Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

I've been teaching ESL in South Korea for about a decade. I've saved a bit, but not nearly as much as I had hoped. Lately, I've been doing a bit of freelance illustration online and I can usually hustle up $200 a month doing so. I'm wondering how much more I'd need to live humbly in Davao. I'm not looking to party or anything like that. I would like to have a quiet apartment, decent internet, clean air, clean (non-GM) food and time to work on my art.

[rioux]

I would never live in the Philippines for any length of time earning less than 1000 US dollars a month.
It's deceptive when living there in that some things are without doubt cheaper than many places but other things like electricity are notoriously expensive.

In the past I have often read that Seattle Language Institute in Davao was hiring native speakers. I don't know if they still are though.

http://www.bestjobs.ph/bt-empd-seattleenglish.htm

[suphanburi]

If you want to live like a Pinoy then $200/month will do.
If you want to live like a westerner then $1000/month is what you will spend.

$300/month for a western type apartment.
$100/month for a one room studio type (like a Korean "one-room villa without the kitchen sink).

Local food is cheap.
Food for a western palate is not.

.

[chaz47]

My needs are pretty basic. I've been working part-time in Korea for the past 6 months. I've been working 15 hours a week making 1.7 million won and still managing to save about 300,000 won after rent and bills. My apartment is just a one-room but it's near a university so it's expensive, usually about 660,000 a month including all the bills. One of the most painful parts about working part-time now is my taxes, they're based on my income from the previous year... so... lol... that hurts a bit.

Food and housing have gotten more expensive in general here gradually.