The FOREIGNER'S GUIDE to Choosing the BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN CEBU

[@fashionfgurl18]

There are many Business Districts in Metro Cebu (Greater Cebu) that are in the works (some still in construction phases) Cebu City - IT Park, Business Park, South Road Properties Mandaue City - Oakridge, Mandani Bay, Gatewalk Central Lapu-Lapu City - Mactan Newton, Mactan Seagrove

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

Yes, thanks for sharing more.

[@mikebrault9164]

John, You’re a wealth of information. You answered even more of my questions. Great job and it was a pleasure meeting you!

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

Thank you Mike. It really was a pleasure meeting you as well. Let's stay in touch and catch up again.

[@StrillLife]

I'll be there shortly after the US elections. Looking forward to my 1st trip to the Philippines. Also looking for VA(s) to help with video editing, thumbnails and social media. Thanks for all the info you provide.

[@hurleywilson7246]

In my humble opinion, by far, the best "bang for the buck", if you like peace, extremely fast elevators, the best security, the best prices, the cleanest, the most quiet,3 gyms, views, and far the best amenities, Marco Polo hands down. If you time it correctly, 10 minutes and 90 pesos to IT park.

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

Thanks for sharing. I like Marco Polo a lot. Though Calyx, Solinea, and 38th Park are also places worth considering if you don't mind living in the city. Without a doubt, Marco Polo has some unique advantages especially the location.

[@SirMountainpass]

⁠@@WatchCaliforniaExpat And fresher air to breathe as well than in the thick of downtown city traffic…

[@jackflowers2613]

Excellent summary! I have stayed in both areas and completely agree. I would just emphasise issues with traffic and wherever you stay needs to have the amenities you want in walking distance. I ended up buying in business park .

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

@@jackflowers2613 thank you! Great advice to have the amenities you want in walking distance

[@bigbearhugebear9018]

In my opinion City Lights Garden is the best place to live in Cebu. Its cooler and breezy. The amenities are off the charts with excellent security. 10-15 min from Ayala...

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

I agree, also a great spot. Not necessarily as modern as some of the other condos, but its a really nice location and great place to walk and amenities to BBQ etc etc. 10-15 minutes to Ayala if you get lucky with no traffic :) Thanks for sharing.

[@bigbearhugebear9018]

@@WatchCaliforniaExpat They have 2 bedrooms 120-160sq meters which is very hard to find..1 bedrooms are 70-90 sq meters. About 6-8 degrees cooler than Ayala area..

[@hurleywilson7246]

I might add, in terms of stepping out of your condo, into a Starbucks, IT park or Business park. Extremely convenient to live in these 2 places. Up to 10pm, Business park is way better than IT park. After 10pm, IT park is way better.

[@woutergijs5246]

The night market is great

[@SirMountainpass]

A good area to start life in Cebu initially until you figure out your preferred place to live 😊

[@Geoduck.]

My experiences with housing areas are as you suggested. Traffic in Cebu City can nasty but Mactan is simply a deal breaker for us due congested streets and gridlocked traffic. Do NOT recommend SCUBA diving off Mactan. The water is so polluted its like a septic tank.

[@jsully4064]

Feel the same about Mactan Island, way too much traffic. Have some Condos noted to check out. Thank you, John...Jim

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

You’re very welcome, Jim

[@Joseph-gp5ld]

Great video friend. I'm planning to make Cebu my next place to live. I'm in Metro Manila now. I was in BGC and also Mandaluyong. I recently moved to a planned Ayala project in Quezon City and am currently renting at one of their Sola condos now. It's almost like staying in a really nice hotel except that I live there. It is such a huge difference to be in walking distance to two great malls. Ayala North Vertis and Trinoma. I appreciate all the additional security and how walkable this area is without all the congestion of traffic. The only downside is that there is no beach nearby. So that's my reason to make the change in the near future. Keep up the good videos, I enjoy them very much.

[@Mrpatrickh]

It's great to know the subtle differences. You mentioned condos a lot! Are those the only options in the IT business or IT park?

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

There's not too many condos in the IT Park--there's a lot more business high rises here than condos. But Avida and The Median are other options I'm aware of here. The Median is right next to Calyx IT Park that I mentioned and there are multiple towers of Avida condos next to 38th Park. You can find the cheapest deals with the Avida condos but I don't personally like them too much.

[@Mrpatrickh]

@@WatchCaliforniaExpat thanks!! Good info for maybe investment as I’m actually not interested in condo living for myself but rather a house/apartment.

