Looking for advice on moving to the Philippines

In My Humble Opinion
1

So, I am seriously considering retiring within the next year, after 42 years of working I have had reached my goals and starting to lose my passion for going to work. Also, I have recently broke up with my longtime GF, we just have grown apart and no longer share the same goals for retirement.

So, at 63 I am thinking of selling everything I own, becoming an ex-Pat and moving to the Philippines. Most of the people I connect with have already passed away or live so far away I don’t ever see them. In retirement I will be pulling in the same amount of take-home pay that I am now, and even more in the future. So, no kids, no wife, and few other relatives.

The cost of living is much cheaper there but it’s hot and raining much of the time, I can deal with that. Decent healthcare will cost me a significant amount, but I have run my budget and I can get an excellent package within my budget, but I’ll need to live in a major city to have access to decent hospitals. Not an issue.

I’ll have enough money to buy a decent SUV with 4WD and can afford the gas, insurance, and garage storage. I’ll be able to use local transportation much of the time.

I am looking to move to Davao City. From what I can tell it’s a very safe place to live and the impact of typhoons is minimal there compared to western side of the islands, like Manila.

I don’t see an issue with finding companionship, more an issue with keeping away from bars and gold diggers on the internet. I know there will be a target on me as a potential easy mark.

Politics, I will not get involved in their politics. In fact, I don’t want to follow American politics once I leave.

Am I missing any negatives or benefits? I would appreciate any insights, stories, or sage advice.

2

I cannot comment on the Phillipines, but would like to know more about motivations that might inform your choice and the advice of more qualified posters.

To wit, is it primarily cost in making those retirement dollars go further? Or is it a degree of USA-exhaustion (which is perfectly understandable) based on your desire to leave politics behind after the move both local and US?

Because if it were me, considering just the first point, I’d probably first look at relocating to one of the less expensive states in the US to live in. A quick look at state affordability from USNews (not an exhaustive source by any means, but just as a starting point) would suggest South Dakota to me (#5 in affordability, behind several southern states, but #11 in “Best States” and I think a better match for ME than Alabama, Arkansas or Mississippi which are more affordable but much lower in “Best States Ranking”).

Lots fewer issues with taxes/retirement income if any than living outside the nation, probably easier travel, and no worse weather (albeit in the other direction climatically) than you’re prepared to deal with.

Again though, if the concern is to get the hell away from the USA, none of that is a factor.

Let us know more so a board ex-Pat or person with direct experience with living in the Phillipines can advise!

3

I am done with the good old USA because it is no longer the good old USA my dad fought for in WWII. He told me this before he passed and I agree with him, so no love lost. The present political climate is proof of my assessment, and I don’t see it improving in my lifetime, even if Harris wins because our divides are deep.

Also, I have an adventurous spirt and I am not afraid of new places and new things. I’ve already been around the world a few times and know that there is more than one way of living a life. For me the Philippines checks many boxes. They speak english, sunny beaches, cheap housing and pretty women.

One thing that does concern me is China and their impact on relations with their neighbors. While I doubt that they would invade the archipelago, they could end up buying and influencing much of it. My dollar will go far there, but the long term impact of Chinese economic input could change that.

4

You might take a look at Costa Rica. Friendly to expats with money coming in, large expat community. Cheap housing, great fishing, easy access to the USA, if it ever becomes necessary. No crazies trying to take over the government. San Jose is at about 3,000 feet, so very comfortable weather and way less humidity than the PI.

5

I looked into Mexico and Central America, dispite my mexican heritage I don’t really like the food. To many carbs, and I love tortillas. And I don’t speaker spanish, my dad would not let my mom teach it to us becasue being known as a mexican back in Ohio in the 60’s was to draw disfavor from the community.

I don’t mind the tropical weather, and they have mountain areas as well there.

6

From what I’ve gathered from talking to people who live there, not speaking Spanish is not a problem. The expat community is like 10,000+ and restaurants cater to that group.

7

My wife and I are kicking around the idea of retiring to Costa Rica. We very briefly considered Thailand, but Spanish is going to be easier to learn than the Thai language, and my wife isn’t even really worried about learning Spanish due to the large expat population and widespread use of English in general.

Not sure how widespread English is in the Phillipines, or how difficult Tagalog would be to learn, but ease of communication is a consideration.

8

Have you spent any time in the Philippines? Have you spend much time outside the US? Not vacationing, but living there?

9

Probably widely spoken. It was an American possession for many years and there was a large American military presence there for decades. Many soldiers married Filipinas and many retired there.

10

I have been there and to Japan for work, for months at a time. I’ve spent about half a year in Europe, again for work. I have been to Mexico many times and my ex-GF is from Mexico, so I am not unfamilar with other customs. I got around all of these places just fine and didn’t really miss the USA. Drove a car everywhere except Japan, because they have such a great transportaion system. :slight_smile:

11

Yes, engish is the primary language, although some of the poorer people speak in local dialects and just kind of understand basic english. Its a major draw.

I actually work with three guys from the Phillipines now, but have not told them my plan yet because they will be asking many questions., maybe when I get closer to going there. And they will be trying to hook me up with relatives over there! :rofl:

12

My thoughts on a similar thread:

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Nice, keep it coming fellow dopers!

14

At least you’re not going in with blinders on. There was a guy at the local grocery in Portland who used to talk about how he was going to retire and move to the Philippines to marry his “girlfriend” (who he’d never met in person, but was sending money to :roll_eyes: ) I wanted to warn him off, as I knew guys in the military that fell for that scam, but he would likely have resented it.

Another place friendly to expats is Portugal. There is a huge community of Brits and Americans living in the Algarve. In fact, a good friend of ours who we served with at the embassy in Lisbon 30 years ago left the US and moved there permanently a couple of years ago after becoming fed up with the governance of this country. He spends all his time travelling around Europe and seems quite happy there.

15

Hey, that’s my old thread, and I was considering linking to it saying that your post was one of the best pieces of advice I got from it. Thanks for saving me the trouble! :slightly_smiling_face:

16

Yeah, I am on a dating site now and talking with the local girls. Its amazing how quickly some will try and latch onto you. Many I suspect are catfish, bargirls or legitimate girls stringing guys along.

I have a couple that I am just penpals with, and I will keep it that way until I have my boots on the ground. They don’t tell me whoaful stories or even hint at asking for money, they actually tell me about everyday life there. Which is what I am after, also here as well.

I have blocked probably over 90% of the ones who contact me. Many are telling me they are ready to have children with me. :roll_eyes:

My goal is to get a nice place, near the markets, malls and beaches. Something within a two mile radius of these things. And own and store a car for when I need to buy bulky items or go on a trip around the island. The island is Mindanao and is about the size of South Carolina.

17

But there are lovely screens to protect you from the glare.

18

Would you be living there as a resident alien (or equivalent)? Are there any onerous requirements around that (such as annual renewals while outside the country)?

On a purely subjective note, this has kind of a bad look to me: a single male American senior citizen with a good income settling in a poorer country and (among other things) looking for “pretty girls” who only want to be with you for yourself, not for your money. Obviously that’s not all you’re going there for, but it does seem to be important to you. Have I got the wrong end of the stick here?

19

@CairoCarol and @Die_Capacitrix are or have been expats. Carol has a bunch of experience living in Southeast Asia.

20

The Philippines, especially around Manila, has a large American expat community and English is the common language in the area. I worked in Mindanao Province which had a less educated populace and English is not as common, but still widely spoken in cities.