Essentials
- City
- Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
- Population
- 630,000 (Daytime population reaches 4 million)
- Internet Speed
- Fiber offers 100-500 Mbps; 5G mobile speeds average 150 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Philippine Peso (PHP). 1 USD ≈ 56 PHP, 1 EUR ≈ 61 PHP
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use purified water dispensers or bottled water (approx. 50 PHP per 5 gallons)
- Power
- 220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (US flat-pin style)
- SIM Card
- Globe or Smart; available at Greenbelt 1 or Glorietta. Approx. 500 PHP for 20GB monthly data
- Banking for Expats
- BDO, BPI, GCash (essential digital wallet), Maya, and HSBC
- Accommodation
- Condo rentals through Property24, Rentpad, or Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, GCash and Credit Cards (Visa/MC) are used in nearly all malls and restaurants
- Short Term Rentals
- The Gramercy Residences, Knightsbridge Residences, or Airbnb in Legazpi Village
- Budget Accommodation
- Z Hostel (Poblacion) - approx. 900-1,200 PHP per night for a dorm bed
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Greenbelt and Glorietta area for luxury and convenience
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Legazpi Village (quiet, cafe-heavy) or Salcedo Village (upscale, park-centric)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Common Ground (8 Rockwell) - Daily pass approx. 600 PHP; Monthly 12,000 PHP
- Best Cafe for Work
- Wildflour Café + Bakery (L.P. Leviste St) or Panco Cafe (Don Carlos Palanca)
- Networking Events
- TechShake events at various Makati hubs; AmCham Philippines mixers
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Manila meetups; Makati Garden Club social activities
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab (Standard car) or JoyRide (Motorbike taxi)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Moovr PH (app-based bike/scooter sharing) located at BGC and Makati links
- Best Beach Nearby
- Anvaya Cove or Laiya, Batangas (approx. 2.5 - 3 hours drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Cebu Pacific (operating out of NAIA Terminal 3)
- Top International Airline
- Philippine Airlines (PAL)
- Highway Access
- Skyway (elevated highway) and EDSA (main arterial road)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ayala Center Station (MRT-3 Line)
- Public Transport Passes
- Beep Card (stored value card for MRT and BGC Bus)
- Regional Travel
- Victory Liner (Pasay Terminals) for Northern Luzon; P2P Buses from Greenbelt 5
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Makati Medical Center (Amorsolo St.) - World-class facility
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga+ (Legazpi Village); Urban Ashram Manila (Active Fun Bldg)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness (multiple locations); Gold's Gym (Glorietta 3)
- Laundry Services
- Suds Laundry (Salcedo Village) - approx. 200 PHP for 7kg wash/dry/fold
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood and FoodPanda
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Sizzling Pork Sisig at Kanin Club or Manam (Greenbelt 2)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Cosmic (Poblacion) or Green Bar (Legazpi Village)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Mary Grace Cafe (Ensaymada) or Conti’s (Mango Bravo cake)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Cash & Carry Mall or Landmark Supermarket
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Lazada and Shopee
- Grocery Delivery
- MetroMart or Pick.A.Roo
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Poblacion (The 'Backwell' area) for rooftop bars and speakeasies
- Local Brewery
- Joe’s Brew (Poblacion) - Craft beers from 250 PHP
- Wine Bars
- Dr. Wine (Poblacion) or Txanton (Chino Roces)
- Street Food Stalls
- Jollijeep (mobile food kiosks found on Makati street corners, e.g., Rada St.)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Mendokoro Ramba (Japanese); Din Tai Fung (Chinese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ayala Triangle Gardens; Yuchengco Museum
- Museums & Art Venues
- Ayala Museum (approx. 650 PHP entry)
- Historical Sites
- Nielsen Tower (former airport tower, now Blackbird restaurant)
- Religious Sites
- St. Andrew the Apostle Parish (National Artist architecture)
- Annual Events
- Art Fair Philippines (February); Festival of Lights (December)
- Cultural Districts
- Poblacion Heritage District
- Theater Venues
- Samsung Performing Arts Theater (Circuit Makati)
- Local Markets
- Salcedo Saturday Market; Legazpi Sunday Market
- Music Scene
- SaGuijo Cafe + Bar (Guijo St.) for indie bands
- Street Art
- Collective murals at Circuit Makati and corridors of Legazpi Village
- Cooking Classes
- The Maya Kitchen (Liberty Building, Pasay Road)
- Art Galleries
- Silverlens Galleries (Chino Roces Ave)
- Historic Buildings
- Manila Polo Club; Manila Golf and Country Club
- Local Heritage
- Ancestral houses in the old Makati Poblacion area
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- La Mesa Eco Park (Quezon City); Masungi Georeserve (Rizal - 1.5 hrs)
- National Parks Nearby
- Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (Laguna)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Ayala Triangle Gardens; Jaime Velasquez Park
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Peak at Grand Hyatt (BGC view); Firefly Roofdeck (Makati skyline)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- None in city center; requires travel to campsites in Tanay, Rizal
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Lalamove (instant delivery), J&T Express, or LBC
- Tech Repair Services
- Greenhills Shopping Center (nearby San Juan) for major repairs; SST Laptop (Glorietta 2)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Spin n' Shot (various sports clubs)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française de Manille (Nicanor Garcia St)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Filipinas Heritage Library (inside Ayala Museum)
- Community Centers
- Makati Sports Club (membership based)
- Gaming Lounges
- High Grounds Cafe (localized in QC, but accessible)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- City of Dreams or Solaire (approx. 20-30 mins away in Entertainment City)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 230,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 6,900,000 PHP / $123,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 160,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 4,800,000 PHP / $85,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 250,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 12,500,000 PHP / $223,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 175,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 8,750,000 PHP / $156,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 280,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 22,400,000 PHP / $400,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 190,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 15,200,000 PHP / $271,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard); 20% for small domestic corporations
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents; 25% for non-resident aliens
- Tax System
- Resident citizens taxed on worldwide income; Aliens taxed on Philippine-sourced income only
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income over 8 million PHP
- VAT
- 12%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, introduced under the TRAIN law
- Property Tax
- Real Property Tax (RPT) approx. 1% to 2% of assessed value
- Property Transaction Tax
- Capital Gains Tax (6%), Documentary Stamp Tax (1.5%), Transfer Tax (0.5% to 0.75%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) offers some tax exemptions; no specific 0% nomad visa yet