Manila vs Tokyo: cost of living for digital nomads
Manila, Philippines and Tokyo, Japan, 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
- Manila is about 54% cheaper than Tokyo for a month of nomad living ($1,300 vs $2,800).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $560 in Manila against $1,300 in Tokyo.
- Tokyo scores higher on safety (10/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Tokyo: 230 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
- Manila is tropical; Tokyo is temperate.
Manila wins 5 of the measured lines; Tokyo wins 2.
| Line | Manila | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,300 | $2,800 |
| Rent | $560 | $1,300 |
| Food | $350 | $650 |
| Transport | $60 | $120 |
| Coworking | $120 | $200 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 10/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 90 | 230 |
| Climate | tropical | temperate |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | coast | 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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.