Quality and Cost of Living in the Philippines

The Philippines is a small country situated in Southeast Asia. It is a country made of small islands, neighboring countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. Being a third world country, the quality of life the Philippines has to offer is incomparable to countries in the west, but to mitigate with the lack of amenities, the average cost of living in a country like it is comparatively much lower.

The Philippines remains one of the places where the cost of living is much easier on the pocket compared to other countries. But if you are planning to move to the Philippines, the quality of life should also be considered. There are a few markers that determine the quality of life in a certain location – basic human needs, opportunities, and foundations of well-being.

Why would you want to move to the Philippines?

The Philippines is an English speaking country surrounded by the ocean with beautiful beaches and mountains, making it a perfect spot for people who want to retire away from home in a secluded place for a long stretch of time. This country offers you comfortable life at a minimal cost. With a little care, you can easily live here on a monthly budget of $1000. The country has also been featured several times in magazines as one of the most favorite retirement destinations among foreigners.

Housing expenses

Of the factors make up its cost of living, housing expenses are a salient one. Housing expenses are one of the chief constituents of living costs; apart from the rent of the house or the price of the home one would be living in, expenses on utilities like water and electricity need to be considered.

Apartments can be rented for $150 to $400 a month, in areas where essential amenities are available. Utilities like electricity and water will cost around $40, which is quite cheap, compared to other countries. You can also get a broadband connection with average speed for a minimum of $40 per month. Cell phone services come at a low cost as well.

Cost of food and beverages

Food is one of the most important components of one’s daily expenses. While some would prefer a moderately priced homemade meal, some might prefer an a la carte at a luxurious diner. Depending on your habit, the cost of food and beverages will vary.

In the Philippines, the cost of food is unbelievably low as well. If you prefer homemade food to dining in hotels, there are special markets where you can go to buy ingredients for cooking. These markets are very different from supermarkets and cost much less than items in supermarkets. But there is a con to this low price. The storage of these items might not maintain western sanitary standards so you might need to compromise there for the price.

Cooking the food of your choice that is indigenous to your culture might cost you more but if you adopt Filipino food habits, you can spend as little as $100 on food each month. This scenario is only applicable to villages and suburbs – in cities, however, it will cost more.

In a decent restaurant, you can get a complete meal with appetizer and dessert for about $8.

On City Life

If you are someone who has spent all your life in a city and are accustomed to seeing a skyline composed of a union of skyscrapers and azure sky, then this is the place for you. If you find solace in the humdrum of traffic and watching street lights at night, then you should be settling in a city like Manila, which is the capital of Philippines. Manila is an ideal place to live if you cannot leave the amenities of city life.

Before you choose to live in Manila, however, you should keep in mind that not many foreigners choose to retire there. It neither has the scenic beauty nor beautiful beaches. When you choose a city life over beaches and mountains, then Manila is the place for you.

In the end

If you are seriously planning to shift to a new city or a new country altogether, you should be keeping in mind that a new place will be much different than the one you used to be in. But if you’re one who loves exploring cultures and adapts to them quickly, then sooner or later, this new place would feel just like home too.

Author Bio: Sarah Bennett is a creative writer in www.holidayfactors.com, a leading online holiday marketplace in Dubai, UAE.