Thinking about moving to Makati (Metro Manila)? Here's what daily life looks like for an American who works remotely: what it costs in dollars, where people live, the weather all year, and what to sort out before you land. The weather, local time and exchange rate on this page are live.
Right now in Makati (Metro Manila)
Live weather by Open-Meteo · Rates by ExchangeRate-API. Updates each time you open the page.
At a glance
| Population | About 13.5 million in Metro Manila |
|---|---|
| Language | Filipino and English |
| Currency | Philippine peso (PHP) |
| Time zone | … |
| Main airport | Ninoy Aquino (MNL), about 30 to 60 minutes |
| Flights from the US | Nonstops from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle and other US cities to Manila |
| Power plugs | Type A, B and C, 220 V (check your devices) |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Visa route for remote workers | Extended visitor stay · Philippines visa guide |
What it costs
| Item | About in USD |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom, city center | $1,062 |
| 1-bedroom, outside center | $712 |
| 3-bedroom, city center | $2,258 |
| 3-bedroom, outside center | $1,236 |
Estimated from Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living and rent indices for Makati (Metro Manila), scaled from New York prices. Monthly totals add living costs to rent from outside the center (low end) to the center (high end). The couple figure assumes 1.7 times one person's costs.
Weather through the year
Loading weather history…
Monthly averages from 2016–2025, from Open-Meteo historical weather data (ERA5 reanalysis). Rain totals from weather models can run high in mountain cities, so treat them as a guide to the wet and dry seasons.
Where to live
Poblacion
Bars and restaurants.
Legazpi Village
Weekend market and parks.
BGC (Taguig)
Modern, walkable and close by.
Our plans match neighborhoods to how you work, your budget and who's moving with you.
Getting around
Walkable business district with malls; Grab and the MRT elsewhere. Traffic is heavy.
Language and English
English is an official language and widely spoken.
Healthcare
Good private hospitals in Manila and Cebu; carry insurance, especially on smaller islands.
Safety
Check the US State Department's current advisory for Philippines before you go. It changes, so we link to it rather than copy it. Like any big city, Makati (Metro Manila) has areas that are safer than others, and your plan flags the ones to know about.
Your first week in Makati (Metro Manila)
Land with people, not just a lease.
With a Complete or Household plan, you join everyone moving to Makati (Metro Manila) the same month in a group chat before you fly, then meet in person during your first week.
See how cohorts workSources
Checked on Nov 2, 2026. Live sections update automatically.
- Numbeo: Cost of Living Index 2026 (city indices scaled from New York prices)
- US State Department: Philippines travel advisory
- Open-Meteo: live weather, forecast and 10-year climate data (CC BY 4.0)
- ExchangeRate-API: live exchange rates
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