Kuala Lumpur vs Manila: cost of living for digital nomads
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 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
- Kuala Lumpur and Manila cost about the same per month ($1,300).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $550 in Kuala Lumpur against $560 in Manila.
- Kuala Lumpur scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Kuala Lumpur: 100 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Kuala Lumpur wins 4 of the measured lines; Manila wins 0.
| Line | Kuala Lumpur | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,300 | $1,300 |
| Rent | $550 | $560 |
| Food | $350 | $350 |
| Transport | $60 | $60 |
| Coworking | $120 | $120 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 90 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Kuala Lumpur 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.