Kapampangan Relocating to Dumaguete, need tips!
Hello! as you've read on the title, I'm a male from Pampanga relocating to Dumaguete for work (mandatory relocation).
I have already read multiple posts here on reddit but still want recent and current thoughts and tips.
Language - Does locals (in public market, karinderya, sari-sari store, etc.) speak Tagalog? or is it better to use English, as I've read that Dumaguete has a lot of foreigners and expats. As for Bisaya, all the words I know are just curses and such HAHA, so I can't really speak it, will probably learn it from my workmates in the long run.
Commute - Meron bang accessible jeepneys or tricycle? and how is the price? Dito kasi sa Pampanga, 1.5km sa tricycle is already 40-50php which is sobrang mahal for unknown reasons. We don't have angkas/moveit but we have maxim mototaxi, and realistically speaking, this is cheaper than going for tricycle + jeep or even grabcar/grabtrike. So does Dumaguete also have an accessible 24hr Maxim and hanggang saan yung range nila? My work is within Macias (technically center talaga ng city), so within range ba if i stay even up to Maslog, Banilad, or Valencia ganun?
Housing - Well, I'm really surprised sa price, I've stayed in Makati for a year before and their prices are almost even sa Dumaguete upon browsing fb marketplace. But this is more on directly to City, may nakita akong ibang posts sa valencia, banilad, and sibulan and its cheaper compared to taclobo and neighboring brgy. But ayun nga, I don't know what to expect with commute yet kaya I'm still considering places near Macias or mismong macias para walking distance lang ako sa work.
Coverage - Are there some places I need to be wary of if I am dependent with the use of the internet? Like meron bang places na wala talagang signal? Plus, which better sim to use for data? as well as wifi? Tapos yung electricity, meron bang brgys known for having frequent no-warning power outages? And for rainy season, bumabaha ba? Diba maraming mountain and forest, so I guess not?
Here's my bg:
I'm earning around 60k gross, the money I have with me right now na allocated sa first couple of months is around 40k, my initial plan is to stay within the city which is walking distance lang (up to 15 mins walking) sa office, probably just a room at 9k ceiling or much lower if meron makita. open rin naman ako for shared or boarding pero kasi hindi talaga ako sanay, malinis ako sa gamit pero humihilik ako ng malakas, ang sakit makita pag may maruming lugar tapos nahihiya rin talaga ako sa ksama ko pag hindi sila sanay na may kasamang humihilik ng malakas. Kaya I'm more accustomed to living alone talaga.
I plan to stay with this set-up for a maximum of 6 months, para lang malaman ko how it goes sa city, establishments, people, and etc at para na rin may big chunk ako na malalaan pag lumipat.
Then move into a larger space, preferably unfurnished or bare pero hindi ko alam if kaya ba ng 10-15k range, target ko kasi unfurnished tapos ako na bahala bumili ng mga gamit like bedframe, bed, mirrors, furnitures, kitchen tools, etc. yung kailangan ko lang talaga is meron ng wifi installed. Kung pwede lang makipag negotiate sa owner na ako yung bahala sa gamit at hindi ko naman kukunin mostly after ko mag stay, I will be staying a minimum of 3 years kasi, could be stretched to 4 or even 5 years depending sa growth sa work. And lets just say na medyo maarte rin ako sa gamit, gusto ko maganda HAHAHA. I'm thinking baka around 150k or more yung cost over that time, depende pa rin sa space ng apartment. kaya diba hindi na lugi yung owner kung ako na bibili ng gamit tapos hindi ko naman kukunin lahat kasi ang mahal kaya magpa ship tska ang lalaki ng mga gamit if ever, bedframe palang or ref lugi na, plus I don't really have a plan to go back sa Pampanga, maybe sa Metro Manila for a year before ako mag move sa Australia, kaya I won't be needing the things talaga. So ayun, kung kaya lang talaga ng 10-15k range with this set-up. hays. Mostly kasi ng mga nakikita ko 20+ na tapos may gamit na rin.
I'm planning rin to buy a motorcycle yung sakto lang, definitely kahit malayo ako sa city proper walang magiging problem, since meron na akong sariling mode of transpo non.
Lastly, ganito yung sinasabi ko dun sa space na gusto ko, yung pa horizontal sya, i don't mind if studio or 1br. I just want a big space para free ako magluto, I mean dun nalang ako sasaya kasi solo living. HAHAH. Sana may alam kayo or recommended na ganito yung build ng space na open for next year.
Help me outtt, this is just an initial plan, I still have an ample time to change this. Should I get a 9k ceiling room on the center and just walk to my office for 6 months or should I go farther from the city to get my money's worth and rely on Maxim for transpo for 6 months, and then move to the set-up I really want to stay for a long time?