Living in Manila

[Michael Ruffin 1]

Hello VJer's

How much does a family of 5 need per month to Metro Manila? To be more specific, I was think about living in Makati which I heard is the nicest area of Manila verse my wife grew up in Pateros. I talking middle class lifestyle of apartment, cable, internet, schooling, and going for entertainment one a week?

Thanks

Michael

[YourHumboldtBud 2]

I guess it depends on how comfortable you wish to live. Living in a place like Makati is like living in the USA. As far as how far your money will go when in PI equate it's worth to be about 4X as much in PI(outside of Makati) as would be in the US. Once you start "going out" if you eat out at US based restaurants like Chili's, Outback, TGIF etc expect to pay equivalent to US prices if not more.

[LSnBigBear 61]

For a modest two bedroom condo/apartment expect to pay 30,000p ( or $700-800 usd ) monthly in most of metro Manila. You mention family of 5 so my guess is you will want 120 sq meters unless you do not mind living on top of each other. I will give a side by side of my budget at end of 2011 for living in Cebu which is no longer cheap as it was many years ago. Add 50% to everything for Manila except housing you will need to double. I had a gf, 2 kids and helper. So feeding family of 5

Rent: $250 for two bedroom condo/townhouse- 1000 square feet

Electric $120 running 1 AC bedroom unit 12-14 hours a day

Water $15

Cable: $22 (some in apartments pay for cable)

Cell Phone: $60 a month. (I had a business).

Internet: $20

Private school for one 70 monthly plus transportation $30= $100........... Manila double per child. My friend is supporting his step children and wow expensive in Manila.

Their Groceries (filipino): $300 a month.

My Groceries (buying western items/meat etc) $50 ( I ate filipino but also ate out one meal daily.)

I recall my budget was about $850 for everything above.

I had a motor cycle. Transportation will cost you a lot in Manila unless you jump jeepnes.

I would say $1500 budget for you in Manila will allow you to live similar to middle class Filipinos.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Living in Makati will be very close to the cost of living in the States (but even that is hard to say as some area of the States are nuts expensive and other areas are cheaper that in Makati)

[scottgema 6]

I live in Makati right now and I would agree a $1500 a month budget will put you in middle class filipino status in Metro Manila but I don't think it will cover you in Makati.

Keep in mind Makati vs Manila at-large is like Manhattan vs brooklyn as far as price differences and services. You can get a haircut on the corner of Valero in Salcedo Village Makati for p200 or you can get it cut in Repuso (10 min walk) for p50.

$1500 will get you through but you could have difficulty finding cheap enough rent.

$2000 - 3000, if you can afford it, will make it essentially worry free if you are not making a car payment with insurance etc and will also get you a place big enough to stretch your arms in.

[A and T 82]

Almost the same as living in the USA, Makati has really high prices for living, especially condos are small and over priced... You probably need $3,000 usd a month for rent, electric, internet, food, and more for a family that size

[Bron Chase 1]

Hello VJer's

How much does a family of 5 need per month to Metro Manila? To be more specific, I was think about living in Makati which I heard is the nicest area of Manila verse my wife grew up in Pateros. I talking middle class lifestyle of apartment, cable, internet, schooling, and going for entertainment one a week?

Thanks

Michael

I live in Makati right now as well. Rent is as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be depending on how you're willing to live, but a middle class lifestyle will be expensive. When I first moved here I lived at the Radisson for P30,000 a month in a studio unit. You would need a much bigger place than that for 5 people. Since then I've moved to the west side of Makati where I rent a one bedroom apartment for P7,500 and an extra P500 a month for my parking spot in the garage. It's not a nice neighborhood by western standards but I've grown to love it, and I'm about a ten minute drive from Ayala Center (if I'm driving at 3am lol). It's just my wife and I, but we rarely spend more than $1,000 USD a month. We do live a simple Filipino lifestyle though. The sky's the limit in Makati, but from what you describe I'd make sure I have at least $2,000 USD a month coming in. The wording of your post suggests that you have never been to Makati before. If that is the case be sure to check it out before you agree to live there. The traffic is horrendous. Good luck

- Bron (Makati/Utah)

[mrsartis 10]

I live in Makati right now as well. Rent is as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be depending on how you're willing to live, but a middle class lifestyle will be expensive. When I first moved here I lived at the Radisson for P30,000 a month in a studio unit. You would need a much bigger place than that for 5 people. Since then I've moved to the west side of Makati where I rent a one bedroom apartment for P7,500 and an extra P500 a month for my parking spot in the garage. It's not a nice neighborhood by western standards but I've grown to love it, and I'm about a ten minute drive from Ayala Center (if I'm driving at 3am lol). It's just my wife and I, but we rarely spend more than $1,000 USD a month. We do live a simple Filipino lifestyle though. The sky's the limit in Makati, but from what you describe I'd make sure I have at least $2,000 USD a month coming in. The wording of your post suggests that you have never been to Makati before. If that is the case be sure to check it out before you agree to live there. The traffic is horrendous. Good luck

