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Philippines · Asia

Makati

Best for: Manila-CBD nomads who want the Philippines' densest corporate base.

Mid-tier monthly cost

Full breakdown

$1,600/mo

  • Rent$700
  • Groceries$280
  • Dining out$250
  • Transport$60
  • Utilities$110
  • Coworking$200

Climate at a glance

Year heatmap

Tropical maritime (monsoon)

Best months

  • J
  • F
  • M
  • A
  • M
  • J
  • J
  • A
  • S
  • O
  • N
  • D

Annual range: 25°–29°C

FIRE math at this cost

Run scenarios

Annual spend

$19,200

FIRE target (4% SWR)

$480,000

Coast-FIRE @ 7%/30yr

$63,056

Editorial estimates using the standard 4% Trinity-study rule. Run the FIRE calculator for sequence-of-returns risk, custom withdrawal rates, and country-specific tax assumptions.

Visa for nomads

High nomad-friendly

Pathway

Extendable tourist

Program

—

Typical max stay

36 months

Tourist visa extendable in-country up to 36 months; SRRV retiree route also popular.

Visa concierges

Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with the relevant consulate before applying — visa programs change with little notice.

Field notes

Metro Manila's central business district — the densest cluster of high-rise condos and serviced apartments in the country. Salcedo and Legazpi Village are the dense walkable cores; Poblacion is the bar/café/expat-density pocket. Same Philippines tourist visa story as Cebu (extendable up to 36 months in-country). Excellent fibre, strong English fluency, dense coworking. The structural filter is Manila traffic — even short cross-CBD trips can take 45 minutes. Tropical maritime climate; wet (June–November) and dry (December–May) seasons.

Tropical maritime — temperature is stable year-round (26–29°C). The wet/dry split is the calendar — the southwest monsoon (June–November) brings real typhoon hits (peak rainfall August, 14 mm/day). Dry season (December–May) is the comfort window with reliable sun and lower humidity.

Similar bases

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