El Nido vs Manila
💰
El Nido saves you $400/month
📶
Manila has 2x faster internet
🛂
Philippines offers a digital nomad visa
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
El Nido
Manila
Total Budget
$1,100/mo ✓
$1,500/mo
Rent (1BR)
$400/mo ✓
$500/mo
Coworking
$120/mo
$100/mo ✓
Meal Out
$4
$3 ✓
Coffee
$2
$2
El Nido is $400/mo cheaper (27% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇵🇭 El Nido
📶 Internet50 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+8
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London3h
🇩🇪 Berlin4h
🇵🇭 Manila
📶 Internet100 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+8
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London3h
🇩🇪 Berlin4h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
El Nido
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27°C
Rainy Days245/year
Best months: February, March, April
Manila
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp28°C
Rainy Days231/year
Best months: February, March, January
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
26°26°
Apr
28°30°
Jul
27°28°
Oct
27°27°
El NidoManila
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇵🇭El Nido
🇵🇭Manila
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,100
Winner$1,500
📶
Internet Speed
50 Mbps
100 Mbps
Winner🛡️
Safety
4.3/5
Winner3.2/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.2/10
Winner3.8/10
🍽️
Food Scene
7/10
8/10
🎉
Nightlife
6/10
8/10
Winner🚶
Walkability
6/10
6/10
👥
Community
small
large
Winner3
El Nido wins
vs
3
Manila wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
El Nido
$400/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Manila
100 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
Manila
Larger nomad community for networking
🛡️Safety-First
El Nido
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Manila
World-famous nightlife scene
🇵🇭El Nido
Pros
- +World-class island hopping with stunning lagoons and beaches
- +Incredibly beautiful limestone cliffs and turquoise waters
- +Excellent diving and snorkeling with vibrant marine life
- +Growing coworking scene with fast fiber internet options
Cons
- −Internet can be unreliable outside coworking spaces
- −Remote location - 5-6 hour drive from Puerto Princesa airport
- −Limited healthcare - serious issues require evacuation
- −Power outages still occur occasionally
🇵🇭Manila
Pros
- +Extremely affordable cost of living - one of the cheapest in Asia
- +High English proficiency - easy communication everywhere
- +Vibrant nightlife scene especially in Poblacion and BGC
- +Excellent Filipino hospitality and welcoming culture
Cons
- −Heavy traffic congestion - among worst in the world
- −Air pollution and waste management issues in some areas
- −Petty crime and pickpocketing in crowded areas
- −Hot and humid climate year-round with typhoon season