---
title: "Boracay (Malay) vs Manado for digital nomads"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/boracay-vs-manado
description: "Under balanced weights Manado edges it, 52 to 52, winning 4 of the 9 factors. Boracay (Malay) is stronger on quality of life, internet; Manado on safety. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you."
dataset: 2026.10.7 (2026-10-13)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Boracay (Malay) vs Manado for digital nomads

Under balanced weights Manado edges it, 52 to 52, winning 4 of the 9 factors. Boracay (Malay) is stronger on quality of life, internet; Manado on safety. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you.

## Factor scores (0–100, balanced weights)

| Metric | Boracay (Malay) | Manado | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | 55 | 60 | Manado |
| Safety | 47 | 67 | Manado |
| Healthcare | 54 | 56 | Manado |
| Internet | 48 | 37 | Boracay (Malay) |
| Visa ease | 58 | 54 | Boracay (Malay) |
| Getting there & around | 33 | 40 | Manado |
| Climate | 25 | 25 | tie |
| Air quality | 85 | 84 | Boracay (Malay) |
| Quality of life | 58 | 45 | Boracay (Malay) |

## Cost

| Metric | Boracay (Malay) | Manado | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | $1,150 | $1,000 | Manado |
| Central one-bedroom rent | no data | no data | — |

## Safety and health (country-level)

| Metric | Boracay (Malay) | Manado | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Homicides per 100k | 4.31 | 0.41 | Manado |
| Political stability (0–100) | 51 | 52.7 | Manado |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 69 | 67 | Boracay (Malay) |
| Life expectancy | 66.4 yrs | 68.3 yrs | Manado |

## Internet (M-Lab measured medians)

| Metric | Boracay (Malay) | Manado | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Download | 13 Mbps | 6.6 Mbps | Boracay (Malay) |
| Upload | 3.6 Mbps | 2.7 Mbps | Boracay (Malay) |

## Visa

| Metric | Boracay (Malay) | Manado | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nomad visa | Digital nomad visa (DNV) | Remote worker visa (E33G) | tie |
| Minimum income for the visa | no data | $5,000/mo | — |
| Entry, US passport | 30 days | visa on arrival | Manado |
| Entry, EU passport | 30 days | visa on arrival | Manado |
| Entry, UK passport | 30 days | visa on arrival | Manado |

## Getting there and around

| Metric | Boracay (Malay) | Manado | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-stop airport destinations | 6 | 20 | Manado |
| Walkability (1–5, editorial) | 4 | 2 | Boracay (Malay) |
| Transit (1–5, editorial) | 1 | 2 | Manado |

## Climate and air

| Metric | Boracay (Malay) | Manado | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Comfortable months per year | 3 | 3 | tie |
| Annual mean PM2.5 | 11.6 µg/m³ | 12.1 µg/m³ | Boracay (Malay) |

## FAQ

### Which is cheaper, Boracay (Malay) or Manado?

Manado is cheaper: about $1,000 per month versus $1,150 for one person.

### Is Boracay (Malay) or Manado safer?

Manado scores higher on safety (67 vs 47), based on national homicide rates and World Bank political-stability scores.

### Where is the internet faster, Boracay (Malay) or Manado?

Boracay (Malay): a measured median of 13 Mbps versus 6.6 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024).

City pages: [Boracay (Malay)](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/boracay) · [Manado](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/manado). Sources: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows); 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level); Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100); Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year); UHC service coverage index; Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes; M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024); Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables); NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means); WHO Ambient Air Quality Database, June 2026 update (V8); SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04); Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023); EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band); Walkability and transit ratings (editorial); Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations); OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API); Nostos long-stay visa guides; Starlink availability map.

HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/boracay-vs-manado