To get the most out of some things, we often need someone to guide us. I had been to Cebu City several times in the past, mainly for US passport renewals at the US Consulate. Before the trip, I had gathered online a list of places to see and the names of a few restaurants I wanted to try.
I was never impressed with Cebu City. Too much traffic for one thing. Too many people for another. I found it to be much more expensive than where I live in the City of Smiles, Bacolod City. I had also heard about the much higher crime rate but that is usually the case in large cities most everywhere. It’s a numbers game. The more people, the more criminals.
Queen City Of The South
Upon the invitation of a friend, I recently spent 4 days in the Queen City of the South. Cebu City. Wow! I got to see the real Cebu and it is much different than my previous experiences. I had someone to guide me. An American friend has lived in Cebu City for many years and he certainly knows where to go, what to see and all the pitfalls to avoid. I had a fabulous time. I wasn’t there to take in the tourist scene but I was there to experience Cebu in the same manner as many expats, who have made Cebu City their home. It was an enlightening event.
A Brand New Perspective
I would never have believed that there are areas of Cebu City where an expat can keep his front door wide open in the daytime to experience the nice, cool breeze. They exist. I saw them with my own eyes, so now I know firsthand.
On that side of the city, I did not see the gang graffiti painted everywhere like in other areas of Cebu City, which I had always seen in the past.
I met a number of Filipinos in Cebu City and they were all very nice, friendly people. Now, I have added several Cebuano Kababayans to my friendship list. Wonderful people. Cebuano or Bisaya is the local language of Cebu City.
Where The Action Is
For those who do not like Manila but still enjoy the large city lifestyle, you will find it in Cebu City. There are several music lounges with live bands, which don’t start hopping until their main clientele arrive. Those who work in other bars, clubs and late night restaurants and need an establishment to unwind after work. These types of bars are open until 7am.
If you enjoy sports bars and pub grub, you will be happy in Cebu City. A number of foreigners own various entertainment establishments in Cebu City.
If you enjoy shopping for foreign food products, you will be right at home. Rustan’s, S&R, Metro, Robinsons and SM are only a few of the good supermarkets you will enjoy.
Old Spanish churches, Magellen’s Cross, St Nino de Cebu were a few things I wanted to see. Other than those, I wanted to experience Cebu City as an expat, not as a tourist. Mission accomplished.
One of the best treats I discovered was Pork D Kawali, which is Chicharon or fried pork rinds. Fabulous!
If you know where to go, you can eat a Tapsilog Breakfast, which is only P70. Choice of meat, fried egg and garlic rice.
Renting a small apartment in a few areas can be as little as P7,000 per month. The cost of living in Cebu City can be very affordable if you know how and where. You can still enjoy a fun-filled life in a large city for about $1,100 per month.
I have personally added Cebu City to my list of Top 3 Places to Live in the Philippines.
If you have not decided upon where you want to retire to the Philippines, you can certainly check out Cebu City and see what you think. It is also best to check out several locations during your exploration. Bacolod, Cebu and Iloilo are 3 destinations I recommend. You should find something you like in one of the locations and I bet you will.
Gary,
I have been living in Cebu City for 4-1/2 months now. I live with my fiancee and her 6 year old in a small but quaint 2 bedroom apartment that costs P15,000/month. Across the street is a pension house and the guard may be a deterrent to crime in the neighborhood, which seems to be lively and festive and very friendly. There is a lot of foot traffic in the area with quite a few students in their uniforms traversing to and from their schools. Although we live on a side street there is also quite a bit of traffic with plenty of taxis for when one is needed. Unfortunately it is also a favored detour for when the major roads have a lot of traffic. At these times we will see hundreds of Jeepneys which otherwise do not have a route down our street.
Our utilities (water, electricity, cable, and internet) averages P8,460. Food costs have been somewhat high because I still have not gotten into a lot of Philippine food so we were doing a lot of fast food delivery and buying imported meats and such. One trip to Rustan’s cost me almost P9,000 but these type of expenditures have been dropping quite a bit. We have started visiting the local market and getting bowls of noodles and either some pork or chicken dishes for under P100. We don’t do any clubbing or go to movies but we do go to the area malls at P200 a pop round trip for a taxi. So taxi costs can average as much as P3,000 a month. I am not a frequent drinker so expenses for alcohol are not too much. All in all, I think it can be very easy to have a cost of living well under $1,100 a month.
I am starting to find some of the American (and other foreigner) owned establishments here. One is a pizza restaurant that is actually within walking distance for me (I am disabled and walk with a cane) and every Thursday they have specials which many Americans may appreciate. Meat loaf, turkey dinners, burritos, and pot roast are some of the Thursday specials. F. Ramos has several sports bars and there is an Irish pub/restaurant on Gen. Maxillom. Fuente Osmena Circle area has a ton of people walking around offering to sell you sunglasses, guitars, and other “crap” but as soon as you say no they bring out the box of “Viagra” or “Cialis” trying to cure your, apparent to them, erectile dysfunction. My fiancee told me that after dark the circle area fills up with street walkers.
I have yet to get out to some tourist attractions because of a combination of my fiancee’s work schedule, her motion sickness, and my disability. But we’ll eventually get the chance. Being originally from Valencia and starting her job immediately after moving to Cebu City over 5 years ago, my fiancee herself has not seen any of the attractions around here.
I am glad to read your positive review of Cebu City. At no time have I been afraid of walking around the immediate neighborhood. So far, my biggest complaint of Cebu City is, like almost all cities, the air quality. I buy the white woven filters that are used, I believe, for furnaces and cut them to fit the back of our fans. Within a couple weeks they will be almost black and I take them off and clean them. In the US, several times a day I would have sneezing fits where I would sneeze 3-4 times in a row whereas here it does not stop until after 7-10 sneezes.
Yes I have been there several times to the Circle. My brother in law and his wife my wife and me. He had just bought duran for us to eat and it was after dark. We hadn’t even got to much of the park in the center of the Circle when I was hit up by a street walker. My wife told her to go away that I was married but she wouldn’t…. till she gave her some duran. It can be a wild place if you let it. Wife and kids will be leaving next week to go to Cebu, I will miss them.
David, I enjoyed your comments. I’m moving to Cebu soon. My gf lives lives there. I really like Cebu. In particular, the area south of the city. May I ask the name of the pizza restaurant you were talking about. Thanks.
Terry,
The name of the pizza restaurant is Mario’s and it is on Jackosalem.
http://mariospizzacebu.com/
outside of cebu is even better just go to the city to shop and stay out of it
You got that right. I like to go the the zip line up the mountain, nice and cool there.
My wife is from Cebu
We’re thinking about living in CarCar which is about a hour and a half from Cebu city I think it’s been awhile
She’s here in California now
We’re hoping four more years here
Then buy a condo in CarCar and kick back hopefully on about 1360 month
I’m glad I found your site
Ben
Thank you, Ben. I am also glad you found us.
I’ve never been outside Cebu City but have made 4 trips to Cebu City in 2015. I have several wonderful friends in the Queen City of the South, both foreigners and Filipinos.
~ Gary ~
Live in Las Vegas, NV now. Thinking of moving in 3 years to Philippines or Costa Rica then. I don’t gamble or drink much. Crime here getting bad. Thanks for this site, Mark