Essentials
- Accommodation
- Condos via Airbnb or Rentpad; Average monthly 45,000 PHP - 75,000 PHP
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high in BGC; GCash, Maya, and GrabPay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- The Fort Budget Hotel, Airbnb high-rises in BGC or Uptown
- Budget Accommodation
- The Flats BGC (Co-living space, starts at 8,000 PHP per month for a bunk)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Bonifacio Global City (BGC) - Central, walkable, and upscale
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- McKinley Hill or Uptown Bonifacio (near Venice Grand Canal Mall/Uptown Parade)
- City
- Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
- Population
- 910,000
- Internet Speed
- 100-200 Mbps (Fiber optic is standard in BGC and McKinley Hill)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 PHP ≈ 0.018 USD, 1 USD ≈ 56.50 PHP
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use filtered or bottled water like Wilkins (approx. 50 PHP per 5L)
- Power
- 220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A and B sockets
- SIM Card
- Globe or Smart; 5G 'Power All' 14GB for 149 PHP ($2.60) per week
- Banking for Expats
- BPI, BDO, and GCash (essential digital wallet); Maya
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Clock In BGC (Bonifacio High Street); 600 PHP ($10.50) day pass
- Best Cafe for Work
- Wildflour Cafe + Bakery (Uptown Ritz) or Single Origin (High Street)
- Networking Events
- TechShake events at KMC Solutions; SparkUp Summit
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Manila meetups; BGC Brunch Club on Facebook
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab (standard), JoyRide or Angkas (motorcycle taxis for traffic)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Moovr PH; App-based bike/scooter stations across BGC starting at 20 PHP/15 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- Laiyan, Batangas (approx. 3.5 hours drive away)
- Top Regional Airline
- Cebu Pacific (Airbus A321neo hub at NAIA T3)
- Top International Airline
- Philippine Airlines (PAL)
- Highway Access
- C-5 Road and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) / Skyway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- MRT-3 Guadalupe Station (connected via BGC Bus) or Market! Market! Terminal
- Public Transport Passes
- Beep Card for BGC Bus and MRT/LRT (approx. 100 PHP for card)
- Regional Travel
- Genesis Bus from Market! Market! to Clark or Baguio
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- St. Luke's Medical Center Global City (World-class facility)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Beyond Yoga (Serendra); 800 PHP per class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness (BGC High Street) or Kerry Sports Manila (Shangri-La)
- Laundry Services
- Suds Laundry and Dry Cleaning (various branches, approx. 180 PHP per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood and FoodPanda
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pork Sisig at Manam (Net Park BGC)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Wholesome Table (Central Square) or Shaka Cafes (Burgos Circle)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Lola Nena’s (Pista Food Hall) for Puto Bumbong or M Bakery (High Street)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Market! Market! for wholesale items and local snacks
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Lazada and Shopee
- Grocery Delivery
- MetroMart (from S&R or Landmark) or GrabMart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Uptown Parade (The Island, Xylo) and Burgos Circle
- Local Brewery
- The Perfect Pint (Molito or High Street Central)
- Wine Bars
- Dr. Wine BGC (Forbestown Road)
- Street Food Stalls
- Mercato Centrale (night market at 7th Ave corner 25th St)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Din Tai Fung (Uptown Mall) - Taiwanese/Chinese
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Bonifacio High Street and The Mind Museum
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Mind Museum (Science) and Philippine Veterans Museum
- Historical Sites
- Manila American Cemetery and Memorial (Fort Bonifacio)
- Religious Sites
- St. Michael the Archangel Parish (BGC)
- Annual Events
- BGC Passionfest (November/December)
- Cultural Districts
- Heritage Park Area / Libingan ng mga Bayani
- Theater Venues
- Maybank Performing Arts Theater
- Local Markets
- BGC Art Mart (Weekend pop-ups at High Street)
- Music Scene
- Skinny Mike’s Sports Bar (Live bands) and BGC Amphitheater
- Street Art
- ArtBGC Mural Trail (check out the 'Between the Lines' mural by Cyrcle)
- Cooking Classes
- Center for Asian Culinary Studies (McKinley Hill)
- Art Galleries
- MET Gallery or various galleries in SM Aura (Art Center)
- Historic Buildings
- Bonifacio War Tunnel (Historic underground site)
- Local Heritage
- Taguig is the 'City of the Future' but keeps the Proclamation 247 heritage
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Track 30th (urban park) or Kasalikasan Garden
- National Parks Nearby
- La Mesa Ecopark (Quezon City, 1 hour away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- BGC Greenway Park (Longest urban park in Metro Manila)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Skye Roofdeck (W High Street Building) for skyline views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Arroceros Forest Park (Manila - 40 mins away)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Not permitted in the city; travel to Tanay, Rizal for camping
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Lalamove (instant), J&T Express, or Flash Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Beyond the Box (authorized Apple repair) or Greenhills (30 mins away for cheaper repairs)
- Table Tennis Spots
- The Zone in Makati (nearby) or various condo amenities
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française de Manille or Enderun Extension
- Libraries & Study Spots
- The Mind Museum Library or Fully Booked (High Street floor 5)
- Community Centers
- BGC Arts Center (Community workshops/classes)
- Gaming Lounges
- High Grounds Cafe (nearby QC) or local i-Cafes in Taguig proper
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Okada Manila or Solaire (20-30 mins via NAIAX)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 250,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 28 m² = 7,000,000 PHP)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 120,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 28 m² = 3,360,000 PHP in Taguig proper)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 230,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 10,350,000 PHP)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 110,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 4,950,000 PHP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 210,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 16,800,000 PHP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 100,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 8,000,000 PHP)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard rate for domestic and foreign corporations)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% - 25% depending on tax treaties
- Tax System
- Resident aliens taxed on Philippine-sourced income only
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (for income over 8M PHP)
- VAT
- 12% (Value Added Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Philippines has adopted CFC rules under the TRAIN/CREATE laws
- Property Tax
- Real Property Tax (Amilyar) approx 1% - 2% of assessed value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6% Capital Gains Tax; 1.5% Documentary Stamp Tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific visa tax break; 0% tax on foreign-sourced income for non-residents