Kirsten Raccuia

Kirsten Raccuia

Vibrant Dumaguete—A Colonial Haven at the Heart of the Philippines

Vibrant Dumaguete—A Colonial Haven at the Heart of the Philippines

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From the air as your plane descends, you see banana trees of every shade of green stretching as far as the eye can see, flanked by cobalt-blue waters dotted with fishing boats. Lots of foreigners have landed in Dumaguete before me. This quaint ocean-side town of about 120,000 locals is home to 4,500 expats. The town is famed for its energy and vibrance, thanks to seven universities and colleges. You’ll find the first private U.S. university in Asia here—Silliman University. This in turn houses the best private hospital in town, where for $56 a night you can get a private room, if need be.

Living Well on $1,000 a Month in the Philippines

Living Well on $1,000 a Month in the Philippines

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When Jim Archibald found himself retiring on disability in his mid-50s, he had a stark choice. “I could have moved to some remote backwater place and lived in a shack, but that’s not very appealing,” he says. For 25 years the Californian had run his own business making auto parts. Now retired, he knew his budget would be very tight, so the obvious answer to him was “to move to a place with a low cost of living.”

First-World Comforts in Cebu, the Philippines… “Queen City of the South”

First-World Comforts in Cebu, the Philippines… “Queen City of the South”

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“I’m living the life of a millionaire, even though I’m not earning a lot,” says British expat Johnny of his fantastic new life in the Philippine city of Cebu. “I have the freedom to do everything I want to, because life is so much cheaper here.” And he’s not alone. Johnny is just one of many expats, a growing number of them from the U.S., to find an ideal retirement in Cebu. This modern city boasts a First-World lifestyle at Asian prices—expats live comfortably here for $2,500 a month, all told, and often for much, much less. If I were to call any Philippine city home, this would be it.

Our Surprising New Life in English-Speaking, Tropical Penang

Our Surprising New Life in English-Speaking, Tropical Penang

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"You are crazy! You can’t leave Chicago. You have two successful businesses here. What will you do for money? That’s so risky!” That was the “support” my husband Mark and I were offered when we announced that we were moving to Penang, Malaysia. It was true. We did have two successful businesses. Mark owned a commercial real estate company that sold gas stations nationally and I owned a women’s wholesale clothing showroom.