Finding a house in most price ranges is very easy. Most landlords would rather rent to foreigners than locals. They feel they can charge a bit more (but still a bargain) and have more of a chance of getting their rent paid on time.

The Cebu neighborhood where I live is mostly professional, upper middle class. This new neighborhood is a "compound" (I guess it is called that because it has a fence around it) with about twenty-five houses. There are some rich folks here, I guess, at least by local standards. Everyone seems to have a new car or two. And the houses are so big I still get lost in mine. It is 40 years old, well built with great character inside and out. The yard is full of foliage and blooming flowers.

native boat and nipa houses

Houses in bigger, high-walled, guarded and
patrolled subdivisions in Cebu with swimming pools,central
air-conditioning and bathtubs can behad for about $1,000 (U.S.) per month.

But I like the friendliness of the people in the more modest neighborhoods.

Living in Manila I once lived in a very upscale neighborhood in Manila. The high walls and many guards at the complex made it seem an unfriendly place. That house rented for about $2,000 per month.

The neighbors were mostly foreigners and retired Filipino generals, balikbayans (Filipinos who have lived in other countries) and Chinese-Filipino business people.

I prefer the friendliness of Cebu. When I moved to my new house there, my new next-door neighbor came by and asked why I had rented a truck to move instead of borrowing his.

In a smaller city, you can live in fine style on much less than I am spending. One of the "Living in the Philippines" members rents what may be the nicest house in General Santos City, Mindanao, for about $200 a month.

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