Culture and Attractions
- Religious Sites
- Manila Cathedral and Quiapo Church
- Annual Events
- Feast of the Black Nazarene (January)
- Must-See Landmarks
- Intramuros (Walled City) and Rizal Park
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Museum of Fine Arts (Free admission)
- Cultural Districts
- Binondo (Oldest Chinatown in the world)
- Theater Venues
- Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
- Local Markets
- Salcedo Saturday Market (Makati)
- Music Scene
- B-Side at the Collective or Saguijo (Local indie)
- Street Art
- Bonifacio Global City Mural Art Trail
- Cooking Classes
- Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) Manila
- Art Galleries
- Silverlens Galleries (Chino Roces Ave)
- Historic Buildings
- Palacio del Gobernador
- Local Heritage
- The Jeepney (Iconic public transport symbol)
- Historical Sites
- Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church
Essentials
- City
- Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
- Population
- Approximately 14.9 million (Metro Manila)
- Internet Speed
- Average 45-90 Mbps (Fiber available in BGC/Makati)
- Currency & Banking
- Philippine Peso (PHP), 1 USD ≈ 56.20 PHP
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled or filtered water (e.g., Summit 1L, 25 PHP)
- Power
- 220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A and B sockets
- SIM Card
- Globe or Smart; 50GB data for 30 days ≈ 599 PHP
- Banking for Expats
- GCash (Digital Wallet), Maya, BDO, HSBC
- Accommodation
- Condos via Airbnb or Rentpad; Makati/BGC are premium hubs
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes in malls/BGC; cash preferred in local markets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, DotProperty, or condo groups (e.g., Knightsbridge Residences)
- Budget Accommodation
- Z Hostel (Poblacion) - approx. 1,200 PHP per night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Intramuros (History) or Poblacion (Nightlife/Social)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Bonifacio Global City (BGC) or Legaspi Village, Makati
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Clock In BGC (Bonifacio High Street) - 600 PHP/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Wildflour Cafe + Bakery (Leviste St, Makati) - High-speed Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Founders Friday Manila at various Makati lounges
- Social Events for Expats
- Manila Expats Meetup at I'M Hotel Rooftop Bar
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab (Standard and Premium versions available)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Moovr (BGC-specific bike/scooter sharing app)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Anawangin Cove, Zambales (3.5 hours drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Cebu Pacific Air
- Top International Airline
- Philippine Airlines (PAL)
- Highway Access
- Skyway, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), SLEX
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- MRT-3 (Ayala Station), LRT-1, and PNR Tutuban
- Public Transport Passes
- Beep Card (Reloadable for MRT/LRT/BGC Bus)
- Regional Travel
- Victory Liner (Bus to Baguio), 2Go Travel (Ferry to Visayas)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- St. Luke's Medical Center (Global City or Quezon City)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga+ (Manila/Makati) - 800 PHP for single class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness (Multiple locations) - approx. 2,500 PHP/month
- Laundry Services
- Sudsmaster (Poblacion) - approx. 200 PHP for 7kg load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood, Foodpanda
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Adobo or Sisig at Manam (approx. 450 PHP)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Corner Tree Cafe (Jupiter St, Makati)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Mary Grace (Ensaymada) and J.CO Donuts
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Divisoria or Greenhills Shopping Center
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Lazada, Shopee
- Grocery Delivery
- MetroMart (delivered from Landmark/SM)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Poblacion (Makati) or The Fort Strip (BGC)
- Local Brewery
- Katipunan Craft (found at various BGC bars)
- Wine Bars
- Dr. Wine Manila (Poblacion) - Wide selection & rooftop
- Street Food Stalls
- Mercato Centrale (BGC Night Market)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Din Tai Fung (SM Megamall/BGC) - Taiwanese
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- La Mesa Eco Park (Quezon City)
- National Parks Nearby
- Mount Pinatubo (Day trip via Capas, Tarlac)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Ayala Triangle Gardens and BGC Greenway Park
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Bayleaf Sky Deck (Overlooking Intramuros)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Las Piñas–Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Caliraya Lake (Nearby resort areas)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Lalamove (Instant) and LBC (National)
- Tech Repair Services
- Greenhills Theater Mall Tech Hub
- Table Tennis Spots
- Topspin Table Tennis Center (Pasig)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française de Manille
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of the Philippines (Ermita)
- Community Centers
- Makati Sports Club
- Gaming Lounges
- High Grounds Cafe (Quezon City) - PC Gaming
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Okada Manila / Solaire Resort & Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 220,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 25 m² = 5.5M PHP)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 130,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 25 m² = 3.25M PHP)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 250,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 11.25M PHP)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 140,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 6.3M PHP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 280,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 19.6M PHP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 150,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 10.5M PHP)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard) or 20% for small domestic corps
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% (if tax sparing applies) or 25% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Resident citizens are taxed on worldwide income; aliens on PH income only
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (for income over 8M PHP)
- VAT
- 12%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Drafted but enforcement is limited compared to OECD
- Property Tax
- Approx. 1% to 2% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6% Capital Gains Tax + 1.5% Documentary Stamp Tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Recent 'Digital Nomad Visa' bills offer potential tax residency perks