Taipei
Taiwan
5/6
Budget$1,530
Internet100 Mbps
Vibe8/10
Side-by-side city decision
Taipei vs Makati.
A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit.
TaipeiTaiwan5
VS
MakatiPhilippines1
$1,530Taipei monthly budget
$980Makati monthly budget
100 MbpsTaipei internet
30 MbpsMakati internet
Decision summary
Taipei
Taipei leads on more of the six headline signals.
Cost
Best budget
Makati
Speed
Fastest internet
Taipei
Vibe
Best nomad vibe
Taipei
Safety
Highest safety
Taipei
Air
Cleanest air
Taipei
Walk
Most walkable
Taipei
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
$1,530
$980
1-bed center rent
$900
$600
Coworking desk
$200
$180
Local meal
$5
$5
Cappuccino
$4.5
$3.5
Gym membership
$40
$40
Transport budget
$30
$30
Work and infrastructure
2 signalsInternet speed
100 Mbps
30 Mbps
Nomad vibe
8/10
7/10
Quality of life
5 signalsSafety index
85/100
65/100
Air quality
50/100
45/100
Walkability
9/10
7/10
Female safety
8/10
6/10
LGBTQ+ friendly
7/10
7/10
Culture and climate
4 signalsHealthcare quality
Excellent
Average
English proficiency
Average
Good
Climate type
Subtropical monsoon
Tropical monsoon
Best time to visit
Oct - 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.
Taipei
Taiwan
Strengths
- Excellent and affordable healthcare system
- Extremely safe city with low crime
- World-class street food and night markets
- Efficient and clean MRT system
- Friendly locals and a strong sense of community
- Modern infrastructure with fast internet
Trade-offs
- Humid subtropical climate with frequent rain
- Language barrier outside central areas
- Air pollution spikes during winter inversions
- Limited English signage outside Metro
- Housing can be expensive near metro stations
- Typhoon season from July to September
Common visa routes
- 90-day visa-free entry
- Visitor visa extension (up to 180 days)
- Taiwan Employment Gold Card (for highly skilled professionals)
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.