Once you’ve got your property it’s time to start thinking about living in it.
It is common practice especially among expats who are unmarried or whose company has transferred them to the country to have a maid to help around the house. A maid will do basic household chores, washing and cleaning, etc. They can be live-in or come from the local area several times a week.
Maids are usually young and from poorer families. Some people prefer to hire a maid from a different area to the one they are living in as this means there is less likelihood of the maid going to meet friends or family unexpectedly. The safest way to hire someone is through an agency or word of mouth. Ask other expats about their maids, they might have other family members looking for work.
The cost of a maid varies depending on whether she is live-in and where you live in the Philippines. In the Manila region a maid will cost around P3000 per month, in richer neighbourhoods such as Makati it’s possible for a maid to earn P5000 a month. If you live away from the capital then wages will be around P1500 a month depending on duties.
Driving in the Philippines is chaotic and dangerous especially if you’re not used to it. If you don’t want to use taxis or jeepneys (ex-US military jeeps which serve as public buses) to get around and are not confident driving yourself you might want to consider hiring a driver. This service won’t come cheap and you’ll have to feed him during the day, so be prepared to pay between P3000 and P5000 a month.
Utilities include electricity, water, Internet and a telephone. Generally the cost of utilities is low in the Philippines.
The average cost for water per month is around P600. There are different ways to get your water supply; you can be connected to the mains, which is the norm in most cities. In the provinces you will have to use a pump to get the water to your house from the well. Alternatively you can have water bulk delivered to your house. Which method you use depends on where you live.
Electricity is run at 220V and if you plan on using air conditioning when you are home, kitchen appliances, TV and DVD player then the average cost will be P2000 a month.
A telephone line which excludes long-distance calls starts at around P700 a month depending on where you live. Broadband Internet with unlimited connection time is around P1000 per month.