[@tedjohnson4451]

Great Advice! I'll be in Cebu City... By the end of October. Cebu Business Park or Cebu IT Park for the first Six Months... Already have a Two Week Hotel Stay booked to look for a Rental. After the first Six Months, maybe something like One Pavilion Place might be nice. Condos attached to a Small Mall, with additional shopping and Restaurants nearby.

[@thomasclancy4502]

Great information!!!

[@fenderbend3r]

Thank you for this great info.

[@OriginalPromise]

Good morning, sir, I really enjoy your content, especially how insightful and realistic it is. I’m planning to move to Cebu soon and was wondering if there’s a way I could ask you a few questions about life there. Your experience would be invaluable to me! Looking forward to your reply, Julien

[@luisthevenin684]

Thanks for your video s

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

thank you for your support. I appreciate it.

[@mikimikemike1]

great content

[@saleemakhtar87]

Good analysis ❤

[@jetd9716]

I like Liloan for its small town feel and location. Anything with Ayala on it is over priced.

[@anon36522]

IT Park also has Bus Terminal, making it easy get anywhere on the cheap

[@axelSixtySix]

Hey John, You know, it struck me that one of the reasons for seeking expatriation might be because modern western cities, with their malls and high-rises, seem utterly devoid of charm, impersonal, cold, and hopelessly congested. It feels like these living arrangements are perfectly designed for consumers, yet they leave little room for, well, humans. And I don’t mean to sound like I’m rejecting modernity altogether, but there's something a bit off about this life centered around a credit card: a box to work in, a box to entertain in, a box to shop in, a box to eat in, and another box to sleep in. I’m sure you’ve already guessed that neither IT Park nor Business Park spark much excitement for me. Do we really need to move thousands of kilometers away from our western roots only to find more or less the same thing, just smaller? Swapping McDonald’s for Jollibee doesn’t seem like a world-changing improvement, does it? The neighborhoods you suggested seem perfectly fine for shaking off jet lag, but escaping one condo just to be confined in another isn’t everyone’s dream. Are there not places in Cebu with a bit more charm, some authenticity, perhaps a little nature, less trafic, somewhere you can feel like a human being instead of just a professional or consumer?

[@BigBrother04]

I get you. We still have small kids, have lived in those places now and then and it is not good at all with kids. 😂. But I know most expats are single, so I guess not as bad

[@kenmiller9]

Oslob town, about 4 hours south of Cebu City

[@axelSixtySix]

@@kenmiller9 My apologies, I forgot that some words, surprisingly, need to be clarified because if there’s even the slightest chance of being misunderstood, you can bet it’ll happen! So, when I say 'in Cebu,' I mean Cebu City. If I were talking about the whole island, I’d have said 'on Cebu.' Geography, right? It’s a bit like 'in New York City' vs. 'on Long Island.' Who knew prepositions could be so tricky!

[@michaelmereday6791]

IT park is for me the great thing you can walk from airport

[@michaelmereday6791]

Perfect

[@charlesetienne6037]

If I choose the Philippines one day as base for my retirement I will choose Cebu for sure, but I think it will be mactan I want to be close to the Airport as I will be exploring amd want just a base on Cebu near the air bit have the amenities for a good lofe vibes. I will see when the time is right.

[@FoundingYouTuber-2005]

I am in San Francisco, California. If I retire to the Philippines I will do what a lot of expats have done, rent a high-rise condo in a Class A residential building. My question is this: I have a 20 lb dog who is part of the family. How difficult will it be to find a luxury condo ($1,800+ USD monthly rent) that allows my dog? I'll be retaining a real estate broker to find a place, but I'm asking you if you possibly know about this kind of thing. Thanks P.S. If this is an impossibility, then I won't be moving to the Philippines. My rescue dog goes where I go.

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

I was living in San Francisco before moving here too. There are some places that allow dogs. I did a Google search for 'high end philippines condos that allow dogs' and saw some pages like this that hopefully will help in your search www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/adulting/109326/pet-friendly-condos-manila-a2793-a3284-20240629-lfrm?ref=share_top&Share-Link&Social

[@wesleybenn4523]

Pity you only spoke about condos, would be great to hear if you have knowledge of houses as well in the different areas

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

Yes I understand how you feel and I'll try to do more with houses in the future. But it's not very common for Expats to have houses here for a variety of reasons. I'll do video on it

[@wesleybenn4523]

Yeah, you are right. It’s interesting to me though how much more bang for your buck you get with houses here because everybody is looking for condos first. More space, lower rent, good facilities in gated communities, etc. I’ve been living in condos for the last year and a half but I’m just starting looking for a house instead - Consolacion, Banilad, Lahug, etc.

