Havana
Cuba
3/6
Budget$770
Internet5 Mbps
Vibe7/10
Side-by-side city decision
Havana vs Makati.
A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit.
HavanaCuba3
VS
MakatiPhilippines1
$770Havana monthly budget
$980Makati monthly budget
5 MbpsHavana internet
30 MbpsMakati internet
Decision summary
Havana
Havana leads on more of the six headline signals.
Cost
Best budget
Havana
Speed
Fastest internet
Makati
Vibe
Best nomad vibe
Tie
Safety
Highest safety
Tie
Air
Cleanest air
Havana
Walk
Most walkable
Havana
Quick read
Two cities at a glance
The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison.
Makati
Philippines
1/6
Budget$980
Internet30 Mbps
Vibe7/10
Full comparison
Compare what matters
Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner.
Monthly budget and costs
7 signalsTotal estimated budget
$770
$980
1-bed center rent
$400
$600
Coworking desk
$120
$180
Local meal
$7
$5
Cappuccino
$2.5
$3.5
Gym membership
$30
$40
Transport budget
$20
$30
Work and infrastructure
2 signalsInternet speed
5 Mbps
30 Mbps
Nomad vibe
7/10
7/10
Quality of life
5 signalsSafety index
65/100
65/100
Air quality
70/100
45/100
Walkability
8/10
7/10
Female safety
7/10
6/10
LGBTQ+ friendly
5/10
7/10
Culture and climate
4 signalsHealthcare quality
Average
Average
English proficiency
Basic
Good
Climate type
Tropical monsoon
Tropical monsoon
Best time to visit
Nov - Apr
Nov - Mar
Beyond the numbers
What each city asks you to trade
Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture.
Havana
Cuba
Strengths
- Rich culture and vibrant music scene
- Affordable cost of living for foreigners
- Beautiful colonial architecture
- Friendly locals and strong community feel
- Great beaches nearby
- Unique vintage car experience
Trade-offs
- Very poor and expensive internet
- Frequent power cuts and shortages
- Dual currency confusion (CUP/USD)
- Bureaucracy and slow services
- Limited access to international banking
- Quality of imported goods is low
Common visa routes
- Tourist card (30 days)
- Extended visa (up to 90 days)
- Business visa
Makati
Philippines
Strengths
- Excellent expat community and networking events
- Affordable cost of living compared to Western capitals
- High density of coworking spaces and cafes
- Widespread English proficiency
- Modern amenities with malls and restaurants
- Convenient location for exploring other Asian destinations
Trade-offs
- Heavy traffic congestion during peak hours
- Air quality can be poor due to pollution
- Tap water is not safe to drink
- Power outages occasionally occur
- Typhoon season can disrupt plans
- Metro Manila overall safety varies by area
Common visa routes
- Visa-free entry (30 days)
- Visa extension (up to 36 months)
- Special Resident Retiree Visa (SRRV)
Reading the result
Use this as a planning benchmark
The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices.
Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices.
Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity.
Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.