Budget for move to Palawan

Hi Carl75, welcome to the forum.

I can only ask if you have spent time with the lot you are about to lease as well as the locale and amenities? The nipper hut and building costs no idea and watch out for the termites, everything here on the beach is rendered blocks and steel, your bike and quad allowance seems on the low side for new, furniture, white goods etc. seems about right and remember if you but a queen size bed here they are 3 inches shorter than western sizes.

Good luck with your venture.

Cheers, Steve.

Hi, we (2 adults, 1 child [7 years old]) are living in a condo in Boracay and the monthly budget without association dues and vacation is 126K  PHP. (utilities, internet, food, restaurants, school, cleaning material, clothes, vitamins, ....)

Others told me that they have spent 1M PHP / year while living here.

Good luck

Andy

Sounds like a dream! Been there in 1989 and 2012. Although I could not handle the stress of your description. Rather live in a nipa hut in a fishing village community on Long Beach. Money in the bank, leave whenever I want, just a suitcase, retired, 71, originally from London UK. 46 years abroad

Well Fred .. here's our thoughts.

We're currently building etc on Palawan right now. We have bought 10 hectares nearby the town of Roxas, the second largest town on Palawan and half-way between the capital, Puerto Princesa, and your El Nido at the island's tip. This means that our land prices, materials etc now cost half what they are in El Nido, if you can get them. 

On this project we have spent around P2 million for this virgin property and built three houses, two 2 bed and the other our 4 bedroom A-frame AirBNB.

My wife was a school teacher in Roxas for twelve years, so we have family and many local contacts whom have helped greatly.

Given your touristy location, your figures are certainly ball-park. Must say materials will be a problem, and expensive.

Suggest doing ALL your buying in Puerto, then renting one container and trucking it all in one operation. Save heaps.

Look around for your building team, and negoitate their daily wages (Foreman say P900/day, workers P6-700/day and you supply food and basic accomodation if not local. This may turn out very expensive! Set tight time deadlines.

Delay the boat purchase, and look around. We have never seen a boat on a trailer there, nor one being towed? Your locals make & moor fine sea-worthy wooden fishing boats. Walk along El Nido beachfront, and you'll see 4-sale signs.

Currently, we spend three or four months/year there and the rest in Australia. Must say, both are paradise. Probably Roxas Palawan will become most favoured for the life-style?

Good luck, and maybe see you around sometime, you do sound a sensible intelligent bloke. Cheers!

`

By the way Fred ..

Had a thought regarding your hiring workers on Palawan (Region V1-B Mimaropa).

As above, we pay our workers considerably more than the official Government award rates. The rates shown below are the official / legal Palawan Philippines daily minium.

Here's the latest min regional pay rates, as of March 2025

Palawan (V1-B Mimaropa) rates: P403 - P430 / day

https://i0.wp.com/newstogov.com/wp-cont … m-wage.jpg

Good post and informative P1, TY.

We are region 1 in Luzon (La Union) and the pay scales are slightly higher but what I can never work out is the difference between live in and a daily worker.

Our guy is live in and pretty switched on and generally a self starter, 2 years he has been with us and my better half set the wages and conditions, P400 per day, own A/C B/R with ensuite, internet, signal tv and we pay his PhilHealt and the 13th month Christmas pay, he has the run of the house obviously, access to the Mio to go to local basketball matches, Sari stores etc. Most of the time he is here 7 days a week as his home in the Fishermans village is noisy and no A/C.

After his first year I suggested to the better half we pay him a bit more,,,,,,, I was shouted down and told NO very bluntly, He is on a good deal I was told.

Your thoughts? Do you think we are under or over paying.

Cheers, Steve.

`

BP writes, "After his first year I suggested to the better half we pay him a bit more,,,,,,, I was shouted down and told NO very bluntly, He is on a good deal I was told.  Your thoughts?  Do you think we are under or over paying. Cheers, Steve."

Ah, tough question Steve. It might seem that according

to the chart above you may be under by a few coins

a day. But on the other hand the fringe benefits

you also offer will surely more than make up for it?

I'm guessing that he well knows he's on a good wicket and you are unlikely to be hit with legal action over it.

Saying it, a thought occurs that at the end of his time with you  guys,  especially if he leaves under any cloud it's possible he may try legal action for underpayment of wages? He would win.

So maybe your best path might be to raise his wage say

50 centavos a day to be within the legal award?  And for

under one peso / day, you're all ok and perfectly legal?

Just thoughts. You're obviously great employers. Maybe

consider covering your back from hungry lawyers also?

Cheers Steve