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

I'm recording a video talking about this today thanks to your inspiration. Would love to do a video with you since we are in the same area if you were interested about your thinking and comparison in your experience between condos and houses.

[@wesleybenn4523]

Sure, why not? 😉 BTW, I’m an architect…

[@woutergijs5246]

On the hill slopes. And Mandaue

[@hi-tych]

I gonna live next to I.T park. It's nice.

[@Gregory-Masovutch]

Better to pass on Cebu. Weather is just too extreme and housing severly inflated.

[@mainro.s]

Where would you suggest?

[@okbilly1]

i am considering cebu city IT, could you do a vlog covering your monthly budget

[@raananh-w2j]

For me, only high in the mountains, about 30-60 minutes away from the city. Who needs the heat, humidity, pollution, noise, high prices, and noise?

[@bepitan]

people with a heart attack..

[@raananh-w2j]

@@bepitan Yes, if you have health issues, live next to the hospital in downtown. If you to be spared from a heart attack, live in the the mountains.

[@bepitan]

@@raananh-w2j nobody lives forever ..i think the hospital factor will at some stage effect us all.. if you are young then its ok .

[@raananh-w2j]

@@bepitan Don't waste our time. Leaving in the mountains you are 30-60 minutes away from the best hospitals.

[@bepitan]

@@raananh-w2j .. wasn't my intention to waste anyone's time ..just pointing to the elephant in the room.

[@kevinr8431]

Roughly what does a one bedroom apartment condo rent for in Cebu IT park

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

Roughly 40-55k pesos or $750-$950

[@time2eat850]

I've been living in the USA 🇺🇸 for 25 yrs now. I feel sad that people think everyone in a "Developing country " think that Everyone is POOR. YES ABSOLUTELY THERE IS POVERTY but at the same time there are GENERATIONAL WEALTHY Filipinos living under the RADAR. Anywhere in the world there is INEQUALITY.

[@billyjohnson9166]

I already found the best place to live in Cebu shhh Busay

[@mainro.s]

Are there any grocery stores around there?

[@andrewh6898]

What about stand alone houses?

[@Mrpatrickh]

I had the same question! Condo's aren't for me. Is my only option to find a nice apartment/house outside of the city? It'd be nice if it wasn't.

[@Rob-bq6ek]

What does a typical studio in IT Park go for?

[@hurleywilson7246]

25-30K about $490/Month

[@georginavlog2081]

I thought you're not gonna leave davao as your retirement place

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

I'm not retired, I still work at my companies here. But I didn't think I would leave living in Davao, I just needed to for work for now. I still visit most months to see my teams there.

[@georginavlog2081]

@@WatchCaliforniaExpat ahh I see sir. Take care always anywhere you go

[@Thephilipcartmelexperience]

You're missing out. There's so much more. You never left California if these are your only choices.

[@bepitan]

i disagree ... ayala is it, everything else ticks some of the boxes but never all of them.

[@HemiChrysler]

The long high pitched note at the end of the musical intro is physically painful upon the ears.

[@ManWithNoName-t2d]

Mandani Bay, Mandaue in Cebu. Quiet area, I can walk to S&R, travel is not a problem, as I have a car and driver. Pretty pricey at $500k for a 2 bedroom unit, but I have 2 balconies and a big pantry that was supposed a maid's room( i do my own cleaning). The area is quiet and not built up, so little traffic noise The complex is new, so there is no constant Airbnb traffic. The price keeps out the broke ass SS check expats.

[@mrgilok755]

You definitely want to keep out the broke ass ex pats. How dare they intrude on or in your superior place? Hmmm 🤔

[@gaboristvankiska7655]

Mactan Newtown is much better!

[@bepitan]

in what way?

[@bigbearhugebear9018]

It's just surrounded by concrete. Cebu much better.

[@thaidawg9231]

Which area is quieter, quieter condo's, Cebu Business or IT Park ?

[@hurleywilson7246]

Business park, IT goes 24/7 with IT call centers.

[@thaidawg9231]

@@hurleywilson7246 Thanks

[@KJMonk]

Not disagreeing with you choice but why move to a foreign country & then go & live in a place which is the same as you left absolutely pointless

[@WatchCaliforniaExpat]

It's really a lot different here than where I come from the States . I live here because I like living in the Philippines more than the West. That said, there are some things that I want to have similar, such as food that I'm used to. But overall I'm here for the people and am grateful to live here.