- Bron (Makati/Utah)

I have lived in Makati and I agree to the other posts. It will all depends on how you live and where you live and where is the income coming from. I have lived in the area called SOUTH Avenue where Kalayaan avenue is close and Reposo. You can find condos or houses for rent for about 25-30K. Then you can just ride taxis or jeep or trike.( unless you have a car) traffic sucks not good for the mileage and your patience.

there is also the school of the kids., allowance and clothing and occasional shopping =p

FOOD (cooking, not going out) for a family of five i would say- Php 1, 150 I already gave you an allowance for fruits ( as it is expensive) this is per day and this is me being frugal;

TRANSPORTATION (It can get expensive coz the minimum is Php 40.00

among other things, make sure not to get sick.. with no insurance it is so expensive to get treated in Makati Med.

[Artisan 138]

Makati is not the place to live if you are on any sort of budget. Are you looking for a place you can live closer to Western standards or does that matter?

[moondream 36]

I'm starting to think about doing this too. Anyone knows what's salary can a programmer get there ? or a good site about job offers ?

[Dustin and Janen 86]

I'm starting to think about doing this too. Anyone knows what's salary can a programmer get there ? or a good site about job offers ?

Around $700 a month for a programmer. Maybe $1000 a month for a senior programmer. I read that somewhere else, can't remember now.

But here is some data on software development engineer salary. The median income is about what I said above.

Software Developer Salary

Sr Software Developer Salary

Edited February 12, 2013 by Dustin and Janen

[moondream 36]

Around $700 a month for a programmer. Maybe $1000 a month for a senior programmer. I read that somewhere else, can't remember now.

But here is some data on software development engineer salary. The median income is about what I said above.

Software Developer Salary

Sr Software Developer Salary

Many thanks

[Michael Ruffin 1]

I'm starting to think about doing this too. Anyone knows what's salary can a programmer get there ? or a good site about job offers ?

I was just following up on my post about living in Manila, when I came across your listing. Are you asking about programmers salaries in the USA or Manila and are you an American or Filipino National? If you are American, I don't think you can get work permit the Philippines. I did find a couple of links on salaries in Phiippines for government worker: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Salary_of_Philippine_government_officials. Here is the second link: http://www.payscale.com/research/PH/Country=Philippines/Salary

I hope this helps you.

Michael

[Michael Ruffin 1]

Thanks all for the good response on cost of living.

I guess I want to explore this topic more and maybe I should move it to another forum. My question is how Filipino survive with these high costs? Now, I understand my question was about living in Makati. I picked that area because I visited it there once while meeting up wife at the time. I also read that Makati is the business center of Metro Manila. $700-1500 seem reasonable for an American and there are cheaper areas outside Makati. Makati population is not all American and foreigners, i am assuming that greater than 70% or more is Filipino. I know minimum wage in PH 426 per day (~$10 USD) for alot filipino and this working population is not living in Makati but maybe areas like Pateros (my wife is from there) or QC. There are probably cheaper areas than those two I mentioned. That is just $300/mo/ person and even a salary working as a software engineer (4 year of college) makes about $8000 USD. I am just puzzled on how any filipino moves into the middle class there when food prices are similar to USA price, I know public education there is not that stellar which mean k-12 will cost ~$50/mo/child for private schooling. We still did not factor in clothing and maybe the occasional entertainment. I have been looking up salaries for various area of employment and the amounts are not enough in my opinion. I am trying to be politically correct but with doing some illegal (seeing alot of certain internet sites for $$$$) a person can live the so called "Filipino" dream. Maybe I am wrong which is the not the first time in my life! Oh, it is just my thoughts! Thanks all for the cost of living stuff.

[moondream 36]

I was just following up on my post about living in Manila, when I came across your listing. Are you asking about programmers salaries in the USA or Manila and are you an American or Filipino National? If you are American, I don't think you can get work permit the Philippines. I did find a couple of links on salaries in Phiippines for government worker: http://wiki.answers....ment_officials. Here is the second link: http://www.payscale....lippines/Salary

I hope this helps you.

Michael

I'm dual citizen Franch / American. I know the salaries of senor programmers in THe USA. ( I work in Colorado ). As american You can get a work permit in Philippines ?