Manila Cost of Living: Overview
What it costs to live and work remotely from Manila, broken down by category.
Manila is the Philippines' dense, business-oriented capital — a genuinely different environment from Cebu's island-city character. Traffic and density are real, frequently-cited downsides specific to Manila that don't apply the same way in Cebu; the trade-off is deeper professional infrastructure and more direct international flight connections.
- 1BR apartment, city area — $400-1,200/month; BGC (Bonifacio Global City) and Makati command a real 30-50% premium over districts like Pasig or Alabang for a comparable unit, and BGC rents can rival global cities per square foot despite the wider metro area being genuinely affordable
- Coworking, monthly — $100-250/month, with day passes around $10-15
- Local SIM/data — roughly $1 for a prepaid SIM, then $10-15/month for a 25GB data plan
- Eating out, per meal — genuinely affordable outside premium districts; expect to pay considerably more in BGC or Makati specifically, where dining carries the same 30-50% premium as rent
Run your own numbers
Every figure above is a starting estimate. Plug in your real budget with the Cost Calculator.
Open the Cost CalculatorThis is informational, not advice. Visa, tax, and immigration rules change, and a general guide can't account for your specific situation. Before you act on anything here, confirm current details with the relevant embassy, consulate, or a licensed immigration or tax professional. See our editorial policy for how we verify what we publish.