Hi David,

9 to 10 years until retirement will fly by faster than you think. Soon you can fish to your heart's content. Manila definitely has areas where flooding is most likely. I lived in an upscale neighborhood in Makati and the basement turned into a kiddo pool during a couple of bad storms. The place I lived in BGC was flood-free though, but I think that might be location-dependent, as there are more hills to help with drainage.

If you have any questions about different retirement visas in the Philippines, let me know. I will encourage you to check out other cities outside Manila. The last time I lived there, I was less enthused than in prior times. The traffic and pollution are starting to outweigh the benefits.

Cheers,

Marco

Hi Marco - my wife and I, along with our two kids (ages 3 & 7 yrs old) are thinking of living in the Philippines for one year to try it out. We were thinking of living in the BGC area, but wanted to see what areas in Makati you would recommend that would offer something similar. Our budget for a 2 bedroom apartment is probably up to $1.2K/mo. We are also thinking of La Salle GH as an option to send our kids to school. Also wanted to get your thoughts on that as well. Thank you!

Hi Ernie,

I would prefer BGC over Makati for a family. There is more open space, parks, and is easier to walk around. Your 2 bedroom apartment budget will be fine for something in one of the newer condos in BGC. Just a heads up though, both Makati and BGC are built for city living; think high-rise condos vs. single-family houses.

If you want "family-friendly" living, you may want to consider "Subic Bay Freeport Zone- Best Place To Live In The Philippines For Expats With Kids"

Aside from being the most westernized city in the Philippines, expat families with children will appreciate several international schools, including Brent International and Casa Kalayaan.

Appreciate the feedback Marco. What would you recommend as a minimum annual budget (in USD) for a family of 4 living in BCG, assuming $1.2K/mo rent and private school? We will probably eat out a lot (preferably in less expensive non-americanized chain restaurants) as we don't really cook. Would we need to get car or could we get by using Grab or hiring private drivers as needed?

My parents live in Cavite and is encouraging us to stay in that province, but I am concerned about the quality of schools there and what type of activities there would be for my wife to do. Is Cavite an area you would recommend living at?

Thanks again for the info.

Hi Ernie,

That's a tough one for a couple of reasons, you have chosen the most expensive way to live in the Philippines.

• BGC and Makati are the most expensive neighborhoods by far in the country
• Eating out is more expensive than cooking
• Private drivers are roughly $250-$400 per month and with you and your wife, you may need two drivers and two cars.
• International Private schools are SUPER EXPENSIVE in the Philippines. One year tuition can hit $15,000+ USD easy, depending on the school.

Add all that up and you might be close to the same monthly expense as living in a medium-cost city in the US, BUT admittedly with luxuries like a personal driver, maid, exclusive private schools, and frequent meals out that are unaffordable in the US.

I'm used to budgeting for 1 or 2 people without kids, so I'm not a great benchmark. Especially, because schooling will take a huge part of the budget. But here is a great way to estimate.

About $4400 USD per month for a family of 5 people puts your family well into the Philippines' top 1% wealth.

Does that help?

Cheers,

Marco