I'm moving in January. I've booked an Airbnb in BGC for three months, and long-term I'm thinking I'll live there or in…

Rockwell (Makati) and BGC (Taguig) are the two best condo areas in Metro Manila. BGC is pretty big and you can't walk everywhere. Rockwell and Eastwood (Quezon City) are basically about 1km x 1km. I used to own a condo in Rockwell but lost it when I got divorced. Now I live in Eastwood. The rent is half of BGC or Rockwell. In BGC you sometimes have to take a Grab to get around. You can walk in Eastwood and Rockwell. You don't need a car in Eastwood, BGC, or Rockwell. In Rockwell you can walk to Makati Ayala Avenue, but I'm not interested in that. Both Rockwell and Eastwood have decent-sized small malls, dozens of restaurants, and events. When it rains, you can get around Eastwood mostly under covered walkways. In Rockwell, only some buildings are connected like that. Both have cinemas and churches. Rockwell has one supermarket, Eastwood has two. Eastwood has a bowling alley and a billiards hall. The family-friendly bowling alley has good pool tables. There's also the Repertory Philippines theater in Manila. I like that Eastwood sets up an outdoor stage. They hold concerts and events: small anime conventions, band performances, New Year's events, even Easter egg hunts. I think Rockwell has a Mexican restaurant too. Eastwood has a good place called Agave. All three areas are safe. No old-style jeepneys, no tricycles, no beggars. Everyone speaks English. There's a small-town charm to living here. One night around midnight I ordered at McDonald's, but it took so long that I said I had to leave for a work meeting. When I came back at 3 a.m., the manager recognized me and placed my order again. When I'm looking around Robinsons (supermarket), a staff member tells me where my wife is in the store. The cashiers even know all three of our kids' names. I'm known as the 'red backpack uncle' and the dad who pushes the twins side by side in a stroller. I take a Grab maybe once or twice a month. Sometimes I go 3km to Opus Mall to eat at Red Lotus or Tim Ho Wan dim sum. On Thanksgiving I went to Dave & Buster's there (the only one in the Philippines). I also take a modern 15-peso jeepney (shuttle bus) to Cubao to eat at Shake Shack. On the way back I take a 3-dollar Grab. Eastwood has Chili's, TGI Fridays, Wendy's, McDo (McDonald's), Kenny Rogers, Popeyes (rumored to be closing), Pho Hoa, Pollo Loco, Italianni's, and Modern Shanghai. You won't regret choosing BGC, Rockwell, or Eastwood. Eastwood is a bit older, the cost is half, and it's self-sufficient (like Rockwell). The best food court is in Rockwell. It's amazing. If you come to Eastwood, you'll probably recognize me. It's because of my famous mixed-race twin daughters. Eastwood furnished studio/1-bedroom is 18,000 pesos. Furnished 2-bedroom (including maid's room) is 40,000 to 45,000 pesos. All these areas are non-smoking. Eastwood is a bit farther from hospitals than BGC, but it has Medical City and other medical facilities. Only St. Luke's BGC is missing (I gave birth to the twins there). Feel free to DM me.

One downside is that Eastwood City sits right on top of the West Valley Fault. If I wanted a bubble-like life within budget, I'd consider Greenfield District/Ortigas. From there, BGC is 15 minutes by Grab, and Makati is 12 minutes by MRT.

Eastwood is remote and traffic jams last for hours. Good luck. Don't be fooled by claims that retirement in the metro area is cheap. If your budget and income are tight, going to the provinces is very cheap. BGC is a good place for someone raised in a Western environment to settle first. Living costs aren't much different from American cities. That's true. It's clean, well run, with a city structure similar to big American cities and condo living. Makati is cheaper depending on where you are, but problems like traffic and safety can be more noticeable. It's much less expensive than BGC. The hospitals in both areas are excellent.