when in the Philippines with local checks for expenses. Most of your banking can be done online and ATMs in the Philippines are safe (been using them since 2004 on many trips without a single difficulty). The PRA can set you up with local realtors, but I think they might get commission. Might be better looking for realtors and rental properties through the Expat blogs. I think it might be a good idea to just go there and stay mobile for a few weeks while you explore and slowly find a place to rent, before you get stuck in a bad area with a six month lease. Be sure to hire a taxi to drive you past your prospective rental site on a Friday night to see if it is the party palace or a nice quiet safe area. If I had to stay in Luzon, I would choose either Cavite or Lipa City as my first destinations for searching quiet secure rental properties- but I have friends in those places also. I really think living around a LOT of retirees might make you more of a target- just a thought. Once you stay there for a couple of weeks I think you will start to be able to sort out the tricksters from trustworthy people by eye contact and easy smiles/posture. Once you find a quiet place with a security guard you can trust, you will know you found your spot. But this will take time. Personally, I think you should really consider moving away from Manila and looking for retirement off Luzon. Good luck! Gooooo slooooooow.
Also, just a thought, once you find your retirement area, go to the local hospital and find out what insurance companies they have had good experience with. Choose your insurance then- fewer difficulties. Also, buy "Office Barong" shirts when you arrive. You won't stick out as a foreigner/tourist so much. If you know even twenty words in Tagalog, you will really put people at ease.|||I've lived in the Philippines since 1995. The cost of a comfortable lifestyle has risen considerably over the years. I can manage on $500 a month, but that's tighter than most Americans would be comfortable with. $2000 a month won't let you live like a king, but it should be plenty for a comfortable life.|||Remember, that $1 is equivalent to 43pesos in the Philippine currency. Your 2k USD per month is way bigger than most employees who are earning there in a month. The cost of living there is really cheap and that's why many foreigners go there and settle down and just having fun like going to bars every night, going to the beach, checking into hotels, etc.|||It depends. "Living like a king" here means eating plain, flavourless rice and rotten fish heads every day.
The average person I know makes about $50 a month. So $2,000 would be about 40 times that.
However, if you want to live like an American king, that's another story. Don't forget that the Philippines is an expensive place. You'll find most things here to cost much more than in the west. For instance, many affluent people pay $200 a month, just for aircon.|||With that kind of income you can live comfortable as long as you stay out of the girlie bars.
No you can't live like a king on that amount.|||lol. that will be plenty. with your attitude, you won't last long.|||Yes you will
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