Cuenca vs Manila: cost of living for digital nomads
Cuenca, Ecuador 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
- Cuenca is about 15% cheaper than Manila for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,300).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $480 in Cuenca against $560 in Manila.
- Cuenca scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Manila: 90 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
- Cuenca is temperate; Manila is tropical.
Cuenca wins 6 of the measured lines; Manila wins 1.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Cuenca or Manila?
Cuenca is cheaper: about $1,100/month against $1,300/month in Manila, roughly 15% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Cuenca or Manila?
Cuenca scores higher on safety: 7/10 against 6/10 for Manila.
Which has faster internet, Cuenca or Manila?
Manila has faster typical internet: 90 Mbps against 60 Mbps in Cuenca.
| Line | Cuenca | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,100 | $1,300 |
| Rent | $480 | $560 |
| Food | $320 | $350 |
| Transport | $35 | $60 |
| Coworking | $90 | $120 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 60 | 90 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | mid | metro |
| Setting | mountain | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Manila with
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. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Cuenca October 31, 2026, Manila November 9, 2026.