--- title: "Philippines for digital nomads: 17 cities compared (2026)" url: https://nostos.navoy.io/countries/philippines description: "Philippines for remote workers: 17 cities scored on cost, safety, healthcare, internet, visas, climate and air. Best city Manila (55/100). Philippines has a…" dataset: 2026.10.7 (2026-10-13) license: CC BY 4.0 --- # Philippines for digital nomads: 17 cities compared (2026) Philippines has 17 cities in the dataset. Manila scores highest under balanced weights at 55/100. Philippines has a dedicated remote-work visa, the Digital nomad visa (DNV). ## Cities in Philippines, ranked | # | City | Score | Cost/mo (USD) | Download (Mbps) | Known for | Page | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Manila | 55 | 1025 | 26.9 | English everywhere; BGC and Makati | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/manila | | 2 | Tagaytay | 54 | 1150 (national estimate) | 25.1 | Taal volcano views; Cooler than Manila | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/tagaytay | | 3 | Baguio | 54 | 1150 (national estimate) | 23.1 | Cool climate at 1,500 metres; University town | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/baguio | | 4 | Moalboal | 53 | 1150 (national estimate) | 22.4 | Sardine run off Panagsama; Pescador Island diving | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/moalboal | | 5 | Dumaguete | 53 | 1150 (national estimate) | 23.9 | Silliman University; Dive sites at Apo Island | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/dumaguete | | 6 | Coron | 53 | 1150 (national estimate) | 20.1 | Japanese WWII wreck dives; Kayangan Lake | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/coron | | 7 | El Nido (Palawan) | 53 | 1150 (national estimate) | 21.3 | Island-hopping lagoons; Beach town on the edge of nature | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/el-nido | | 8 | Puerto Princesa | 52 | 1150 (national estimate) | 20.1 | Underground River; Honda Bay island hopping | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/puerto-princesa | | 9 | Davao City | 52 | 1178 | 18.2 | Safe for the Philippines; Mount Apo | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/davao | | 10 | Iloilo City | 52 | 1150 (national estimate) | 12.5 | Esplanade and bike lanes; Batchoy and seafood | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/iloilo | | 11 | Angeles City (Clark) | 52 | 1150 (national estimate) | 13.7 | Clark international airport; Clark Freeport Zone | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/angeles-city | | 12 | Boracay (Malay) | 52 | 1150 (national estimate) | 13 | White Beach; Kitesurfing at Bulabog | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/boracay | | 13 | Cebu City | 51 | 1150 (national estimate) | 22.4 | Diving and islands; English widely spoken | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/cebu | | 14 | Panglao (Bohol) | 50 | 1150 (national estimate) | 21.3 | Alona Beach; Diving at Balicasag | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/panglao | | 15 | Bacolod | 49 | 1150 (national estimate) | 11.6 | MassKara festival in October; Chicken inasal | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/bacolod | | 16 | Cagayan de Oro | 48 | 1150 (national estimate) | 14.7 | White-water rafting; Gateway to Camiguin and Bukidnon | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/cagayan-de-oro | | 17 | Siargao (General Luna) | 47 | 1150 (national estimate) | 21.3 | Cloud 9 surf break; General Luna cafés | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/siargao | ## National figures shared by every city | Figure | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Homicide rate | 4.31 per 100,000 | Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2024 | | Political stability | 51th percentile | Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), 2025 | | Health coverage index | 69/100 | UHC service coverage index, 2023 | | Life expectancy | 66.4 years | Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, 2021 | | Human Development Index | 0.72 | Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), 2023 | | English proficiency | high | EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), 2024 | ## Visas and entry | Passport | Entry rule | | --- | --- | | US | 30 days visa-free | | EU (Germany) | 30 days visa-free | | UK | 30 days visa-free | Source: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), 2026-02. Long stay: dedicated nomad visa in the [Philippines visa guide](https://nostos.navoy.io/visas/philippines). ## Compare - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/manila-vs-tagaytay - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/baguio-vs-manila - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/manila-vs-moalboal - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/dumaguete-vs-manila ## FAQ ### Is Philippines good for digital nomads? Manila scores 55/100 under balanced weights, which ranks it 767 of 1,000 cities in the dataset. Philippines's 17 cities average 51.8/100. Strongest factors in Manila: air quality and internet; weakest: climate. ### What is the cheapest city in Philippines for a remote worker? Manila, at about $1,025 a month for one person including rent (WhereNext city cost estimates 2026 (city pages), 2026-09). Davao City is the most expensive city-priced option at $1,178. ### Does Philippines have a digital nomad visa? Yes: the Digital nomad visa (DNV). Details, documents and official sources are in the Philippines visa guide. ### How long can a US, EU or UK citizen stay in Philippines without a visa? US passport: 30 days visa-free. EU passport (Germany as reference): 30 days visa-free. UK passport: 30 days visa-free. Source: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), 2026-02. ### Which city in Philippines has the fastest internet? Manila, with a measured median download of 26.9 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024). Measured speeds run below advertised plans everywhere; 40 Mbps measured is already good. ### How safe is Philippines? Philippines records 4.31 homicides per 100,000 people (Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2024) and sits at the 51th percentile for political stability (World Bank WGI, 2025). These are national figures; city pages note local caveats. HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/countries/philippines