Side-by-side city decision # Makati vs New York City. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link MakatiPhilippines2/6 VS New York CityUnited States4/6 $1,280Makati monthly budget $5,682New York City monthly budget 125 MbpsMakati internet 310 MbpsNew York City internet Decision summary New York City New York City leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Makati Speed Fastest internet New York City Vibe Best nomad vibe New York City Safety Highest safety Makati Air Cleanest air New York City Walk Most walkable New York City Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Makati](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/philippines/makati.md) Philippines 2/6 Budget$1,280 Internet125 Mbps Vibe8/10 [New York City](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/new-york-city.md) United States 4/6 Budget$5,682 Internet310 Mbps Vibe10/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals MetricMakatiNew York City Total estimated budget $1,280 $5,682 1-bed center rent $720 $4,200 Coworking desk $190 $500 Local meal $4.3 $22 Cappuccino $3.5 $5.8 Gym membership $48 $110 Transport budget $70 $132 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricMakatiNew York City Internet speed 125 Mbps 310 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 10/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricMakatiNew York City Safety index 61/100 58/100 Air quality 48/100 70/100 Walkability 6/10 10/10 Female safety 6/10 7/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 7/10 10/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricMakatiNew York City Healthcare quality Excellent Excellent English proficiency Excellent Excellent Climate type Tropical monsoon Humid subtropical/continental Best time to visit Nov - Feb Apr - Jun 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. [Makati](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/philippines/makati.md) Philippines → ### Strengths * Excellent English proficiency and easy daily communication * Strong café, coworking, and corporate-business ecosystem * High-quality private hospitals and specialist care nearby * Wide choice of condos, malls, restaurants, and delivery services * Cashless payments and ride-hailing are widely available * Large international and Filipino social scene ### Trade-offs * Severe road traffic can make short trips slow * Central neighborhoods have relatively high rents * Heat, humidity, and monsoon downpours are persistent * Air quality is often poor beside major roads * Sidewalks can be uneven, blocked, or limited * Tap water is not recommended for drinking ### Common visa routes * Visa-free entry or visitor visa extension * Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension * Special Resident Retiree's Visa [New York City](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/new-york-city.md) United States → ### Strengths * Exceptional public transit and walkability * Huge professional and creative networking scene * World-class food, culture, and entertainment * Fast, widely available home and mobile internet * Extensive coworking and café options * Highly diverse and LGBTQ+-friendly community ### Trade-offs * Extremely high rent and daily living costs * Small apartments and competitive housing market * Crowded streets, trains, and public spaces * Winter weather can be cold and slushy * US healthcare is expensive without insurance * Noise and construction are common in many areas ### Common visa routes * Visa Waiver Program / ESTA * B-1/B-2 visitor visa * O-1 extraordinary ability visa 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.