Cebu vs Manila: cost of living for digital nomads
Cebu, Philippines and Manila, Philippines, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Cebu is about 15% cheaper than Manila for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,300).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Cebu against $560 in Manila.
- Both score 6/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Manila: 90 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Cebu wins 5 of the measured lines; Manila wins 1.
| Line | Cebu | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,100 | $1,300 |
| Rent | $450 | $560 |
| Food | $300 | $350 |
| Transport | $50 | $60 |
| Coworking | $100 | $120 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 80 | 90 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | island | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Cebu with
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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.