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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2014 9:53:30 GMT 7
I think this is a great topic for the interest of members and of great assistance if they have decided to move permanently overseas. I know where I spend a good deal of my time at the moment (awaiting another 1.5 happy birthdays)is more costly than country Thailand, but I like it here. Eventually though will move to Philippines, probably southern Luzon (Civite, Batangas,etc area). I have done a good bit of research and asked a lot of questions on Philippine forums and got some great assistance, as I have here. I will sit down and do some maths and post a costing of living here in Pattaya for members who may be interested. We all live a little differently, but the basics are the same.
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Post by Banjo on Feb 21, 2014 10:23:04 GMT 7
Pattaya is certainly a popular spot for expats but I would have thought it a little high pressure for pensioners. A summation of living costs will be welcome, keep it general, just because you know some one who lucked into a beachfront apartment for $150 a month don't mean that they are readily available.
Southern Luzon is very nice, I spent a bit of time around Batangas one new year. The area is volcanic and they pump steam out of the ground for various purposes.
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Post by chris on Feb 24, 2014 16:32:47 GMT 7
Banjo, your Boracay trip was how many years ago? I can't add first hand because I have not actually been there. But I was in Phuket, Ko Samui, and Pattaya in the early '80's and I have revisited them all, so that's my point of reference. Patong Beach, Phuket is now more like Pattaya. While mid Pattaya has not actually changed much, the expansion to Jomtien and beyond along with the predominance of 5 Star Hotels, has clearly made some difference.
Each to his own. I reckon I have seen most of them, and I'm sticking with Vigan City...a bit like an Aussie Country town in the 1960's, bustling on market days and still the odd horse drawn buggy, but of course it is modernized enough. My Aussie visitors do rave about the place, for it's historical links, back to Spanish Rule, even further back to Chinese influence. But each to his own, you guys are quite rapt with Chang Mai, while NFA and others prefer Cebu. I think the key is to get out of the Metro areas, if ever you can find a way. It took me 7 years to find this place and that was by chance so there...
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Post by Banjo on Feb 24, 2014 17:56:34 GMT 7
I was in Boracay around the end of the year 2003.
I don't think I'd want to live in a city, I'm about 20kms out of town. Climate here a bit like Bagio.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2014 19:44:38 GMT 7
The big difference now Banjo - Russians!!!! I too am drinking less and heading towards even less, must be getting old!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2014 19:52:24 GMT 7
I think it all boils down to our personal preference, as they say one man's passion is anothers poisons. But there is a need for research and that is well stated on this forum. If you do a bit of homework, at least you are a chance of finding the right spot to hang the hat.
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Post by chris on Feb 25, 2014 10:03:19 GMT 7
I was in Boracay around the end of the year 2003. I don't think I'd want to live in a city, I'm about 20kms out of town. Climate here a bit like Bagio. Bagio was getting down to 5 degrees in the early AM when I was there 3 years ago. Very highly favored by upper class Filipinos, but in reality, crowded, dirty, too cold, poor traffic management, full of Koreans who play golf and sort of dominate the entire scene. I could say similar about La Union. Very crowded in the city, with poor traffic management. But as I think a few others have said, San Fernando on the beach, about 8 km north, is quite a good place. And La Union does have it's own branch of Dept of Immigation, which could be helpful. Still I would go further north.
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Post by Banjo on Feb 25, 2014 10:20:52 GMT 7
I thought Bagio was over rated but I bought some nice silver there. I quite liked La Union and the beaches, even the city center with the big market appealed to me, but then I'll overlook a lot of faults for a decent market.
When I sold my house I was offered a small resort there at a good price but a little investigation revealed a few dodgy partners that had to be dealt with first. You can see how people get into trouble.
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Post by chris on Feb 25, 2014 18:06:28 GMT 7
I thought Bagio was over rated but I bought some nice silver there. I quite liked La Union and the beaches, even the city center with the big market appealed to me, but then I'll overlook a lot of faults for a decent market. When I sold my house I was offered a small resort there at a good price but a little investigation revealed a few dodgy partners that had to be dealt with first. You can see how people get into trouble. Sisters Market, Baguio (correcting the spelling only now), quite famous and got some really good blueberry jam and orange marmalade in there, but it was pretty packed and partner did the buying. So hard to advise to those who don't have the scope or finances to explore different places. On balance, I would follow Banjo's tip, try to be within 20 km or less of a larger city. You will need banks, supermarkets, restaurants from time to time..once twice a month does me fine. Being raised Aussie and loving the beach, I would stick also to coastal areas, but live a bit inland. There's more poverty around the remote beaches, and possibly more exposure to petty crime. Sent out the in laws today to get some fish from the local fisherman...about a 15k round trip by motorcycle. 500 pesos, plus 50 for the petrol, but they got in 2 days worth of food...sushami standard. So worthwhile.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Feb 26, 2014 1:17:27 GMT 7
So hard to advise to those who don't have the scope or finances to explore different places. On balance, I would follow Banjo's tip, try to be within 20 km or less of a larger city. You will need banks, supermarkets, restaurants from time to time..once twice a month does me fine. Being raised Aussie and loving the beach, I would stick also to coastal areas, but live a bit inland. There's more poverty around the remote beaches, and possibly more exposure to petty crime. Where I am, Argao, is approximately 80km South of Cebu City with the southern most edge of Metro Cebu, a city called Carcar, being midway (It takes 40 minutes by bus to cover the 40km to Carcar and then 80 minutes for the next 40km to Cebu City). Metro Cebu extends North from Cebu City by 30km to encompass Danao City. If you use the site at the thread, dspoverseas.proboards.com/thread/2864/cost-living-numbeo , and type in Cebu you will gain some idea of costs.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2014 10:56:47 GMT 7
My friend lived in Bagio and has spoken well of the place, she also comes from La Union and says it is nice there, but not many westerners? I like the idea of the cooler weather in Bagio. Just home for my detention here in Aussie for a few months, hard yakka.
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Post by chris on Feb 26, 2014 16:07:35 GMT 7
Where I am, Argao, is approximately 80km South of Cebu City with the southern most edge of Metro Cebu, a city called Carcar, being midway (It takes 40 minutes by bus to cover the 40km to Carcar and then 80 minutes for the next 40km to Cebu City). Metro Cebu extends North from Cebu City by 30km to encompass Danao City. If you use the site at the thread, dspoverseas.proboards.com/thread/2864/cost-living-numbeo , and type in Cebu you will gain some idea of costs. Jackpot, NFA, the unfound, unknown places, which you more or less find by accident are always better. Jackpot (2), these green shell mussels we got in for lunch today, steamed, then eaten with chili sauce...wow.
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Post by Banjo on Feb 26, 2014 18:47:21 GMT 7
It's surprising how unattractive really out of the way places get once the years start closing in and the health slips a bit more. One day you're sitting on the porch and think you feel a twinge in the chest and start calculating the time you would need to get to a serious hospital in an emergency.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Feb 27, 2014 3:14:45 GMT 7
It's surprising how unattractive really out of the way places get once the years start closing in and the health slips a bit more. One day you're sitting on the porch and think you feel a twinge in the chest and start calculating the time you would need to get to a serious hospital in an emergency. That's an important consideration Banjo no matter which country we live in, including Australia. I am fortunate to have 2 hospitals in Argao, one of which is 50 metres across the road.
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Post by chris on Mar 3, 2014 11:57:53 GMT 7
Guys, I hear some grumbling complaints over the latest DSP/OAP raise....$30/month is good living here, sure we have in inflation and concerns about the exchange rate, but I'll take the $30 (near 1200 pesos) and worry about the rest later.
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