Dumaguete among world's 'best places to retire'

"Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental in Central Visayas, is among the best places to retire around the world, according to the 2014 Retire Overseas Index released by the Overseas Retirement Letter.

The study showed that Dumaguete was chosen due to its cheap cost of living, coming in second only to Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Based on expenses such as rent, gas, electricity, water, cable, groceries, internet, and entertainment, retirees living in Dumaguete will only need a monthly budget of US$910 or about P40,000.

In Nha Trang, the monthly budget is $680 or about P30,000.

Dumaguete is also among the best places for retirees and among most expat-friendly destinations because of its beautiful beaches and its large English-speaking community."


http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/09/01/14/dumaguete-among-worlds-best-places-retire

Algarve gets first place.

The Runners Up....

"Cuenca, Ecuador — ideal climate, inexpensive, expat community
George Town, Malaysia — city living on a budget, low taxes, sunny, expats, English spoken
Chiang Mai, Thailand — inexpensive, expats, weather, health care
Dumaguete, Philippines — inexpensive, great beaches, expats, balmy climate, health care
Pau, France — Old World lifestyle (think Beauty and the Beast cobblestone streets), low crime, health care
Medellin, Colombia — city living on a budget, health care"

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2014/08/25/the-7-best-places-to-retire-around-the-world/

I went to college in Dumaguete back in the early 80's, and keep coming back to this place for business and vacations.Family reunions are often held here.Got many cousins from mother side in this other half of Negros..and i could attest how it is .It has always been my dream even back then to retire in this side of the island.It is a walkable city,quite and life was so simple back then.Yes there could be lots of developments , but it is still one best place for me, closest to my heart.
The last time i was there was last May, was so surprised, the boulevard is now flooded with Bars and restaurants, and every place, and i mean everywhere are lots of foreigners.I think most Western people really love it there, beaches,nightlife and it is called , City of Gentle People.That explains

If only that were true. Unfortunately it isn't.

It certainly has a large English-speaking community. Mostly north American, single, retired males who congregate outside the bars and cafes of the boulevard in the late afternoon nursing bottles of SM Pilsner and making inappropriate remarks at the young female Siliman students on their way home. Not my ideal location. Valencia, a few miles up the mountain on the other hand, is a completely different proposition and much, much nicer place.

I noticed that behaviour there also, Mark.
The bar "Why Not" seemed to be a focal point when I went there a few times.
Never visited Valencia though. I used to stop in Dumaguete en route to and from Apo Island where I have visited many times to go diving.

Nha trang may have been ok a few years ago.

When I visited earlier this year I was saddened to discover that it has been transformed into a majority Russian beach resort where it is difficult to escape from the loud disco music.

Over the past year Vietnam Airlines has introduced several direct flights between Nha Trang and Moscow each week.

My wife started her life in that vicinity. She has many relatives who live in the region, mainly on her fathers side of the family. Her sister used to be a teacher in Dumaguete until just a couple of years ago, before she moved to Cavite.

K's parents come from Canlaon City, four hours by bus to the North.

Spate of shootings in Dumaguete....alarming.

"The spate of shooting incidents in Dumaguete City, at least four this month alone, has reached “alarming level,” all victims of which were allegedly linked to criminal activities, according to Supt. James Goforth, chief of the City Police.

Goforth also admitted the potential involvement of “vigilantes” wanting to sweep the city clean of crime perpetrators, although he said the police have no substantial evidence to confirm this public perception of “vigilantes” out on the streets again in a similar scenario in the city several years back."


http://www.philstar.com/region/2013/06/28/959194/dumaguete-shooting-incidents-alarming

One really has to wonder whether the people connected with the "Overseas Retirement Letter" have actually spent any time living in any of these places. One of the expenses notably missing from their list is Visa costs. But naming Dumaguete as one of the best places to retire is a bit of as bad joke. Contrary to the claims made, a western retiree will require somewhat more than a monthly budget of P40,000.

Other fun facts include an almost total lack of taxis, the main mode of transport being motorised tricycles of which there are many - far more than is needed - and are very noisy and the cause of major air pollution. There is but one quite small Mall which can mean regular trips to either Cebu or Bacolod for anything of quality or vaguely western. However getting to and from Cebu can be challenging as Cebu Pacific often cancels the 30 minute flights between the cities at the last minute. That trip means taking ferry and bus rides - the two least safe modes of transport in the country. Whereas you will be fined for riding a motorcycle without a helmet elsewhere in the country, in Dumaguete, you will be fined if you do! This piece of disjointed local legislation was enacted to assist the Police when having to identify road accident victims.

I might try Panama City next month...

So how many times have you lot visited Dumaguete, not many by the looks of it. The crime there is no worse than Cebu or Manila.
In fact, Cebu and Manila are much worse than Dumagete for pollution, Dumaguete is only a small City, no need for taxis, can walk round it in 20 minutes. why-not bar/disco is no where near Silliman, students would not walk on the boulevard going home as most students get a trike going home on the National highway, get a life guys.

Don't just take my word for it, here's what other's say:

or more succinctly:

Both of the above were recently posted on Philippines-Expats Forum.

I hear mixed reports, Jim. From sources on the ground.

I ask again, how many times have you visited Dumaguete City. You have only got forums to get so called Info.
John, boots on the ground so they live there.... Then why have they not moved?

They can't even be bothered to spell, Dumaguete. (Demo) some Idiot on another forum most likely has an axe to grind.
If it's that bad, why Expat's from America, Australia, Europe, just love it in Dumaguete... Have visited Colone street in Cebu, now that's one cess pit. Anyway, I have done on here.

In answer to your question, Jim, I have been there, albeit several years ago. It was as I described: dirty, smelly and noisy and with groups of (mostly) unshaven American (s)expats congregating along the Boulevard, each nursing a bottle of SM Pilsen, making salacious and unwelcome remarks at any young ladies who passed by.

You know, Jim, you really shouldn't complain about others' spelling faults in a post in which you mis-spell Colon Street! Oh and by the way, it was "Duma" and not "Demo"

Perhaps you shouldn't be complaining about spelling mistakes at all!

They moved away.

However, many of my wifes relatives live in that region. Still do.

Her sister was raised there and taught in a school there for a good few years. Took her teaching cert there. We know an expat who lived there for a many years but left.

Mixed opinion Jim.