What is the best place in the Philippines for a foreigner to retire?

Question

Want some good suggestions with some reasoning. Thanks.

Answer 1

I have been retired and living in Iloilo (Panay island, 3rd largest) located in the Visayas (middle). We rarely get hit by a typhoon like the northern part of the Philippines. I am retired US Navy, 45 yo. Married to a local gal.

Iloilo is a small but growing city with a small expat population. We have no major industry here so no pollution like Manila or cebu. It's also about 1/3 cheaper to live here. Our industries here are Colleges and farming. We have 5 major shopping malls, supermarkets with imported foods, 2 golf courses and many nice resorts and resturants. There are 3 good well equipped private hospitals here with a fourth opening jan 6th that will also be the only heart center in the Visayas.

Rent here varies from P 10,000 ($200) for a 2 br apartment/duplex to P20,000 ($400) for a 3/4 br house. A 3br townhouse type apartment is P 15,000 ($300). These are in nice gated/guarded subdivisions. Easy to get around by cab/trike/jeepney.

Helpers are cheap. A live in maid starts at P1,500 ($30) a month plus room and board. A full time driver is P 3,000 ($60) to P 4,000 ($80) plus room and board.

Boaracay is only a 2.5 hour drive away. The neighbouring island of Guimeras is only 10 min by pumpboat. Bacolod City on ****** is only 1 hour anf 15 away by fast ferry. The casino Philippino and Golden Fields are there.

Might not be "the best" place to retire, but it's a good place to start looking. Write me offlist if you'd like to know more.

Paul in Iloilo

Answer 2

Davao is another nice city especially for family life. It would not be the best location if you are looking for the fast life and lots of entertainment. It is located in Mindanao, but I believe the U.S. State Department does an injustice by warning against travel to Mindanao without removing Davao from the warning.

The city is clean, no pollution problems, fine hospitals, the only 911 system in all of Asia, and the local government is great. In fact the 911 System has the most modern equipment available.

I rent a new three bedroom, three bath home in a secure subdivision for 18,000 pesos (50 to $1). My water is less than $3 a month, electricity (A/C) less than $75 a month. A full time housekeeper can be gotten for less than 150 pesos a day although I choose to pay 2000 pesos a week. Doctor visits run about 300 pesos. I do not use my insurance co-pay on medication because paying for the medication outright is cheaper than filing with insurance company and paying co-pay.

There are adjustments anyone must make when they leave their home country for a new life, but those adjustments are much easier in the Philippines since the majority of people can speak and understand English and signage is in English.

Answer 3

It depends on how you want to live / what you want to do. Puerto Galera is good if you want a calm place and still be able to get to Manila easily whenever you want or need to. The Subic area is similar. Coron is also a nice area, but very rural.

Boracay is nice, but I think would get boring after a while and it is expensive.

Angeles is only good if you like 24/7 beer drinking and prostitutes. There isn't much to do there besides that, and it is far from the sea. I had the impression that the foreigners living in Angeles were bit "low class" compared to Puerto Galera for example.

Answer 4

My block ON YOU is off Dennis so am i able to chime in? besides, Im going to retire there as i will stay Independantly and on my own words. one factor I honestly have got here upon bearing directly to the PI is each thing you like or desire IS there in case you have the money. with out separate and ongoing earnings forget approximately retiring there as you will in no way make it in employer with all the pitfalls they have for foreigners commercially. As to serious wellbeing concerns, i'm 8 hours removed from the terrific scientific care interior the South Pacific if i desire it. each thing else I honestly have considered. The noise interior the neighbourhood, pollution, loss of centers as all of us understand them like hardship-free stuff alongside with weekly rubbish %. up and 24 hour uninterrupted electrical energy and sparkling , drinkable faucet water. I honestly have factored all the little issues in and think of that as my greenback will artwork that plenty harder for me interior the PI than in Australia, plus, I hate the chilly of winter right here and nicely, even tho' I honestly have travelled the PI surprisingly, I only like the placement. reason??--dunno relatively , I do exactly.

Answer 5

Hi, pretty much anywhere is nice, i go to cebu a lot, plenty of retired foreigners on mactan island and in the city itself, but you'll find retired foreigners in every city and even out in the sticks. hopefully the website below can help you.

Answer 6

Boracay: If u wanna have fun.........beach style
Province (ex: Iligan City): Simple Life
Unknown Islet in the Philippines: Your Own Private Paradise

Answer 7

Cebu - because of it's history. This is also the oldest city in the country.

Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the country and the main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the central and southern parts of the archipelago. It has five-star hotels, casinos, white sand beaches, world-class golf courses, convention centers, and shopping malls. The UK-based Condenast Travellers Magazine named Cebu the 8th best Asian-Pacific island destination in 2005, and 7th in 2004.

Answer 8

I'd suggest somewhere away from Manila . That leaves a lot of places I know ,but I think any would work . I myself like the subdivisions outside of Angeles city .

Answer 9

I live in and like Angeles. some good restaurants relative to other provincial areas, lots of hospitals in our area, plenty malls, and of course the bars and girls. If you want scenic beauty this is not the place though.

Answer 10

You better buy the lot of my Mom on an island. It is a good place to live in. If you are interested, do get in touch with me.