Manila vs Vilnius

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Manila, Philippines
🇵🇭Philippines

Manila

66Freedom Score#60Global rank$1,800Per month

Southeast Asia's most English-friendly megacity — Manila's BGC and Makati bubbles deliver first-world coworking, relentless nightlife, and visa-free stays up to 3 years in one of Asia's most welcoming cultures.

Vilnius, Lithuania
🇱🇹Lithuania

Vilnius

71Freedom Score#45Global rank$1,526Per month

Lithuania's compact capital — a UNESCO baroque old town, strong fiber, and a surprisingly deep fintech scene in the heart of the Baltics.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseManilaVilnius
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,800$1,526
Rent, 1BR city centre$700$686
Meal, mid-range$12$12
Coworking deskper month$200$137
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper72.033.9

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureManilaVilnius
Safety
35
71
Healthcare
68
65
Walkability
48
75
English spoken
95
75
Food & dining
78
65
Nightlife
82
65
Outdoors
42
62
Nomad community
75
50
Climate quality
62
55
Public transit
45
70

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureManilaVilnius
Freedom Score66/10071/100
Global rankof 100 cities#60#45
Internet94 Mbps150 Mbps
Average temperature82°F48°F
Air quality65/10035/100
Airport connectivity72/10055/100
Nomad visan.a.90-day+ stay
Headline tax rateon local income20%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Manila if English is more widely spoken, the climate scores better, the nomad community is larger and the headline tax rate is lower.

Choose Vilnius if runs $274/mo cheaper, rent is $14/mo lower, internet is faster at 150 Mbps and it scores higher on safety (71 vs 35).

What each city is known for

Vilnius

  • EU & Schengen access at low Baltic prices
  • Baroque UNESCO old town, small and very walkable
  • Europe's fintech hub — strong digital infrastructure
  • Quiet, safe, green — great for focused work

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Manila or Vilnius?
Vilnius scores higher on the Freedom Score (71/100 against 66/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Manila or Vilnius?
Vilnius is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,526 against $1,800, a difference of $274 a month or about $3,288 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $700/mo in Manila versus $686/mo in Vilnius.
Which is safer: Manila or Vilnius?
Vilnius scores higher on safety, 71/100 against 35/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Manila and Vilnius?
Manila averages 94 Mbps and Vilnius averages 150 Mbps, so Vilnius has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Manila or Vilnius?
Manila sits in Philippines (n.a.) and Vilnius in Lithuania (90-day+ stay). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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