Philippines · Asia
Manila
Costs last verified
Part of the Cost of Living Abroad guideMonthly cost
$1,300Estimate for a solo remote worker — verify current local prices.
Studying here? About $880/mo
Studying here? Reckon on roughly 35% less. Shared halls instead of a private flat is most of it, with a meal plan, a student travel pass and a campus you do not have to rent a desk in doing the rest. Phone, insurance and a social life cost the same either way.
At a glance
Healthcare, taxes & language
The decisive three for a longer stay in Philippines.
Healthcare
PhilHealth is open to foreign nationals, which surprises people. Retirees registered with the Philippine Retirement Authority, former Filipinos, and any foreign citizen living or working here with a valid ACR I-Card can register at a Local Health Insurance Office under the Informal Economy category. Members and qualified dependants get inpatient and outpatient benefits at accredited institutions. Excluded: the Z Benefit packages, any treatment abroad, and the women-about-to-give-birth benefit.
Taxes
Not taxed. Foreigners pay only on Philippine-source income.
English
High — English is an official language alongside Filipino and is the main medium of instruction, business, government and signage, so it is widely understood in cities.
Getting in — Philippines
Full Philippines guideTop visa routes, ranked by route score — stay, ease and speed.
30 or 59 days per entry, extendable
Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
Indefinite (renewable)
Digital Nomad Visa
1 year, renewable for 1
Similar places in Asia
Comparable cost, same part of the world. Compare side by side →
Manila at a glance
Manila, Philippines costs about $1,300 USD a month for a solo remote worker, with rent at 43% of that budget. The biggest budget line is rent at $560 and the smallest is transport at $60. In our data internet averages 90 Mbps and safety scores 6/10. Similar cities range from Kuala Belait at $1,245 a month to Kuala Lumpur at $1,300.
Costs verified on November 9, 2026 (Eastern Time).
Questions about Manila
How much does it cost to live in Manila?
A solo remote worker in Manila, Philippines spends an estimated $1,300 USD/month on rent, food, transport and coworking, based on our cost-of-living breakdown.
How much is rent in Manila?
Rent in Manila is an estimated $560 USD/month in our cost-of-living breakdown.
How fast is the internet in Manila?
Internet in Manila averages 90 Mbps in our cost-of-living breakdown.
How much does coworking cost in Manila?
A coworking space in Manila costs an estimated $120 USD/month in our cost-of-living breakdown.
Is Manila safe?
Manila has a safety score of 6/10 in our cost-of-living breakdown.
What is Manila's nomad score?
Manila scores 7/10 on our nomad score, which weighs cost, safety and internet quality for remote workers.