Manila vs Penang for Digital Nomads
🇵🇭 Manila vs 🇲🇾 Penang · updated 2026-07
Verdict
Cheaper: Penang · Faster internet: Penang · Higher Nomad Score: Penang.
Head-to-head
| 🇵🇭 Manila | 🇲🇾 Penang | |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable / month | $1,270 | $1,050 ★ |
| 1-bed rent | $600 | $480 ★ |
| Food | $300 | $270 ★ |
| Coworking | $110 | $95 ★ |
| Internet (Mbps) | 90 | 110 ★ |
| Affordability | 86 | 91 ★ |
| Weather | 66 | 80 ★ |
| Community | 74 | 78 ★ |
| Nomad Score | 77 | 84 ★ |
| Climate | Tropical, wet Jun–Nov | Tropical, warm & humid |
★ = better on that row. Figures are aggregated estimates.
FAQ
Is Manila or Penang cheaper for digital nomads?
Penang is cheaper — about $1,050/month vs $1,270/month for a comfortable solo setup.
Which has faster internet, Manila or Penang?
Penang has faster average broadband (110 Mbps vs 90 Mbps).
Which has the higher Nomad Score?
Penang scores 84 vs 77 on our composite of affordability, connectivity, weather and community.